Saturday, May 25, 2024 Hitachi Rail began testing the UK’s first intercity battery train earlier today. The battery, which generates over 700kW of peak power, has been successfully retrofitted onto a TransPennine Express ‘Nova 1’ train (five-carriage intercity Class 802). This trial, scheduled for TransPennine routes this summer, is the UK’s first instance of replacing a diesel engine with a battery on an intercity train.
The trial is a joint effort between TransPennine Express, Angel Trains, and Hitachi Rail. The single battery unit is powerful enough to store electricity for more than 75 houses for a day. This impressive energy and power density ensures high-speed acceleration and performance comparable to the diesel engine it replaces, without adding extra weight.
Installing the battery is expected to reduce emissions and improve energy efficiency, potentially cutting emissions and fuel costs by up to 30% on a Hitachi intercity train. For passengers, the trial will demonstrate how intercity trains can enter, alight, and depart non-electrified stations in zero-emission battery mode, enhancing air quality and reducing noise pollution. Manufactured by Turntide Technologies in Sunderland, the battery leverages the North East of England’s growing battery sector.
The trial will provide real-world evidence to support the business case for a fully battery-electric intercity train capable of running up to 100km in battery mode. This significant range suggests that battery.