TransPennine Express train – Credit: Chris Davis Photography / Hitachi Rail
The UK's first ever battery-powered diesel locomotive underwent test runs last Friday.
The train battery units, which can generate more than 700kW peak power, have been successfully retrofitted onto the TransPennine Express' Nova 1 train, which runs between Sunderland and Newcastle in the northeast of England.
The tests are a collaboration between TransPennine Express (which runs the trains), Angel Trains (which makes the carriages) and Turntide Technologies (which manufactures the batteries), with Hitachi Rail, the Japanese rail company that runs trains in the UK, joining as an research and development partner and also collaborating on battery technology.
A single battery unit can store enough energy to power over 75 homes for a day. This superior energy and power density provides rapid acceleration and performance on par with traditional diesel engines, without compromising weight.
The installation of batteries will reduce emissions and improve energy efficiency, and Hitachi's intercity trains are predicted to reduce emissions and fuel costs by up to 30%.
“We are thrilled to be taking part in the trial of this innovative and vital battery technology,” said Paul Staples, TransPennine Express's director of engineering, safety and sustainability. “We take our environmental responsibilities seriously and are constantly looking at ways to make rail travel even more sustainable and efficient.”
Most importantly for passengers, the trial will test whether intercity trains can operate in emission-free battery mode to enter and exit non-electrified stations, improving air quality and reducing noise pollution.
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The trials provide real-world evidence supporting the business case for 100% battery-electric intercity trains capable of traveling up to 60 miles in battery mode. This range means that battery technology could be deployed to cover the final non-electrified sections of intercity routes in the coming years.
The project is expected to demonstrate how battery technology can reduce infrastructure costs by reducing the need for overhead lines in tunnel sections and complex intersections.
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“We are extremely proud to be part of this groundbreaking project with our esteemed partners at Hitachi Rail to co-develop one of the world's most powerful passenger train batteries,” said Mark Cox, general manager of Turntide Technologies' Transportation business unit.
“The successful development and production of these advanced batteries at Sunderland further underlines the important role we play in the UK industrial sector. We believe this clean technology will revolutionise the rail industry not only in the UK but around the world.”
The upgrades come ahead of full train testing planned for this summer.
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