Battery Driven Trains - A Diesel Free Future?

The GWR Fast Charge Battery Train Trial is a project to test an automated ground-based charging system for battery trains. The system was originally invented by Vivarail Ltd, who went into administration at the end of 2022, but with DfT and GWR support the project was revived.


 
The Fast Charging system is located adjacent to bay platform 5 at West Ealing station, where the branch line from Greenford terminates. The train takes a charge every time it visits West Ealing station, to replenish the energy used in the previous round trip. The charging time at West Ealing is approximately 4 minutes, no more than the normal turnaround time within the existing timetable. Other than a requirement to stop the train in the right place, the charging system requires no involvement from the driver.
 
The purpose of the trial is to verify the behaviour of the Fast Charging system through all seasons, to accumulate valuable data and experience about battery life in particular, and to validate range and performance simulations of the train with ‘real world’ data.
 

The battery train itself is a 3-car variant of the Class 230; also designed and built originally by Vivarail, converted from former London Underground D78 stock. It was approved for limited demonstration passenger carrying use during the 2-week COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow in November 2021. Implementation of the Fast Charge modifications started shortly afterwards, and now it is owned and maintained by GWR.
 
The system is a means of decarbonising the fringes of the rail network, which currently rely on diesel trains. The system also brings other benefits such as air quality improvements and reduction in noise through the elimination of diesel trains.

Pre-booking is required.

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