Porterbrook and Northern to introduce bi-mode Class 319 Flex trains
Posted: 3 February 2017 | | 3 comments
Working with the Rail North Partnership, to support a growing railway in the north, Porterbrook and train operator Northern, part of the Arriva Group, are jointly developing a highly innovative rolling stock concept.
Porterbrook Leasing is pleased to announce that it has committed to deliver to Northern, a variant of a Class 319 electric train which is able to operate seamlessly over electrified and non-electrified routes, spreading the benefits of electrification to more rail users. The project is supported by Rail North, representing local authorities in the north of England.
The Class 319 Flex concept is designed to create a bi-mode train by fitting two diesel powered alternators, one under each of the driving trailer cars. The diesel alternators provide power to the existing traction and auxiliary equipment to allow the EMU to operate without an overhead or 3rd rail supply.
The systems will provide power through the train’s DC bus, avoiding any significant changes to the existing equipment and creating a unit capable of operating from a number of different power sources whilst maintaining its full capabilities on electrified routes.
From inception, the concept for the Class 319 Flex was developed to minimise alterations to the existing vehicle design, and hence kept the cost of conversion to an attractive level. The design also has provision to cater for a range of operations, either as an alternative to existing DMUs or offering more performance if required through the fitment of additional batteries for non-electrified operations.
Zena Dent, Projects & Technical Director for Porterbrook said: “The highly innovative Class 319 Flex will be a flexible and highly efficient unit that will provide operators with a ‘go anywhere’ train, something which is not currently available with any other rolling stock solution.”
David Hoggarth, Rail North Director, added: “We are very pleased to work together with rail industry partners to support the development of this innovative rolling stock solution that will contribute to the transformation of rail services currently underway in the north of England, helping to support economic growth.”
Northern is now working with colleagues across the rail industry to develop plans for the 2018 timetables. The new units, which will create eight trains, will assist in further improving the customer experience across the Northern network by providing flexibility an increased level of flexibility.
“Bi-mode trains will bring the benefits of railway modernisation, to more customers, more quickly”
Rob Warnes, Performance & Planning Director for Northern said: “We are really proud to be involved in this pioneering development. Bi-mode trains will bring the benefits of railway modernisation, to more customers, more quickly.
“This technology opens up new opportunities to spread the benefits of electrification to non-electrified routes, delivering more capacity and bringing exciting innovation to the North’s railways”
Concept design work is now complete and work has started with Wabtec/Brush on the detailed design phase of the project.
The first units will be in passenger service with train operator Northern by spring 2018 and from then on will be available to a wide range of operators who will be able to make full use of electrically powered rolling stock on partially electrified routes.
Porterbrook were kind enough to send me an advance copy of the vrochure for the Class 319 Flex train.
It is a professional project and has been designed around Manchester to Buxton, which must be one of the stiffest lines in the UK. It would probably be difficult to electrify for both engineering and aesthetic reasons.
Incidentally, I rode a neat and tidy Class 319/4 on Thameslink yesterday and this sub-class will be used for the Flex. It was a much better train than the Class 319/3 I rode between Liverpool and Manchester at the weekend.
So did Thameslink keep the good ones back? Which could mean that the Flex gets created from the better 319s.
We live in interesting times.
The engineers who created the 319 must be laughing loudly into their beer.
This is a good idea.
But I am concerned that it may provide the Government with an excuse not to proceed with planned electrification schemes.
Whilst in itself this sort of bi-mode power is probably perfect for the one Western European nation that never did commit itself to electrification like everybody else in the neighbourhood (Ireland not counted for good reasons, traffic doesn’t warrant the expense as yet) I guess that sometime after 2019 reality will force us to admit that bi-mode was after all a good move indeed. Leave London on the electric and visit them in the countryside on diesel. What a future!