The British railway company TransPennine Express has begun testing innovative solar control films on the windows of its Class 185 diesel trains, developed by Siemens Mobility, this is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

TransPennine Express Tests Solar Control Films for Trains
Photo: TransPennine Express

The main goal of the tests is to determine how effectively these films can reduce the energy consumption of air conditioning systems.

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Aura Brand Solutions’ products are expected to block more than 30% of solar heat radiation and 99.9% of ultraviolet rays, without limiting passenger visibility and while ensuring comfortable conditions inside the carriages.

TransPennine Express is the first rail operator in the UK to conduct such tests on its trains.

The testing program is planned for six months and covers both summer and winter periods.

This will allow the company to collect comprehensive data on the effectiveness of the films under different climatic conditions.

According to estimates, reducing heat radiation through the windows should decrease the load on the carriage cooling systems, ultimately lowering energy consumption.

The tests are conducted under real operating conditions, allowing the assessment of not only the thermal properties of the films but also their durability, resistance to external influences, and their impact on overall passenger perception.

As part of the program, two types of films are installed on different sections of the TransPennine Express routes for a comparative analysis of their characteristics and effectiveness.

Aura Brand Solutions films are designed with the requirements of railway transportation in mind: they must be strong, lightweight, and durable.

Blocking solar energy helps improve the cabin microclimate, which is particularly important in extreme heat or cold.

This, in turn, can increase passenger comfort levels and reduce air conditioning maintenance costs.

Moreover, the use of such solutions may help reduce the company’s carbon footprint, which is relevant in the context of the current climate agenda.

TransPennine Express is committed to implementing environmentally friendly technologies and solutions aimed at the sustainable development of the country’s transport system.

The company is confident that the results obtained will help it decide whether to further apply solar control films to all its fleet’s trains.

Thus, the testing of solar control films on TransPennine Express trains represents an important step toward increasing the energy efficiency and comfort of passenger transportation in the UK.

Detailed data are expected in the coming months, which will help determine how effective such innovative solutions are under real operating conditions.

Photo: TransPennine Express

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