Hitachi battery plans for GRW Class 802s Cornish engineering work completed

HITACHI RAIL has announced plans to modify GWR’s fleet of Class 802/0 five-car IETs to run on battery power, as well as overhead electric and diesel. The primary benefit will be on the route between Paddington and Penzance, although it could be just as valuable on other non-electrified parts of the GWT network.

Developing tri-mode trains will be in partnership with train owner Eversholt Rail and will involve replacing one diesel engine on an 802/0 five-car set with batteries. The battery will be fully charged when under the wire in around 15 minutes (when static). Testing is expected to begin in 2022, with service entry hoped for 2023.

In addition, using battery power in and out of the route’s 15 nonelectrified stations and other urban areas will reduce fuel consumption by more than 20%, improve air quality and reduce noise levels, according to Hitachi Rail. In the longer-term Hitachi hopes to be able to develop a fully battery-powered Inter City train by the late 2040s.

Jim Brewin, who leads the firm in the UK and Ireland, said: “This partnership is an exciting opportunity to unlock new, greener trains for passengers, reduce running costs for operators and cut carbon. At Hitachi Rail we share the UK’s ambition for a net-zero emission future. Britain is in a unique position to become a global leader in battery trains. We want to support the UK’s green economic recovery and levelling-up.”

Eversholt Rail CEO Mary Kenny said: “We are delighted to continue working in partnership with Hitachi to investigate the conversion of our Class 802/0 fleet to tri-mode by introducing battery technology.”

NETWORK RAIL has completed extensive work in Cornwall to improve the reliability of the area’s infrastructure. Engineers completed the programme on December 11, 2020, which involved replacing or repairing 2.4km of old track and ballast between Penzance and Truro and on the St Ives Bay line. Furthermore, 15 signalling and communications cabinets were also replaced. The work was finished on time.

The unusual sight of three Class 66s in Penzance station on December 6, 2020 during the west Cornwall engineering project. From left to right are Colas 66850 with 6C20, Colas 66846 with 6C21 and DB Cargo 66014 with 6W23. Outside at Platform 4, Colas 66849 was the last to arrive with 6C24, all starting from Westbury and all in conjunction with relaying work at St Erth and Carn Brea between December 6 and 10, 2020. (Andrew Triggs)