HybridFLEX Battery-Diesel Train Continues Programme Of Testing
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Global Railway Review.
This is the first two paragraphs.
The HybridFLEX battery-diesel train is currently undertaking a programme of tests between Duffield and Wirksworth, prior to returning to Chiltern Railways in the summer.
Fitted with a Rolls Royce MTU hybrid drive, the HybridFLEX will cut noise emissions in stations and deliver zero emissions when operating under battery power.
All seems to be going well, according to the article.
I like the concept, as to replace a diesel engine with a diesel-battery hybrid power pack must surely be a sensible way to at least partially decarbonise.
In the UK, the following diesel multiple units are fitted with modern MTU engines and could be candidates from a replacement power pack.
- Class 168 train – 19 trains – 82 diesel engines
- Class 170 train – 136 trains – 350 diesel engines
- Class 171 train – 20 trains – 56 diesel engines
- Class 172 train – 39 trains – 93 diesel engines
- Class 195 train – 58 trains – 149 diesel engines
- Class 196 train – 26 trains – 80 diesel engines
- Class 197 train – 77 trains – 180 diesel engines
That is a total of 990 diesel engines.
As some of the Class 196 and Class 197 trains have yet to be delivered, I do wonder, if it would be sensible to deliver them as diesel-battery hybrid trains.
Irish Rail And Porterbrook Order MTU Hybrid PowerPacks
The title of this post is the same as that of this this article on the International Rail Jotnal..
This is the first paragraph.
Irish Rail (IE) and British rolling stock leasing company Porterbrook have signed contracts with Rolls-Royce for the supply of 13 MTU Hybrid PowerPacks, the first firm orders for the hybrid rail drives.
Other points are made in the article.
- IE has ordered nine PowerPacks for Class 22000 trains. If the technology works they intend to convert all 63 trainsets, which will need 234 PowerPacks, as each car has a diesel engine.
- Porterbrook has ordered four for Class 168 and Class 170 trains.
- The PowerPacks will be delivered between mid-2020 and 2021.
- The MTU engines are built to EU Stage 5 emission regulations.
- The PowerPacks can switch to battery power in stations and sensitive areas.
- Under battery power, noise is reduced by 75 % and CO2 emissions by up to 25 %
- Operating costs are significantly reduced.
- The PowerPacks have regenerative braking, thus they reduce brake pad wear.
- Due to electric power, the trains have been acceleration, which may reduce journey times.
It seems that passengers, train operating companies, train leasing companies and those that live by the railway are all winners.
If the concept works reliably and meets its objectives, I can see MTU selling a lot of Hybrid PowerPacks.
Which Operators Will Be Used For Trials?
This is a valid question to ask and I’ll put my thoughts together.
Irish Rail Class 22000 Train
These trains only run in Ireland with one operator;Irish Rail, so they will be used for trials.
As each car has one MTU diesel engine and Irish rail are stated in Wikipedia as wanting to run three-car and six-car sets, could they be converting one train of each length?
British Rail Class 168 Train
All the nineteen Class 168 trains of various lengths are in Chiltern Railway’s fleet, they will be the trial operator.
Chiltern also have nine two-car trains, which could be ideal for trial purposes as they will need two Hybrid PowerPacks.
British Rail Class 170 Train
Porterbrook own upwards of thirty two-Car Class 170 trains with CrossCountry, Greater Anglia and West Midlands Trains.
As Greater Anglia and West Midlands Trains are replacing their Class 170 trains, this means that CrossCountry will soon be the only user of two-car units.
The four two-car trains from Greater Anglia, will be going to Trains for Wales (TfW).
TfW currently has thirty two-car Pacers in its fleet, which must be replaced by the end of 2019.
TfW is bringing in the following trains.
- Nine four-car Class 769 trains from Porterbrook.
- Eight three-car Class 17 trains from Greater Anglia
- Four two-car Class 17 trains from Greater Anglia
This is a total of sixty-eight cars.
So TfW are replacing a load of scrapyard specials with quality, more powerful trains, with approximately 13 % more capacity.
TfW are proposing to use the Class 170 trains on the following routes.
- Heart of Wales line (from 2022)
- Regional services between South and West Wales
- South Wales metro lines – Ebbw Vale/Maesteg (until 2022)
- Crewe-Shrewsbury local services (from 2022)
There is a mixture of routes here and it would be a good trial,
Other Trains
If the MTU PowerPack proves successful and leads to widespread conversion of the Class 168 and Class 170 fleets, will we see the twenty Class 171 trains and thirty-nine Class 172 trains converted to hybrid power?
Conclusion
It looks like a good solid project to me!
The Anonymous Widower 