| British Rail Class 769 Flex | |
|---|---|
 Northern Trains Class 769 at Stalybridge in 2024. | |
 Interior of a Transport for Wales unit | |
| In service | November 2020 – present[1] |
| Manufacturer |
|
| Built at |
|
| Family name | BR Second Generation (Mark 3) |
| Replaced | |
| Constructed |
|
| Number in service | 8 |
| Number scrapped | 1 vehicle[2] |
| Owners | Porterbrook |
| Operators |
|
| Depots | |
| Specifications | |
| Car body construction | Steel[3] |
| Car length |
|
| Width | 2.82 m (9 ft 3 in)[4] |
| Height | 3.58 m (11 ft 9 in)[4] |
| Doors | Double-leaf sliding pocket, each 1.010 m (3 ft 3.8 in) wide (2 per side per car)[3] |
| Wheelbase | Over bogie centres: 14.170 m (46 ft 5.9 in)[3] |
| Maximum speed | 100 mph (161 km/h) |
| Prime mover(s) | 2 × MAN D2876 (one per DT vehicle)[5] |
| Engine type | Inline-6 4-stroke turbo-diesel with SCR[6][5] |
| Displacement | 12.8 L (780 cu in)[6] |
| Traction motors | 4 × GEC G315BZ[4] |
| Power output | 390 kW (520 hp) per engine[5] |
| Electric system(s) | |
| Current collector(s) |
|
| UIC classification | 2′2′+Bo′Bo′+2′2′+2′2′ |
| Bogies |
|
| Minimum turning radius | 70.4 m (231 ft 0 in)[3] |
| Braking system(s) | Electro-pneumatic (disc)[3] |
| Safety system(s) | |
| Coupling system | Tightlock |
| Multiple working | Within class |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
The British Rail Class 769 Flex is a class of bi-mode multiple unit (BMU)[8][9][note 2] converted by Brush Traction, and running in service with Northern Trains. The train is a conversion of the existing Class 319 electric multiple unit (EMU), a conventional unit type which had become surplus to requirements during the 2010s.[11]
The conversion process is carried out by a partnership between the rolling stock leasing company Porterbrook and train manufacturer Brush Traction. The conversion principally involves the addition of a pair of MAN diesel engines (one under each driving trailer vehicle), the output of which is fed into ABB-provided alternators to power the existing electric traction systems.[11] According to Porterbrook, the Class 769's performance under diesel power is either equal or superior to that of a Class 150 Sprinter diesel multiple unit (DMU), and the switchover between EMU and DMU modes can be carried out while the train is in motion.[5]
- ^ Sherratt, P. (14 April 2021). "Wales awaits new fleets". Modern Railways. Stamford: Key Publishing. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
- ^ "Class 319 fleet in focus". Rail Express. No. 321. Horncastle: Mortons Media Group. February 2023. p. 29. ISSN 1362-234X.
- ^ a b c d e f Vehicle Diagram Book No. 210 for Electric Multiple Units (including A.P.T.) (PDF). Derby: Mechanical & Electrical Engineering Department, British Railways Board. January 1988. EC209, EE233–EE234, EH234 (in work pp. 86–87, 176–179, 314–315). Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 January 2015 – via Barrowmore MRG.
- ^ a b c d Class 319 Electric Multiple Unit (PDF) (1A ed.). Derby: Porterbrook Leasing Company. August 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 April 2015.
- ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference
rail engwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b "D2876 LUE63x Rail Engine". MAN Engines. München: Traton SE. Archived from the original on 27 June 2022.
- ^ "Sampling the troublesome 769s". Today's Railways UK. No. 242. April 2022. pp. 34–39.
- ^ "Flex Bi-modes set for May Start". Rail Magazine. No. 929. Peterborough: Bauer Consumer Media. 21 April 2021. p. 26. ISSN 0953-4563.
- ^ "'Wales welcomes its first Bi-mode Class 769 FLEX". Rail Magazine. No. 875. Peterborough: Bauer Consumer Media. 27 March 2019. p. 35. ISSN 0953-4563.
- ^ "Mainline testing begins for Flex Tri-modes". Rail Magazine. No. 929. Peterborough: Bauer Consumer Media. 21 April 2021. p. 16. ISSN 0953-4563.
- ^ a b "UK's first tri-mode train is being introduced by Great Western Railway". Global Rail Review. Brasted: Russell Publishing. 25 April 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
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