The Anonymous Widower

‘UK-First’ Intercity Battery Trial Exceeds Expectations

The title of this post, is the same as that of this press release from Hitachi.

These three bullet points, act as sub-headings.

• Intercity battery train completes testing in the north of England, demonstrating superior performance and cost-effectiveness compared to diesel engines.
• Trial confirms single battery technology can reduce fuels costs between 35%-50% and enter and leave stations in zero-emission mode.
• Ahead of Railway 200 celebration, this new UK rail innovation is ready to reduce cost and emissions on the railways.

These are the first two paragraphs.

Today, Angel Trains, Hitachi Rail and TransPennine Express are celebrating the successful completion of the UK’s first intercity battery trial in the North of England.

The powerful 700kw battery technology met, and in some cases even surpassed, the key objectives of the trial, including:

• Fuel costs savings between 35%-50%, surpassing previous predictions of up to 30%.
• Just one battery has managed to power the train to speeds greater than 75mph, clearly demonstrating this technology can enter, alight and exit stations solely in zero-emission battery-mode to improve air quality and reduce noise pollution.
• Able to achieve all journey times and performance requirements so can meet operators timetable requirements.
• The battery matches the weight of a diesel engine and is installed in the same undercarriage space, ensuring no risk of track degradation and no impact on the passenger environment.

Note.

1. I would expect, that most of the fuel cost savings are due to the use of regenerative braking to the battery.
2. 75 mph might seem slow, but Hull Trains average slower speeds than this on their diesel sections.
3. Running in a non-polluting mode in stations and sensitive areas, is not going to be disliked by anyone.
4. The most powerful diesel engines in Class 800 and Class 802 trains are rated at 700 kW. So with the same weight and power, it is not surprising that the performance is the same.

It looks to me, that Hitachi have designed an efficient battery-electric electric train, that can extend services from electrified main lines onto branch lines without electrification.

The One Battery Test Train And Hull Trains

Hull Trains currently run one service to Hull and Beverley and have applied for another service to serve Worksop, Woodhouse and Sheffield, where the trains would leave the East Coast Main Line at Retford.

Hitachi’s current test train has two diesel engines and one battery pack.

An Electric Service Between London and Hull/Beverley

Distances for the Hull and Beverley service are.

• ECML  and Hull – 58.1 km. – 3 stops
• Hull and Beverley – 13.2 km or 26.4 km both ways. – 1 stop

Note.

1. Trains will be fully-charged, when they leave the ECML.
2. Trains could be fully-charged, when they leave Hull station, if the platform they use has a charging system.
3. All Hull Trains call in Platform 7 at Hull station.
4. The Hitachi press release said “During a trial run, the battery’s impressive power enabled the train to operate solely in battery mode for 70km.” A speed of 75 mph is indicated.
5. I would assume the Hitachi train used regenerative braking to help recharge the batteries, at the intermediate stops.
6. Trains average around 57 mph between the ECML and Hull and 38 mph between Hull and Beverley.
7. Much of the track between the ECML and Hull has a speed limit of 75 mph.
8. Much of the track between Beverley and Hull has a speed limit of 70 mph or less.

Because of these figures and what Hitachi have said of the train’s performance on batteries, I am convinced that Hull Trains will use an electrified Platform 7 at Hull station to charge the trains.

These pictures show a Hull Trains’s Class 802 train in Platform 7 at Hull station.

Note.

1. The blue Hull Train is in Platform 7 in the pictures.
2. Hull station has a classic Victorian cast-iron roof.
3. Many other similar platforms have been electrified in the UK.

I believe that this platform can be electrified relatively easily with 25 KVAC overhead wires.

An Electric Service Between London and Worksop/Sheffield

Distances for the Worksop and Sheffield service are.

• ECML  and Worksop – 12.2 km. – 1 stop
• Worksop and Sheffield- 25.3 km or 50.6 km both ways. – 1 stop

Note.

1. A train from London will leave Retford with a full battery.
2. Retford and Sheffield is only 37.5 km. So the round trip is only 75 km.
3. A full battery will power the train at 75 mph for 70 km – According to Hitachi.
4. Much of the track between Retford and Sheffield is only 60 mph. So going slower will give an energy saving.
5. Slowing at Worksop, Woodhouse and Sheffield will give the batteries a small charge.
6. There are no bridges in the Workshop station area, so a mile or so of electrification could be easy.
7. It’s an easy level route.
8. I’ve read somewhere that Hitachi have a full route simulator.

I calculate, that a two minute charge at Worksop would probably be all the train would need to travel the 75 km. on batteries.

We don’t know if Hitachi have licenced some of Vivarail’s FastCharge technology from FirstGroup. This could enable them to extract the maximum value from each stop at Worksop.

The One Battery Test Train And Lumo

Hitachi’s current test train has two diesel engines and one battery pack.

It is likely that a train with this configuration could be used on Lumo’s new service to Rochdale.

As London Euston and Manchester Victoria is fully electrified, the only unelectrified section is the 16.7 km. between Manchester Victoria and Rochdale. This would mean, that to complete the trip, Lumo’s train would need the ability to do 33.4 km on battery power.

As Hitachi’s test train can do 70 km on a full charge, Lumo could use trains with the standard two diesel engine and one battery pack configuration. The battery would be charged on the electrified sections of the route, between London Euston and Manchester Victoria stations.

It looks to me, to be a superb demonstration of the capabilities of a battery-electric InterCity train with two diesel engines and one battery pack.

The One Battery Test Train And LNER

Hitachi’s current test train has two diesel engines and one battery pack.

It is likely that a train with this configuration could be used on  several LNER services from King’s Cross.

• Bradford Forster Square – 21.9 km. from Leeds
• Cleethorpes – 102.5 km. from Newark
• Grimsby Town – 97.9 km. from Newark
• Harrogate – 29.4 km from Leeds
• Lincoln – 26.9 km. from Newark
• Middlesbrough – 35.2 km. from ECML
• Cleethorpes – 102.5 km. from ECML
• Scarborough – 67.8 km. from York

Note.

1. Some services like those to Bradford Forster Square, Harrogate and Lincoln could be run by only charging on the East Coast Main Line.
2. Some services like those to Middlesbrough  and Scarborough could be run by charging at the destination.
3. Other services would need more batteries and/or charging at the destination.

I haven’t put in the Scottish services as running them may be more complicated.

Running Longer Distances On Battery Power

This paragraph is from the original Hitachi press release.

This success demonstrates that Hitachi Rail is ready to deliver the next stage of a full intercity battery-electric train. Based on real-world data, such a train would have a range between 100-150km. These ranges can cover significant sections of non-electrified routes, eliminating the need for wires in tunnels or stations, and potentially saving hundreds of millions of pounds on electrification projects.

Note.

1. I would assume that as many diesel engines as possible would be replaced with battery packs.
2. On a typical three-battery Class 800 train, 802 train or Class 805 train, this could be up to three batteries.
3. But on a four-battery Class 810 train, this could be up to four batteries.

A strategy would need to be developed for all routes and trains would be configured and allocated to the routes accordingly.

November 10, 2024 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | Battery-Electric Trains, Beverley Station, Class 800 Train, Class 802 Train, Class 805 Train, Class 810 Train, East Coast Main Line, Electrification, Euston Station, Hitachi, Hull Station, Hull Trains, King's Cross Station, LNER, Lumo, Manchester Victoria Station, Open Access Operators, Rochdale Station, Sheffield Station, Worksop Station