This Press Release from Hitachi Rail starts with these three points:
- Hitachi Rail, Angel Trains and TransPeninne Express (TPE) agree to trial retrofitting battery on intercity train,
- Trial, starting next year, can cut fuel usage by at least 20% and reduce emissions on Transpennine network from 2022 onwards,
- Tri-mode service can cut noise pollution in urban areas and improve air quality.
Hitachi also point to this infographic:P
This very much looks to be a step forward from the Intercity Tri-Mode Battery Train that was announced in December 2020 in this press release from Hitachi which is entitled Hitachi And Eversholt Rail To Develop GWR Intercity Battery Hybrid Train – Offering Fuel Savings Of More Than 20%.
The Intercity Tri-Mode Battery Train is described in this Hitachi infographic:
The specifications are very similar, except for the following:
- The battery range is given as five kilometres.
- Fuel savings are up to 30% instead of at least 20%.
- A performance increase of 30 % is claimed.
- The upgrade appears to be able to be fitted to Hitachi intercity trains, as opposed to a straight replacement of one engine by batteries.
It looks to me, that Hitachi have been working hard to improve their design.
I think this paragraph of the press release is key:
The trial will see a diesel engine replaced by batteries to help power a five-carriage train, along with the two remaining engines. The power provided by the batteries will help to reduce the amount of fuel required to operate the train.
Hitachi