EVEN the trains are switching to battery power – Great Western Railway has announced a new project which it hopes will reduce carbon emissions on branch line services.
It is trialling a new FastCharge scheme that it says could solve the problem of running battery-only trains and see the end of diesel engines.
The system can deliver charging power of up to 2,000kW, and is eight times more powerful than Tesla’s Supercharger.
This means a train can charge in three-and-a-half minutes before starting its journey.
GWR says the use of batteries for extended operation has been constrained by their range, meaning widespread implementation has, until now, not been possible. It also negates the need for overhead electric lines.
The trial is based out of West Ealing and test runs will operate between Long Marston, Evesham, Honeybourne and Moreton-in-Marsh. The train then makes its way to Reading Train Care Depot ahead of its move on to West Ealing.
It could pave the way for battery-only trains to operate on branch lines across the UK and help meet the Government and wider rail industry’s target to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
GWR Engineering Director Dr Simon Green said: “This work has never been done before and we’re leading the way to help the Department for Transport and Network Rail understand what is required to roll out this technology on the UK’s rail network.
“Only now has there been a combination of battery capability and charging technology that enables a branch line train to operate to the same timetable as a diesel unit, and yet still charge safely and with minimal impact on the local grid power supply.
“Our specialist engineering team have been working round-the-clock to ensure that this FastCharge system has been fully tested and that there will be sufficient charge for the train to operate to the timetable on the Greenford branch line.
“Each branch line will vary but this is an incredibly exciting innovation and I’m proud that GWR is at the forefront of the railway’s commitment to phase out diesel-only traction by 2040.”
The project is an important milestone for sustainable travel, says Network Rail interim regional managing director Rob Cairns.
“Rail is already the greenest form of public transport and battery-powered trains have the potential to play an important role in our commitment to a low-emission railway, with a goal of reaching net-zero by 2050,” he added.
GWR says that unlike other charging technologies, the FastCharge system can be installed between the running rails in a matter of hours, with minimal disruption to the existing service or, in the case of West Ealing, no disruption at all.
It uses short charge rails which are fully covered by the train and are only live when the train is charging. This is very different to third-rail systems where the rail is live all the time.
GWR says it has already carried out simulations on other branch lines in the Thames Valley to explore how it could be rolled out even further in the future, saving 1,7000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
It is hoped the technology could one day see battery-powered trains in operation across the UK’s approximately 2,000 miles of 80-plus branch lines.
