Turntide Technologies has received its first production order from Hitachi Rail to manufacture battery systems for Arriva’s new Grand Central intercity trains. This marks the transition of a joint development programme into commercial production.
The batteries will be installed on the new tri-mode fleet being built by Hitachi Rail at its Newton Aycliffe factory in County Durham. The trains are due to enter service with Grand Central from 2028 as part of Arriva’s 300 million GBP fleet renewal programme.
The production order follows a research and development partnership between Turntide and Hitachi Rail to develop battery technology for intercity trains manufactured in the UK.
Turntide’s modular battery system has been designed to replace diesel engines within Hitachi Rail’s tri-mode trains while occupying the same installation space. The batteries are intended to support lower operating costs, longer battery-powered operation and reduced reliance on diesel traction.
The technology could also be used to retrofit more than 600 diesel engines across existing Hitachi Rail fleets in the UK.
The batteries are being manufactured in the North East of England, supporting the production of the new Grand Central fleet at Hitachi Rail’s Newton Aycliffe facility.
The production order follows testing carried out in 2024, when Turntide’s battery system was trialled on a Hitachi intercity train.
The demonstration showed that the battery system could reduce fuel consumption by between 30 percent and 50 percent during hybrid operation and enable zero-emission running while operating solely on battery power. Battery mode is expected to be particularly beneficial in stations and sections of railway that are not electrified.
Steve Hornyak, Chief Executive Officer of Turntide Technologies, said:Following several years of close collaboration, we are now moving into production with Hitachi Rail to deliver quieter, more fuel-efficient, and environmentally friendly rail transport in the UK. As operators and customers want to be less reliant on fossil fuels, we see growing global demand for hybrid and electric solutions in passenger rail.
The battery technology will be integrated with Hitachi Rail’s HMAX for Rail digital platform, which is designed to manage energy consumption and battery charging.
Koji Agatsuma, Chief Technology Officer, Vehicles at Hitachi Rail, said:This milestone shows that the UK does not need to wait for battery train manufacturing capability – it already exists in the North East. Our £30 million investment, proven trials, the skilled workforce at Newton Aycliffe, and our partnership with Turntide have moved battery trains from concept to reality.
Combined with our HMAX for Rail digital platform, this technology will reduce energy consumption and optimise battery charging to make greater use of renewable energy when it is most available and grid demand is lower.
This battery and digital innovation are part of Hitachi Rail’s preparation for the next phase of train manufacturing, where battery power will deliver greener and more reliable journeys, while supporting the Government’s Northern Growth Strategy.
Arriva’s Grand Central service will become the first operator to deploy the new battery technology when its tri-mode trains enter service from 2028.
Battery-electric and hybrid technologies are increasingly being explored as alternatives to full route electrification, particularly on railways where installing overhead line equipment is not currently planned. By combining batteries with electric and diesel traction, tri-mode trains can operate across both electrified and non-electrified sections of the network while reducing diesel use where battery operation is available.
Paul Hutchings, Managing Director for Arriva Rail Services, said:We’re proud to be the very first adopters of this battery technology following our collaboration with Turntide and Hitachi to deliver our new tri-mode trains, which enter the Grand Central fleet from 2028. Our £300 million investment in a completely new fleet will mean best-in-class, low emission trains delivering more comfortable and sustainable journeys as well as additional capacity on our network.
