Battery-Powered Train Wins Industry Award for Innovation

Image Courtesy of Network Rail

Last Friday, the first battery powered train to run on Britain’s rail network in more than half a century was awarded the prize for best “cross industry project” at the Railway Industry Innovation Awards 2015. The event was hosted by Modern Railways at the Marriott Grosvenor Square, London.

Cross Industry Project Award Winner

The Independently Powered Electric Multiple Unit (IPEMU) was recognised as a cross-industry collaboration between RSSB, Network Rail, Abellio Greater Anglia, Bombardier and the Department for Transport, which saw the concept of a battery-powered train successfully trialled over a five-week period in passenger service.

Providing an update on the battery-powered train project since initial trials between Harwich International and Manningtree, Network Rails principal engineer James Ambrose added: We are continuing to rigorously test the IPEMU battery technology at Bombardier’s test facility in Mannheim, Germany, and are working very closely with the DfT and our partners, looking at plans for safety and implementation. Theres been global interest in this project and we aim to provide a detailed, technical report at the end of the year.