Battery-powered GWR train 'breaks UK record'

A battery-powered train is thought to have broken a UK record during a test journey.

Great Western Railway (GWR) has been trialling its FastCharge battery, which it hopes will eventually eliminate the need to use diesel.

On 14 February, a test train travelled 86 miles on battery power alone without charging, through Gloucestershire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire.

A few days later, it travelled 70 miles on 45% of its battery capacity.

The totally battery-powered journey began at Long Marston before the train travelled to Evesham West Junction, Moreton-in-Marsh, Honeybourne North and back.

The stations are on the line to London Paddington.

GWR claims that its FastCharge battery has allowed it to claim the record of the longest battery train distance travelled without recharging in the UK.

The company hopes the technology will help it reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050The Class 230 battery train completed a 70-mile move from Long Marston to Reading Train Care Depot on 45 per cent of its battery capacity.

‘Surpassed expectations’

The team of GWR engineers on board the test train claim it could have travelled “more than 120 miles on a single charge”.

GWR engineering director Dr Simon Green said the test journeys of the battery-powered train “surpassed the expectations of engineers”.

“Achieving these distances gives us great confidence as we press forward with this industry-leading FastCharge technology,” he said.

“It’s also worth noting that in reaching the 86 miles on Wednesday, the train was operating in a real-world environment, at speeds of up to 60mph, stopping and starting over a hilly route, with elevation changes of up to 200m.”

It’s also hoped that the use of battery-powered trains will remove the need for overhead electric lines.