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Transport for Wales’ first battery-hybrid trains come into service

03 Apr 2023 2 minute read
TfW’s Class 230 train

Railway history was made yesterday on the Borderlands Line between Wrexham and Bidston as Transport for Wales (TfW) introduced the first battery-hybrid trains used in regular passenger service in Wales.

The first service operated by one of TfW’s Class 230 trains left Wrexham Central at 07:31, following months of testing and crew training.

TfW owns five three-carriage Class 230 trains, each having over 120 seats and with capacity for over 420 customers – a significant increase over previous trains.

The metro-style trains, which were repurposed from former London Underground trains, provide a more efficient and environmentally friendly service using diesel and batteries.

The trains feature fully accessible toilets, power sockets, electronic passenger information screens, Wi-Fi, bike racks and air conditioning.

Comfort

Deputy Minister for Climate Change with responsibility for Transport, Lee Waters said: “Funded by our £800m investment in a new fleet of trains, the Class 230s play an important part in our plans to transform rail services in Wales.

“These new trains will offer greater comfort, and modern facilities and with the new hybrid engines will be better for the environment.”

The interior of the new Class 230 trains

Alexia Course, Transport for Wales’ Chief Commercial Officer, said: “We’re delighted that the first Class 230 train has entered service. With hybrid engines and modern facilities, these trains will significantly improve the customer experience on the Borderlands Line by providing better facilities and increased capacity.

“We’re committed to improving services between North Wales and the Liverpool City Region. We’ve already introduced brand new trains on services between Chester and Liverpool, and we’re planning to increase the frequency of services between Wrexham and Bidston, as well as providing a new direct service between Llandudno and Liverpool via the North Wales coast.”


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Stephen Phillips
Stephen Phillips
1 year ago

Typical that these trains go to somewhere in England.

Kerry Davies
Kerry Davies
1 year ago

Yeah they should only run on the Llandudno to Blaenau Festiniog line as that is their only Wales only line.
🤡

hdavies15
hdavies15
1 year ago
Reply to  Kerry Davies

Did they manage to reopen that line ? It seemed to be “temporarily closed” with alarming frequency.

Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
1 year ago

TfL’s ugly bug-eyed monster emerges from its subterranean labyrinth to scuttle between Chester and Liverpool !

Llandudno to Liverpool via the North Wales Coast !

TfL…Transport for Wales !

Gareth
Gareth
1 year ago

Brand new second hand trains these, not good enough for London, they get new, so, drop them off in Cymru, and they can “fix em up” and use them like they did the old “pacer” trains, work them till they fall apart. Hand me downs again.

Pmb
Pmb
1 year ago
Reply to  Gareth

Let’s be honest , given Welsh govts anti wealth , anti business agenda why is anyone going to bother ?

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