UK battery-only train passenger service starts — Greenford branch line

UK battery-only train passenger service is due to begin on Saturday 31 January, with Great Western Railway (GWR) bringing its Class 230 into scheduled operation on the Greenford branch line, as reported by Railway-News.

The battery-electric unit will replace a diesel train on the route between West Ealing and Greenford. The first timetabled passenger trip is the 05:30 departure from West Ealing to Greenford. For the initial rollout, the Class 230 will run on Saturdays, and GWR has said additional services could be added later in the year once performance data is gathered.

UK battery-only train passenger service on the Greenford branch line

Before entering passenger use, the same route hosted a 22-month fast-charge battery technology trial. The programme included technical testing and safety assessments, focused on how battery-electric operation performs in a passenger railway environment—particularly where overhead electrification is not available.

Don’t miss…Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus platforms 16–17 closure: 85-day shutdown

The train also set a new world record for the longest distance travelled by a battery-electric train on a single charge. It covered 200.5 miles, beating the previous record of 139 miles set in 2021, as noted by Railway Supply. GWR said this supported the case that battery traction can enable longer-distance services than previously demonstrated.

Class 230 battery-electric train and the fast-charge battery technology trial

GWR Engineering Director Dr Simon Green described the move into passenger service as a significant step for those involved, linking it to plans to replace the operator’s ageing diesel fleet. He said the fast-charge trial showed battery technology can be a reliable and efficient alternative to power electric trains where overhead lines are not possible or desirable. Green added that running the train with passengers will provide further insight to feed into GWR’s decarbonisation plans and support wider industry learning. He also thanked colleagues at Great Western Railway and Network Rail, and paid tribute to the late Adrian Shooter, whose vision the project followed.

Network Rail supported the initiative through its Western route, including the installation of fast-charge battery banks and involvement in safety and infrastructure reviews. The partners noted that rail produces lower emissions than many other forms of transport, and they see battery-powered trains as one option to reduce emissions further on non-electrified lines. They also said battery traction could help meet longer-term targets to cut carbon emissions across the railway.

Battery-powered trains, fast-charge battery banks and net-zero by 2050

Network Rail’s Western route director Marcus Jones said the record-breaking battery train moving into passenger service is a major step forward for sustainable rail travel in Britain. He pointed to collaborative work across the rail industry, including Network Rail teams that installed the fast-charge battery banks and assisted with safety reviews to ensure the train and infrastructure were ready for passenger services. Jones said the trial demonstrated how promising the technology is and described the start of passenger operation as another important milestone, according to Railway Gazette International.

He added that rail is already the greenest form of public transport and said battery-powered trains will play a crucial role in the commitment to a low-emission railway and the ambition to reach net-zero by 2050, with Network Rail looking to support the next phase as the technology moves into regular operation.

In July last year, GWR published a white paper setting out findings from the fast-charge trial. The document examined how discontinuous fast charging at selected stations could support battery-electric trains running on branch lines and secondary routes.

As part of its future rolling stock strategy, GWR has said battery trains would need to routinely travel more than 60 miles between charges. The operator said results from the trial and the record-distance run have been used to support the case that this is achievable with current technology.

GWR said it is continuing discussions with the Department for Transport and other train operators to develop a business case for wider investment in battery-powered trains.

News on railway transport, industry, and railway technologies from Railway Supply that you might have missed: