British Rail Class 231

The Class 231 FLIRT[3] are a class of diesel-electric multiple unit which are being built for Transport for Wales by Swiss rolling stock manufacturer Stadler Rail.

British Rail Class 231 FLIRT
Class 231 at Cardiff Central in Transport for Wales livery (November 2021)
In service2022 (planned)
ManufacturerStadler Rail
Built at
Family nameFLIRT
Replaced
Constructed2021 -
Number under construction11 units to be built
Formation11 x 4-car units
Fleet numbersTBC
Capacity
  • 171 fixed seats
  • 31 tip-up seats
  • Standing capacity 221[1]
Operator(s)Transport for Wales
Depot(s)Cardiff Canton TMD
Specifications
Train length80.7 m (264 ft 9+1⁄8 in)[2]
Width2.72 m (8 ft 11+1⁄8 in)[2]
Height3.915 m (12 ft 10+1⁄8 in)[2]
Floor height0.96 m (3 ft 1+3⁄4 in)[2]
Doors2 per side (end cars) / 1 per side (middle car(s))[2]
Maximum speed90 mph (145 km/h)[2]
Power output1,500 kW (2,000 hp)[2]
Acceleration0.9m/s^2[2]
UIC classificationBo'2'2'2'2'Bo'[2]
Multiple workingWithin class and with Class 756
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

A total of eleven four-car units are to be built.

History

The previous Wales & Borders rail franchise operator, KeolisAmey Wales, commenced on 14 October 2018. Although KeolisAmey was removed as the franchise operator and replaced by an operator of last resort Transport for Wales Rail owned by the Welsh Government, the scheduled full fleet replacement will still commence,[4] with a batch of eleven brand new diesel-electric multiple units set to join the fleet in 2022.[5]

The units began testing in Switzerland in July 2021 and in November 2021 the first two units were delivered to Cardiff Canton depot.[6]

Operators

Transport for Wales

When built, Transport for Wales' Class 231 units will operate services between Maesteg and Cheltenham Spa as well as Cardiff Central and Ebbw Vale.

Fleet details
Class Operator Number Year built Cars Unit nos.
Class 231 Transport for Wales 11 2021 4 231001-231011
TfW Class 231 based on concept art

Notes

    References
    1. "Table 2C - Rolling Stock Minimum Requirements and Specifications - Suburban Service Type" (PDF). Retrieved 3 December 2020.
    2. "FLIRT Diesel Electric Multiple Unit" (PDF). Retrieved 3 December 2020.
    3. @tfwrail (2 December 2019). "The diesel-electric Metro trains that will run on the Maesteg, Ebbw Vale and Cardiff-Cheltenham lines from 2022 will be Class 231" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
    4. "KeolisAmey reveal new-look Wales trains and services". BBC News. BBC. 4 June 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
    5. Barry, Sion (4 June 2018). "How Wales' railways will be transformed with new stations, trains and jobs through investment worth billions". WalesOnline. Cardiff: Reach. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
    6. "New FLIRT trains for Transport for Wales begin testing in Switzerland".
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