Британский дизель-электрический поезд Class 210: История разработки и испытаний.

Diesel electric multiple unit

The British Rail Class 210 was a type of diesel electric multiple unit (DEMU) passenger train designed and constructed by British Rail Engineering Limited's Derby Litchurch Lane Works. The Class 210 was developed during the early 1980s to be a modern replacement for the ageing 'first generation' DMUs in use on the Southern Region of British Railways, such as the Class 201 and Class 207. It was designed around a particularly ambitious set of requirements defined in a specification produced by British Rail (BR), construction of the first unit commenced during 1982. While several prototypes were built and subject to extensive testing during the 1980s, the process did not result in a production run for the type. It can be considered an alternative to, or spiritual precursor of, the highly successful Sprinter family of DMUs that were produced during the 1980s. The handful of Class 210s that were built were only operated for a few years before being withdrawn in the 1980s. Carriages from both units were used for the experimental Class 457/Class 316; a majority of the carriages have now been scrapped.

By the beginning of the 1980s, British Rail (BR) operated a large fleet of first generation DMUs, which had been constructed in prior decades to various designs. While formulating its long term strategy for this sector of its operations, British Rail planners recognised that there would be considerable costs incurred by undertaking refurbishment programmes necessary for the continued use of these aging multiple units, particularly due to the necessity of handling and removing hazardous materials such as asbestos. In light of the high costs involved in retention, planners examined the prospects for the development and introduction of a new generation of DMUs to succeed the first generation. In the concept stage, two separate approaches were devised, one involving a so called railbus that prioritised the minimisation of both initial (procurement) and ongoing (maintenance & operational) costs, while the second was a more substantial DMU that could deliver superior performance than the existing fleet, particularly when it came to long distance services. before being renumbered into the DEMU range (6xxxx).

Sets 210 001 and 210 002 operated in various parts of the country on trial (as did the prototype railbuses, both the single cars and the Class 140 set). Crew training on the Reading Taunton line commenced in April 1982 with a press demonstration held in May, before entering service on 5 July 1982. They operated in the London area of the Western Region: 210 001 was based at Reading TMD and operated between Paddington, Reading, Newbury and Oxford, while 210 002 was based at Southall Depot and operated between Paddington and Slough. Testing of the Class 210 greatly influenced planners within BR. One of the TSOs (67400, formerly 60400) is currently in Class 455 set 455 912, indirectly replacing a Class 455 trailer whose structure had been weakened by experimental doors; the other two have been scrapped. A DTSO from set 210 002 was inserted into set 455 913, in 2013, after being rebuilt at Wolverton railway works to replace a carriage destroyed in an accident. The vehicle (67301, formerly 60301) was converted to a 455 MSO.