thumb|right|[[Railtrack MPV, nos. DR98917+DR98967, at Doncaster Works on 27 July 2003. These purpose-built departmental vehicles were built to replace older trains converted from former passenger vehicles.]]

thumb|right|DR98915 and DR98965 passing through Lincoln on 26 October 2007

thumb|right|DR98915 and DR98965 passing through Lincoln on 26 October 2007

The Multiple-purpose Vehicle or MPV is a purpose-built departmental derivative of a diesel multiple unit. Twenty-five two-car units were ordered by Railtrack to enable it to replace its varied collection of ageing departmental vehicles, many of which were converted from redundant passenger stock.

The vehicles were built in Germany by Windhoff. The design is based on the Windhoff "CargoSprinter" units that are operated by Deutsche Bahn (Germany) and CRT Group (Australia). Normally a unit consists of one powered vehicle fitted with twin Railpac diesel engines, When first built there were problems with the vehicles being 'out of gauge' when running empty.

The concept of the design is that each vehicle has a driving cab and an under floor engine/transmission with Multiple unit (MU) control. The majority of each vehicle is a flat load bed that can carry combinations of 10-foot and 20-foot modules that are secured using the locking system for ISO standard containers. Modules can be changed as required to suit current requirements.

In 2005, two powered MPV units were used to form a "Freight Multiple Unit" for freight trials, made by coupling standard freight wagons in between the pair of MPV units. Temporary multiple unit control cables were run along the wagons in order to connect the two MPVs, which are acting as locomotives working as a push-pull train.

In 2025, a MPV used for removing leaves from rail track was named "Ctrl Alt Deleaf" after a public poll.

Variants

There are five distinct types of MPV unit that represent the development of the concept for use in the UK. All are owned by Network Rail.

{| class="wikitable"

!colspan=3|Number Range

!Description

!Comments

|-

|DR98901-902

| +

|DR98951-952

|Prototypes

|rowspan=3|Work in semi-permanently coupled pairs, e.g. DR98907+DR98957.

|-

|DR98903-925

| +

|DR98953-974

| rowspan="2" |Production units

|-

|DR98926-932

| +

|DR98976-982

|-

|DR98001-014

|

|

| rowspan="2" |Overhead-Line MPV

|Some painted in White livery and some now in Network Rail yellow livery. Were used on West Coast Main Line, most are now stored.

|-

|DR97011-014

|

|

|Painted in Blue livery. Used on High Speed 1.

|}

High output wiring train

For the replacement of overhead lines on the West Coast Main Line at the start of the 2000s, Railtrack designed and ordered two new self-powered High Output Wiring Trains (HOWT). The order was placed with Windhoff in July 1999 and the first train available for trials in Germany in June 2000 before being shipped to the United Kingdom shortly afterwards. The replacement program using the new trains began in November 2000. The cost of each of the two trains was £3.3 million.

Welsh freight trials

For a five-week period beginning in March 2005, trials were undertaken in Wales, transporting timber from Aberystwyth to a wood-chip factory at Chirk.

The daily service, arrived at Aberystwyth at 09:22, allowed approximately 2.5 hours for loading of the timber and then departed, loaded, at 11:50 as 6Z21. On the single-track Cambrian Line the freight service was timed to follow in the footsteps of a regular passenger service to avoid potentials for delay.

Switches and Crossings video train

thumb|right|DR98008 configured as the S&C video train in 2011

Double-ended single-unit MPV number DR98008 is used by the Network Rail Asset Information department as a track geometry and video train. In the Manchester area the unit is allowed to operate permissively throughout all station areas, replacing a large number of walked inspections.

  • On 17 October 2017, an MPV performing leaf removal duties near Markinch, Fife collided with a tree across the line. The accident damaged the MPV's braking system, causing the train to run away for . Two crew sustained slight injuries jumping from the train. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch released their report into the incident on 11 January 2018. The RAIB determined that debris from the tree strike activated a brake release mechanism on the MPV. The debris also separated all three brake hoses, which prevented the driver from reactivating the brakes.
  • On 15 August 2021, an MPV collided at low speed with a rail grinder in the Thames Tunnel, part of High Speed 1.
  • On 16 November 2023, MPV DR97012 collided with tamper DR73916, which was being coupled to MPV DR97011 at the time. One person was injured. The accident occurred on High Speed 1 near Strood, Kent.

See also

  • CargoSprinter
  • M250 series (a Japanese freight EMU)

References

  • On-Track Plant website
  • Photos of MPVs
  • Windhoff GmbH