British Rail Class 231
The Class 231 FLIRT[4] will be a class of diesel-electric multiple unit which will be built for Transport for Wales by Swiss rolling stock manufacturer Stadler Rail.
| British Rail Class 231 FLIRT | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Stadler Rail |
| Built at | Szolnok, Hungary (bodyshells) Bussnang, Switzerland (final assembly) |
| Family name | FLIRT |
| Replaced | |
| Constructed | TBC |
| Number under construction | 11 units to be built |
| Formation | 11 x 4-car units |
| Fleet numbers | TBC |
| Capacity | 171 fixed seats 31 tip-up seats Standing capacity 221[2] |
| Operator(s) | Transport for Wales |
| Depot(s) | Cardiff Canton TMD |
| Specifications | |
| Train length | 80.7 m (264 ft 9 1⁄8 in)[3] |
| Width | 2.72 m (8 ft 11 1⁄8 in)[3] |
| Height | 3.915 m (12 ft 10 1⁄8 in)[3] |
| Floor height | 0.96 m (3 ft 1 3⁄4 in)[3] |
| Doors | 1/3, 2/3 door layout on driving vehicles, one door per side on intermediate vehicles[3] |
| Maximum speed | 90 mph (140 km/h) |
| Multiple working | Within class |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) (Standard Gauge) |
A total of eleven four-car units are to be built.
History
The current Wales & Borders rail franchise, operated by KeolisAmey, commenced on 14 October 2018. During the franchise period, the operator will oversee a full fleet replacement,[5] with a batch of eleven brand new diesel-electric multiple units set to join the fleet in 2022.[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 | TBC | 4 | 231001 - 231011 |

TfW Class 231 based on concept art
References
- The Class 170s will be cascaded to some routes which Class 150 or Class 153 operates.
- "Table 2C - Rolling Stock Minimum Requirements and Specifications - Suburban Service Type" (PDF). Retrieved 3 December 2020.
- "FLIRT Diesel Electric Multiple Unit" (PDF). Retrieved 3 December 2020.
- @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.
- "KeolisAmey reveal new-look Wales trains and services". BBC News. BBC. 4 June 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
- 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.
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