Vivarail bullish about D-train demand, despite fire setback

Plans to use former London Underground trains on the national rail network remain very much alive, despite the fire on the prototype Vivarail D-train late last year. Peter Plisner reports

Peter Plisner

17 February 2017

A Vivarail Class 230 D-train at the firm’s Long Marston workshops in Warwickshire

It was all going so well for Vivarail. A clever idea that had been turned into reality and been applauded by many in the rail industry. And a high profile trial, due to start in the West Midlands, which was designed to show what its D-train concept could achieve. But then an engine caught fire during the final stages of an extensive testing and certification process and it all came to an abrupt halt. Or did it? Those who’ve been to Vivarail’s Long Marston depot in Warwickshire...