The US looks set to move into a new area with the innovative ‘Pop-up Metro’ concept as Vivarail sends a second set of battery train stock across the Atlantic.

The Class 230 battery stock was dispatched to Baltimore on the 9th of April 2022 and will be joining up with their sisters at Rockhill Furnace in Pennsylvania later this month where they will undergo testing and demonstrations.

The exciting ‘Pop-Up Metro’ route initiative will see the trains leased to underused lines across the US and will provide a low cost and low-risk options which will see a faster start-up in supplying rail-based transit services for the Americas.

The initiative will support the industry in increasing rail connectivity and decarbonisation as priorities for the US.

Henry Posner III, Chairman of Vivarail shareholder Railroad Development Corporation said:

“There’s a lot of excitement about the possibilities that our Pop-Up Metro proposition brings to the Americas.

“With two trains we are now positioned to act on multiple opportunities at the same time. This is critical in positioning Pop-Up Metro as an alternative for the industry at a time when both rail access and decarbonisation have become national priorities. It also helps that the trains are stylish and comfortable.”

Steve McBride, Managing Director of Vivarail said:

“We’re incredibly proud that the technology we created in the UK is leading the way for battery-powered train operations in the Americas.

“This opens up a new market for Vivarail’s technology and shows that battery-power is a viable and efficient solution to decarbonise the railway.”