UPGRADED CHILTERN MK3 STOCK ENTERS TRAFFIC
Published at 01:00 on Wednesday 30th May 2012
Tags: Chiltern, Chiltern Railways, Mk3, coaches
The new power-operated doors fitted to Chiltern Railways' Mk3 set. Jack Boskett
The first of Chiltern Railways Mk3 sets to be equipped with power-operated doors entered service on 28th May.
The ability to equip the Mk3 fleet has long been the topic of debait within the industry, over the possible options and more importantly the financial justification. However, Chiltern has spent several months evaluating options and testing one of the doors on a redundant Mk3 at Wabtec Works, Doncaster. The end result is a train that gives the passengers the benefit of the Mk3 interior and ride quality, while providing the company with the door performance benefits of more modern multiple-units. The actual mechanism and control design is basedon the system fitted to the SWT Class 444s.
The new power operated doors are supplied by Rail Door Solutions and have been carefully designed to take account of the body profile of the original Mk3 doors, while being taller than the slam-door equivilant. Because the width of the power doors is wider, a number of toilets and luggage racks have been removed to provider a larger vestibule.
