Rolling stock company Porterbrook has won funding from Innovate UK to fit emissions reduction technology on its Class 170 diesel fleet.
The Class 170 ‘Turbostar’, manufactured by Bombardier, is one of Porterbrook’s commonest diesel multiple units. The funding pot is worth 400,000 GBP. Porterbrook will fit the technology – Eminox SCRT® – on the Turbostar trains operated by East Midlands Railway (EMR).
The purpose of this trial is to see if this technology can bring about a reduction in carbon dioxide, particulate matter, hydrocarbons and nitrous oxide emissions in these trains, bringing about an environmental benefit without replacing rolling stock. Passengers, staff and communities will also benefit from the improved air quality.
This trial with East Midlands Railway builds on the recent successful trial of Eminox catalytic-converter technology on South Western Railway Class 159 DMUs operating on the London-Salisbury-Exeter route.
“The success of this trial in reducing harmful emissions underlines the importance of the First of a Kind competition, which funds pioneering projects to support better, more environmentally friendly rail journeys.”
The equipment will be installed on EMR’s Class 170s in early 2021. The trial will then run over a three-month period. Following the trial, the technology will likely be rolled out to a number of Class 170 fleets in the UK.
“We are pleased to be working with Porterbrook on this exciting new trial. If successful, it could enable our fleet of 170s to run in a more environmentally friendly way and provide benefits to our passengers, staff and the communities we serve.”
Porterbrook will work with Eminox, Bosch Rexroth and DG8 to install and monitor the technology. The technology allows the retrofitted vehicles to achieve real-world emission reductions equivalent to Euro VI, the latest level.
“As a rolling stock asset management business, Porterbrook takes seriously its responsibility to develop innovative ways of reducing emissions. We are particularly pleased to be able to do this by drawing on proven technologies.
“Porterbrook believes by partnering with our customer East Midlands Railway and after-treatment specialists, Eminox, we can accelerate the delivery of cleaner and more environmentally friendly trains to Britain’s railways.”
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