As part of COP26, Network Rail is demonstrating its commitment to decarbonizing Britain’s railway and supporting the UK and Scottish Governments’ net-zero goals with a showcase of two green technologies which are vital to rail’s part in tackling climate change.
Two innovative new trains will run during the conference as part of Network Rail’s Green Trains @COP26 event, showcasing the range of green ways to power trains including batteries, hydrogen, and electricity.
These technologies have been identified as important elements of plans to make rail even greener, as highlighted in Network Rail’s interim Traction Decarbonisation Network Strategy.
British company Vivarail has designed and manufactured pure battery and battery hybrid trains, as well as innovative charging technology, and its next generation train can achieve a range of up to 100km and recharges in only 10 minutes.
The flexibility of batteries means this package can be used to repurpose good quality diesel units or added to other types of electric train so that they’re capable of travelling on parts of the network not yet electrified.
Vivarail has used its Class 230 trains, which previously ran on London’s District Line as the D78 stock, to prove the concept. The battery traction and charging package can be used on other trains with a higher speed – opening new swathes of the network. The Class 230 trains are ideal for branch lines and shuttle services.
The other train running as part of Network Rail’s Green Trains @COP26 event is Porterbrook’s HydroFLEX, which is a hybrid train that can be powered by hydrogen fuel cells and overhead electric wires.