BMAC has worked with Vivarail since the conception of converting old D Stock London tube trains of 1970’s vintage into vehicles, much like the one seen at COP26 which are showcasing the latest in electric power technology. BMAC played a critical part in the project, supplying the exterior lighting for the train. The lighting modules supplied by BMAC are the LED tail and marker lamps and the LED headlights, which together provide greater energy efficiency than the incandescent lighting units previously fitted to the vehicle. The reduced power requirements of LED lighting units were a key part in the overall design objective of reducing the electrical load and extending battery range. (The 2809-24-110 LED Headlight and 2830-24-110-01 combined tail / marker light plus 2809-24-110-04 upper marker light).
The Vivarail train was constructed with the help of multiple British manufacturers and was completed in just eight months, ensuring it was finalised in time for its COP26 debut. The battery system, traction control, and power electronics on Vivarail are the latest of their kind and have been designed to be transferable to existing trains for the purpose of converting them to be fully battery operational.
The train is projected to form part of Network Rail’s goal of a net zero railway in Britain and BMACs involvement in the Vivarail project at COP26 demonstrates its commitment to the decarbonisation of Britain’s railways. During COP26, the train carried world leaders, environmental activists, and royalty, demonstrating the very best in British engineering on the world’s stage.
Steve McBride, Managing Director of Vivarail commented;
“It is a great honour to be asked to support such an important event. The achievement of an innovative British company like Vivarail to build a first in class train is a great example of our country’s ingenuity and ability to find new technologies and ways to do things. We are proud to be leading the field at COP26 and delighted that you are part of this excellent success story for UK industry”
David Myers, Head of Sales at BMAC Ltd commented:
“We are honoured and excited to be able to contribute to this hugely important project which will fundamentally change the way rail travel works in the UK, creating a greener world for the next generation of rail users.”
Established in 1927, BMAC, part of Grakon group, a subsidiary of global leaders Methode Electronics Inc, designs and manufactures lighting and electronic control systems in its manufacturing facility, located close to Manchester in Northwest England. For over 90 years, BMAC has been developing and pushing the boundaries in vehicle lighting technology and is now one of the leading UK based manufacturers of exterior lighting and associated electrical equipment for both the road and rail sectors.
The acquisition of Grakon by Methode Electronics Inc, a global developer of customer engineered, and application-specific products and solutions has further strengthened BMAC’s market offering. The combined knowledge and expertise has accelerated BMAC’s position as a global solutions provider of advanced lighting systems and electronic controls for premier vehicle OEMs.
