UK's First Battery-Powered Train Set to Hit Tracks This Weekend
Get ready for a speed boost as the UK takes a step towards a more sustainable future with its first battery-powered train set to enter service this weekend. The revolutionary train, converted from an old London Underground line, will initially operate on a 5-mile return route in west London, carrying up to 273 passengers per trip.
The train boasts an impressive range of over 200 miles on a single charge, making it one of the longest-distance battery-powered journeys to date. This achievement comes hot on the heels of the train setting a world record for the farthest travelled by a battery-electric train last year.
When not in service, the battery can be recharged in just three and a half minutes using a 2,000kW charger connected directly to the rail line, minimizing downtime. This rapid charging technology is being hailed as a game-changer for the rail industry, offering a faster, safer, and more efficient alternative to traditional diesel-powered trains.
Industry experts are optimistic that this innovative technology could eventually replace diesel trains on routes where electrification with overhead wires is not feasible or cost-effective. With the UK's ambition to reach net-zero by 2050, battery-powered trains like this one will play a crucial role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting sustainable transport.
The Great Western Railway (GWR) has been trialling this technology since early 2024, but this marks its first time carrying paying passengers. The successful trial was led by GWR's engineering director Simon Green, who hailed the achievement as "a significant moment for all those involved" in the project.
Get ready for a speed boost as the UK takes a step towards a more sustainable future with its first battery-powered train set to enter service this weekend. The revolutionary train, converted from an old London Underground line, will initially operate on a 5-mile return route in west London, carrying up to 273 passengers per trip.
The train boasts an impressive range of over 200 miles on a single charge, making it one of the longest-distance battery-powered journeys to date. This achievement comes hot on the heels of the train setting a world record for the farthest travelled by a battery-electric train last year.
When not in service, the battery can be recharged in just three and a half minutes using a 2,000kW charger connected directly to the rail line, minimizing downtime. This rapid charging technology is being hailed as a game-changer for the rail industry, offering a faster, safer, and more efficient alternative to traditional diesel-powered trains.
Industry experts are optimistic that this innovative technology could eventually replace diesel trains on routes where electrification with overhead wires is not feasible or cost-effective. With the UK's ambition to reach net-zero by 2050, battery-powered trains like this one will play a crucial role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting sustainable transport.
The Great Western Railway (GWR) has been trialling this technology since early 2024, but this marks its first time carrying paying passengers. The successful trial was led by GWR's engineering director Simon Green, who hailed the achievement as "a significant moment for all those involved" in the project.