Green traction showcased at COP26 UN climate change conference

TRANSPORT is responsible for 32% of UK greenhouse gas emissions and rail demonstrations took place at the COP26 conference in Glasgow earlier this month to illustrate progress being made towards implementing Network Rail’s initial Traction Decarbonisation Network Strategy published in July 2020.

New concepts showcased at

COP included:

■ Vivarail’s Class 230 battery powered unit No. 230001, that has been reengineered from withdrawn London Underground rolling stock. It operated a series of demonstration runs between Glasgow and Kilmarnock which allowed the fast-charge system to be used.

■ Porterbrook Leasing and the

University of Birmingham displayed the Hydroflex Class 319 conversion that has been jointly developed with the intention of allowing the function of the hydrogen tanks, fuel cells, traction batteries and control system to be explained. Certification has been gained for network operation at 50mph and this is seen as a first step before authorisation of 90mph running for former No. 319382, now 799201.

■ Arcol Energy, with support from Angel Trains, is working on the conversion of former Class 314 EMU No. 314209 to hydrogen power at the Bo’ness and Kinneil heritage railway. While the vehicles (renumbered as 614209) were on show to COP26 delegates, the project has not yet progressed to the point where demonstration running is possible.

Not on display at COP26 was Eversholt Rail and Alstom’s Breeze product using hydrogen fuel cells, based on the iLint units that are in service in Germany. Designated Class 600, units will be converted from Class 321 EMUs.

Avanti West Coast Avanti West Coast has reliveried a Class 390 Pendolino with a unique design to promote sustainability. On October 30, No. 390121 wearing its new colours zooms past Scout Green in Cumbria with the 1Z26 13.27 London Euston-Glasgow Central special ‘Climate Train’, carrying delegates to COP26.