Great Western Railway has introduced the UK’s first battery-only powered train into passenger service.

The Class 230 train has been used for a successful trial of fast-charge technology on the Greenford branch line over the past 22 months and now it will replace its diesel counterpart from West Ealing to Greenford.

Last year the train set a new World Record for the furthest distance travelled by a battery-electric train on a single charge, registering 200.5 miles and beating Stadler Deutschland’s record of 139 miles set in 2021.

GWR engineering director, Dr Simon Green, said: “Our fast-charge trial has successfully demonstrated that battery technology offers a reliable and efficient alternative to power electric trains, in cases where overhead lines aren’t possible or desirable. Delivering the train into passenger service will enable us to gain further insight which can be fed into our own decarbonisation plans, as well as those of the wider rail industry.”

GWR published a White Paper in July last year outlining the findings of the trial, which explored how discontinuous fast-charging can be used to support battery-electric trains calling at interim station stops. As part of its future rolling stock plans, GWR will need battery trains to routinely cover over 60 miles between charges, with the successful record attempt providing clear evidence that the technology is a viable solution for the UK’s railway.

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