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on 27th August 2004. This vehicle is painted in Arriva Trains Northern livery.]] in BR Blue/Grey livery in 1994.]] British Rail 's second design of carriages was designated Mark 2. The Mark 2 has a semi-integral construction, giving it more strength than a Mark 1 in the event of an accident. The prototype Mark 2 carriage (a First Corridor -type coach, number 13252) was built in 1963 , and is now preserved at the National Railway Museum , York . The production runs, of which there were seven sub-divisions identified (Mark 2 and Mark 2A to Mark 2F), their build dates and their specific differences are set out in the table below: The final Mark 2 carriage constructed was departmental carriage no. 999550, which was built in 1977. It is currently still in service with Network Rail as part of the New Measurement Train . The very last Mark 2's (2D onwards), look very similar to the later Mark 3 design, and are often confused. A number of Mark 2 carriages, 68 in total, were sold to New Zealand rail operator Tranz Rail in 1996 . A number of the carriages were extensively refurbished for the Wellington – Palmerston North service, with new Japanese assembled narrow-gauge bogies for use on New Zealand’s 1067mm Gauge Railway Network . The carriages also featured new auto plug doors and interiors. The initial refurbishment proved more costly than expected, and the remaining carriages were laid-up until a further refurbishment programme began for the Auckland Regional Transport Authority for use on Auckland suburban services. These carriages, classified SA / SD, include two sets of doors and are usually hauled by the Vieola Auckland DC Class Locomotives . The SD carriages include a drivers’ console. 15 such carriages were purchased from a UK scrap dealer by Ireland 's national rail operator Iarnród Éireann in 1989 in exchange for a similar number of scrap diesel locomotives. The carriages were returned to service on Irish railways. All had previously been sold as scrap by British Rail . Older Mark 2A/B/C carriages were scrapped in 2004 , as they were heavily corroded. Caledonian Sleeper services between London Euston and Scotland still use Mark 2 coaching stock, mainly for the seated sleeper and lounge cars. As of 2006, Iarnród Éireann , still run some mid-day intercity services using Mark 2D Stock . These are air-conditioned, but easily distinguishable from IÉ's newer MkIII carriages by being two feet shorter and having "slam doors". With the introduction of CAF DVT Mark 4 trainsets, these will shortly be replaced by MKIIIs. . . REFERENCES
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