A Driving Van Trailer (DVT) is a British purpose-built control car railway vehicle that allows the driver to operate with a locomotive in push-pull formation from the opposite end of a train.

The Mark 3 DVT was originally designed and produced by British Rail Engineering Limited (BREL) during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Other operators have opted to have their DVTs outfitted with diesel generators or even traction apparatus, the latter case resulting in the experimental Class 19 locomotive.

The DVT concept is similar to the Mark 2 DBSO but, unlike its predecessor which was rebuilt from existing stock, it was a new build vehicle manufactured specifically for this purpose.

The second design has a narrower profile, similar to Mark 4 coaches, which would enable it to be converted to tilting operation if required in the future.

[citation needed] In addition to the driver's cab, some DVTs have luggage and cycle storage space and a guard's office.

[citation needed] As part of the privatisation of British Rail, all 52 DVTs were sold to the newly created rolling stock leasing company Porterbrook in 1994 and were operated by InterCity West Coast franchise holder Virgin Trains West Coast from 1997 until both the Mark 2 and Mark 3 sets were replaced by Class 390 tilting trains between 2003 and 2005.

Nicknamed the Pretendolino, this received re-upholstered seating, power points, wi-fi and a full Virgin external repaint at Wabtec, Doncaster in 2009.

[8] Virgin used this set with a Class 90 locomotive, hired from Freightliner, on a Euston to Crewe (via Birmingham) service on Fridays only until December 2012.

From 9 December 2013, it was utilised to operate a London Euston - Birmingham New Street train on Thursdays and Fridays only, until its withdrawal in October 2014.

[12] Between September 2004 and July 2005, Silverlink operated two DVTs in conjunction with Mark 3 and EWS Class 90s on peak-time London Euston to Northampton services.

[15][16][17] In January 2008, DVT 82115 was hired to Hull Trains to operate services on the East Coast Main Line from London King's Cross to Doncaster, with a set of Cargo-D Mark 3s while it was short of rolling stock.

[18][19] During 2005, the Edinburgh - North Berwick services were operated by English Welsh & Scottish Class 90s with former Virgin Trains Mark 3 carriages and a Driving Van Trailer.

[citation needed] After Wrexham & Shropshire ceased in January 2011, its fleet of five DVTs were transferred to fellow DB Regio UK company Chiltern Railways and started operating on London Marylebone to Birmingham Snow Hill services with Mark 3s.

[citation needed] During early 2013, several DVTs, including 82111, 82124, 82129, and 82145, were acquired by Network Rail and modified to work with diesel locomotives for use on test trains.

[28] In March 2012, three DVTs (82306-82308) were introduced along with Mark 3s and Class 67s on Arriva Trains Wales' Premier Service from Holyhead to Cardiff.

[33] 101 Squadron‡ As part of the electrification of the East Coast Main Line from London King's Cross to Leeds, Edinburgh and Glasgow, 32 Mark 4 DVTs were built by Metro-Cammell at their Washwood Heath facility for inclusion in InterCity 225 sets.

The Mark 5 DVT was to be part of British Rail's ill-fated InterCity 250 project on the West Coast Main Line.