Engineering news
Running between London Marylebone and Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, the HybridFlex – as it is now known – is the UK’s first 100mph-capable battery-diesel hybrid train.
Operator Chiltern Railways, owner Porterbrook and Rolls-Royce converted the train to run on both diesel and battery power.
A Porterbrook announcement said the Rolls-Royce powerpack enables “quieter and quicker” journeys, and a 25% reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per journey. Nitrogen oxide emissions and pollutants are also reportedly cut, by 70% and 90% respectively.
In operation as of this week, the train runs solely on battery power when departing and arriving at stations, reducing noise by up to 75% in and around stations and urban areas.
The train’s performance in daily service will be assessed, with plans already made to introduce the new type on the London to Oxford via Bicester Village route in the coming months.
The entry of HybridFlex into service is “a significant first step in demonstrating how improvements to this fleet can reduce emissions and improve air quality, both at stations and other locations across the network,” said Porterbrook CEO Mary Grant.
“HybridFlex is part of Porterbrook’s growing portfolio of alternative traction systems designed to help deliver a more sustainable railway.”
The company is also developing the ‘tri-mode’ HydroFlex train, featuring electric, battery and hydrogen power. Using multiple power sources on one train could enable decarbonised journeys and longer routes for passengers without further network electrification.
Rolls-Royce’s MTU Hybrid PowerPack pairs a diesel engine with an electric unit that can function both as a motor and as a generator. The battery system stores power recovered during braking.
“In this critical decade of climate action, today’s entry into service of the HybridFlex train demonstrates what we can achieve through technological innovation and agile collaboration,” said Rolls-Royce chief executive officer Warren East.
“This smart piece of engineering enables the acceleration of the UK government ambition to remove all diesel-only trains from the network by 2040, making rail journeys quieter, cleaner and faster.”
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