Battery train begins on-track trials

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A battery-powered Abellio Greater Anglia Class 379 has taken to Bombardier’s test track at Derby to carry out a series of trials.

Bombardier will be testing the modified train set in association with Network Rail, Future Railway and the Department for Transport (DfT).

Bombardier have retrofitted the electric-multiple unit (EMU) with lithium iron magnesium batteries to see if the system is capable of powering a train without drawing electricity from overhead lines. If successful, the technology could be used to replace diesel stock on branch lines where electrification works wouldn’t be cost effective.

A series of high-speed tests will be carried out at the Rail Innovation and Development Centre(RIDC) in Nottinghamshire later this year. Additional tests are also being completed at Bombardier’s site in Mannheim.

Once complete at the end of 2014, the EMU will be stripped of its modifications and returned to regular passenger operation.

Network Rail’s senior engineer leading on the Independently Powered Electric Multiple Unit (IPEMU) project, James Ambrose, said: “Over the next five years, Network Rail has a target to reduce the cost of running Britain’s railway by a further 20 per cent. At the same time, we are always looking for ways to make the railway greener too. This project has the potential to contribute significantly towards both those goals.

“It’s still early days for what is an exciting and experimental project that tackles these two key objectives, but we’re thrilled to begin the next phase of testing and look forward to running the train on-track in live, high-speed tests.”

3 COMMENTS

  1. As Bombardier are introducing new Battery Package for the Class 379’s. I do wish that Bombardier would conciser building more 379 Electrostars to replace the Class 321’s & 317’s.

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