TRANSPORT for Wales has confirmed that engine filters blocked by pollen has been one of a number of problems experienced by its Class 230 units since they entered service three months ago.
Following testing and crew training, which was hampered by the Covid-19 pandemic, battery overheating incidents and the collapse of train supplier Vivarail, the three-car diesel-battery hybrid units entered revenue-earning service between Wrexham Central and Bidston, No. 230010 working the first train on April 3. “Several separate technical issues have been experienced since the entry into service,” TfW’s rolling stock strategy manager Andrew Gainsbury told The RM. “These have generally been very minor issues, some related to staff not being familiar with the fleet, and quick resolutions have already been put in place.”
Pollen, blocking filters in the engines and causing overheating, has however been a more recent problem. In the short term, this has been mitigated by daily cleaning of filters and swapping over which units are in service during the day.
Transport for Wales Class 230 No. 230010 departs Wrexham General on April 12 with a late-running service to Bidston.
GEORGE JONES