Siemens Mobility Offers the UK a Rail Transport Revolution with £3.5 Billion Savings

The introduction of battery trains by Siemens Mobility promises not only significant cost savings for the UK but also an acceleration in the modernization of the railway network, this is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

The German conglomerate has proposed its services for the production and supply of bi-mode battery trains, which will help save £3.5 billion required for the full electrification of the UK railway network.

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Siemens Mobility’s battery trains, equipped with lithium-titanate batteries, represent an innovative solution that requires electrification of only 20-30% of the network.

These trains can charge to full capacity within 20 minutes while running on electrified sections or during stops at stations.

This approach significantly reduces the time and costs associated with network electrification.

Additionally, Siemens proposes using an innovative Rail Charge Converter (RCC) on non-electrified sections, which would reduce the electrification project timeline from 7 years to 18 months.

Siemens’ proposal enables the UK to expedite the replacement of aging diesel trains.

“The UK will never have to buy diesel passenger trains again. Our battery electric trains, which we will assemble at our new factory in Goole, Yorkshire, can replace outdated British diesel trains without needing to electrify hundreds more miles of track in the coming years,” noted Sambit Banerjee, Managing Director for Rolling Stock and Customer Services at Siemens UK.

The economic and environmental impact of deploying such trains is significant.

Siemens Mobility claims that using battery trains on all routes will save £3.5 billion over 35 years and reduce CO2 emissions by 12 million tonnes during this period.

The UK is actively seeking ways to modernize its railway fleet.

Operators such as Chiltern, Great Western Railway, Northern, ScotRail, TransPennine Express, and Transport for Wales are already looking to replace their diesel trains.

Siemens has confirmed its discussions with operators and UK officials, stating its readiness to participate in tenders for supplying battery trains.

The successful launch of the first Mireo Plus B battery trains in Germany this spring confirms the effectiveness of the proposed solution.

The bi-mode Mireo Plus B trains have a range of up to 120 km without connection to the power grid, are equipped with two battery packs with a lifespan of 15 years, and offer 25% cheaper operation compared to diesel trains.

It is expected that after all 27 units are commissioned in Baden-Württemberg, diesel fuel consumption on the routes will be reduced by 1.8 million liters per year.

Thus, Siemens Mobility’s proposal represents a significant step into the future of the UK railway network, combining economic benefits and environmental responsibility.

The introduction of battery trains allows the UK to not only save significant funds but also greatly reduce its carbon footprint, which is especially relevant in the context of the global fight against climate change.

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