A
pioneering
company
which
led
the
way
in
converting
redundant
trains
to
new
forms
of
traction
is
preparing
to
appoint
administrators.

Vivarail,
which
was
founded
by
Adrian
Shooter
in
2013,
acquired
a
large
fleet
of
former
District
Line
cars
from
Transport
for
London
with
the
intention
of
re-using
their
aluminium
bodyshells
and
installing
new
technology,
such
as
batteries.

Some
of
the
converted
rolling
stock
is
now
in
service
in
the
south
Midlands
between
Bedford
and
Bletchley
and
on
the
Isle
of
Wight.
A
small
number
of
trains
are
also
being
prepared
for
service
in
north
Wales
and
on
the
Greenford
branch
of
the
GWR,
while
two
have
been
exported
to
the
United
States.

Vivarail
also
celebrated
after
one
of
its
battery
driven
units
became
the
first
electric
train
to
cross
the
Forth
Bridge
during
COP26
in
Glasgow
in
November
2021.

However,
the
company’s
bid
to
gain
new
financing
has
failed
so
far,
and
Railnews
understands
that
many
‘D78’
ex-Underground
vehicles
which
had
been
stored
at
Long
Marston
are
being
scrapped
in
an
attempt
to
avoid
storage
costs.

The
company
took
the
first
step
towards
administration
by
filing
a
Notice
of
Intent
on
23
November.

Managing
director
Steve
McBride
said:
‘The
Board
and
I
have
worked
incredibly
hard
to
secure
new
investment
in
recent
months,
and
although
we
have
been
encouraged
by
the
level
of
interest,
time
is
now
against
us
to
allow
potential
investors
to
step
in.
Combined
with
slow
market
conditions
and
delays
in
reaching
certain
key
commercial
arrangements
we
have
had
no
choice
but
to
file
a
Notice
of
Intention
to
appoint
Administrators
with
the
Courts.

‘The
next
few
weeks
undoubtedly
represents
a
degree
of
uncertainty
for
everyone
connected
to
Vivarail,
including
our
70
employees
who
have
shown
incredible
commitment
and
dedication
to
decarbonising
our
railway.
During
this
time.
management,
the
board
of
directors
and
our
advisors
will
leave
no
stone
unturned
in
finding
a
solution. 

‘We
will
now
be
consulting
with
our
customers
and
other
stakeholders
to
try
and
drive
the
business
forwards,
but
we
must
be
realistic
in
that
if
we
are
unable
to
deliver
a
rescue
package
Administration
will
unfortunately
be
inevitable.’