- UK train operator Great Western Railway (GWR) is set to attempt to break the world record for the longest distance travelled by a battery-powered train, as the firm looks for methods to feasibly electrify a significant proportion of ageing diesel locomotives within its fleet.
- A converted ex-London Underground train, which has already been operating on a trial basis earlier this year, will attempt to break 200 miles on a single charge.
- The record hopes to demonstrate how battery-powered trains could become a reality on the UK’s rail network, filling in gaps where overhead power lines are yet to be created or otherwise unworkable.
GWR looks to break the world record on battery-powered trains
The current Guinness World Record for the longest distance travelled in a battery electric multiple unit locomotive is held by German train manufacturer Stadler Deutschland, which managed a total distance of 139 miles back in 2021. Under the new attempt, GWR will hope to achieve 200 miles, running on a trip from Reading to London Paddington, then to Oxford, back to London Paddington, and finishing at its original destination of Reading.
The 200 mile target is a special number, as 2025 marks the 200th anniversary of the modern railway. In a sustainable transportation future, it won’t just be electric road-going vehicles that play a part, but electrified trains also. Whilst rail currently only accounts for around 1.4% of total UK transport emissions, reducing associated emissions is still seen as important by rail operators and the government alike.
GWR has already electrified a significant proportion of its Great Western Main Line with overhead wires, allowing for zero-emission travel, but gaps still remain and many branch lines are also without electrification. The initial costs of installing such lines are high, making it particularly unfeasible for branch lines with less traffic where that initial cost is harder to recoup. GWR is hoping that battery-powered trains can play a role here, combined with rail-mounted fast-charging technology at stations which recharge the battery whilst the train is stationary.
The operator’s current diesel units are expected to reach the end of their working lives in the next decade, and it is exploring whether these battery-powered trains could be a viable replacement. Earlier this year, GWR published a white paper outlining how such technology could play a part right across the country.
