Intercity battery train tested in the north of England

The UK’s pioneering intercity battery train began testing on the national network in late August. This key milestone will see the battery technology trialled on routes between York to Manchester Airport and Leeds to Liverpool Lime Street over the next eight weeks. The train will be easily recognisable with the distinct new livery which celebrates the collaboration between TransPennine Express (TPE), Angel Trains and Hitachi Rail.

A variety of important tests will take place, including the battery’s ability to improve performance on hills, regenerative charging via braking, fuel and emission savings, and zero-emission battery mode in train stations. Rail network testing is taking place after the battery train successfully completed low speed tests on the test track at Hitachi Rail’s Newton Aycliffe manufacturing facility. During these tests the train was propelled entirely by the battery.

This is the first UK trial where a diesel engine is replaced with a battery on an intercity train. The battery has been successfully retrofitted onto one of TPE’s ‘Nova 1’ trains (five-car intercity Class 802).

The battery, which generates a peak power of more than 700 kW, is predicted to reduce emissions and fuel costs by as much as 30 % on a Hitachi intercity train. It will also demonstrate how battery technology can reduce costs in the railways by reducing the need for overhead wires in tunnel sections and over complex junctions. The trial also aims to support the UK battery sector and green growth, with Hitachi Rail investing over 17 million GBP to develop this pioneering technology with Turntide Technologies in Sunderland.