Vivarail, the company that created all of the new Island Line trains, launched just a year ago, has announced that they are to go into administration.
The company, based in Warwickshire, made the decision to file a Notice of Intention to appoint administrators last week (23rd November).
On 1st November 2021, the new and improved railway line swung into action with the very first Vivarail Class 484 passenger train departing from Ryde St John’s Road. It was all part of a £26million transformation to the trains, stations and track.
But it hasn’t all been plain sailing for Island Line. Before the service could re-open Vivarail had issues solving problems with the software, causing the re-opening of the line to be delayed since the Spring of that year.
Since 2013, Vivarail has had the financial support of a sole investment partner, however, the board of directors agreed to operate without reliance on more funding in early 2022. A sale process was approved and work to attract new investment began.
Despite many interested parties, however, no concrete offers came in and the decision to appoint administrators was deemed ‘unavoidable’.
All this comes despite the research and testing of their ‘fast-charge’ battery system set to continue its growth in 2023.
Steve McBride, managing director of Vivarail, has 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 or 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.”
South Western Railway has been approached for a comment but at the time of publication has not responded.
UPDATE TUESDAY – A South Western Railway spokesperson has told Island Echo:
“We are monitoring developments at Vivarail and, if they were to appoint administrators, would work closely with them to ensure the continued smooth running of our trains on the Island Line.”
Oh so us islanders loose our trains.all that money wasted
No, we are not going to lose our trains any more than you would lose your car if the manufacturer went out of business. Plenty of people still driving around in Saabs.
The biggest issue is that any warranty is now in jeopardy.
With the electrified track torn up, then the huge proposed Pennyfeathers development can then spread to the other side of the current track to infill Ashey road area far more easily.
More houses, more non Islanders and more cultural diversity.
Best pop a stab vest into your children’s Christmas stockings for their future here now.
What is your issue with non-islanders? Is it just non-islanders you have issues with or is it different races, sexes or religions as well?
I was born and bred on the island. I now live on the island but work on the mainland. Is that ok with you and your bizarre beliefs?
Why? Think the trains are staying!!
What are you on about? VivaRail was the company who modified the trains for IslandLine.
It will cause a minimal effect on IslandLine. I drive trains built by British Rail Engineering (BREL) who disappeared in 1997, we just use other companies to provide parts and engineering services. Absolutely no impact on train services.
Not sure how Annemarie classifies people as ‘non islanders’ ?
I’ve lived here 6 years, work in education on the island, my wife works in a care home, we actively raise money for a local charity and spend our income here on the island. I’d love to know how we qualify to be ‘islanders’ ??.
But to be honest, we choose not to listen to narrow minded bigatory..
After all we’re all islanders in most peoples minds.
We love our local train service, it’s a huge asset to the island.
So sad another Company has gone off the rails.
No surprise .. just feel sorry for the employees.. a company that was poorly managed and only wanted maximum profits they never understood … you put nothing in .. you get nothing out.
£26 million,is the service any better and more reliable?. Certainly no longer for our tourists to travel for pleasure on some vintage rolling stock. Seems alot spent – will never be profitable before needing yet more new rolling stock- me thinks.
You seem to be living in another universe where there were spare parts for the old trains. They were falling apart, unreliable and dangerous. The new ones are excellent.
Tarmac the entire track, run battery shuttle buses, and open it up to cyclists, horse riders and walkers as the other ex defunct railways are now.
What fool would invest in having a short tiny track, when most visitors come by car, a handful of commuters use this, and the huge cost of fencing a dangerous high voltage line, having to have the rails checked regularly, and to pay for the electric for a few trains a day, and with the vandals, mental people let loose and a ‘sue’ culture anyone sane would avoid this like the plague.
Thumbs down won’t alter the facts above
I see that you have changed your name from ivy searle. Still completely wrong with everything you that you say
I think that we should rip it all up, and replace the track with gabion cages.
Lets think about this, I reckon the southside of st johns road would be a perfect entrance/exit for a tunnel, Hindhead took 5 years and works perfectly and i think there has been one accident since it opened in 2011. That way all the car driving visitors can get here without delays, no ferry issues or weather issues and the rest of it could be turned into dual carriageway with exits off to Brading, Sandown and Shanklin thus relieving traffic in surrounding areas.
Why not just tarmac the entire island? You could fit a load more cars on.
Not surprised they’re going bust if they think they can afford boh a CEO and an MD.
Never mind, no doubt our glorious government will pay all their costs for a few years. But where is Railroad Development Corps of USA in all this?
It amazes me how many people comment on island echo, don’t reveal their real names. How many of you are just miserable and love to complain. I admit I do at times, but you have my name. I am sure island line will continue. If not I will change my name to, monkey noses nothing.
Most. And they are encouraged to do so. It’s all about the “clicks” that earn advertising revenue sadly.
Why do you want a name? Are you going to send a Christmas or Birthday card?
Or is it so any post you disagree with you can bully or intimidate the author?
Should have retained Steam and kept main lines North to South and West to East with just a couple of side lines, maybe coastal, would have been of more use and also a great tourist attraction.
Let me get into my Time Machine and I will change that for you
This is what happens when the gangsters of Whitehall have spent the last 50 years selling of the UK to the highest bidder. The UK invented corruption. Putin leaned all his ways from the UK government gangsters.
What other customers did this manufacturer have?
A bit difficult to make a success of it if little island line is a major customer.
There’s the problem right there.
Any export customers or did Bre it kill that too?
VivaRail catered for a very niche and experimental market, which ultimately proved unsustainable.
Even the leaders in train manufacturing have suffered with the likes of Bombardier laying people off. Most companies try to avoid ordering British made trains as they simply don’t last.
You just have to look at the Welsh made CAF trains, which aren’t even in service yet and are falling to bits (the staff say CAF stands for “cheap as f***). Most train operators choose Siemens, Alstom or Hitachi for new trains.