Battery traction news

Latest news about the development and use of battery traction in the global rail industry.

Stadler Flirt BEMU for Thuringen

Thüringen battery-electric train order confirmed

2025-04-23T09:00:00+01:00

GERMANY: DB Regio has formally awarded Stadler an order to supply 19 Flirt battery-electric multiple-units to help decarbonise regional rail operations in Thüringen.

Chemins de fer de Provence diesel battery hybrid train impression (Image Stadler)

Narrow gauge hybrid train order confirmed

2025-04-16T10:37:00+01:00

FRANCE: Stadler has signed a contract to supply eight customised diesel-battery hybrid multiple-units for the narrow gauge Nice – Digne line operated by Chemins de Fer de Provence.

Bimode changeover sign (Image RSSB)

Guidance on traction power changeover locations updated

2025-04-15T04:00:00+01:00

UK: The Rail Safety & Standards Board has updated industry standards and the Rule Book to include requirements and guidance for locations where multi-mode trains switch between external electric power and internal sources such as diesel or battery.

Class 230 High Passenger Load test (Photo GWR)

Battery train undergoes high passenger load testing

2025-04-07T15:35:00+01:00

UK: Great Western Railway recruited 250 volunteers to help assess the energy consumption of its Class 230 battery train when fully loaded.

Bayern diesel service Bei Dietzhausen  (image Deutsche Bahn)

Tilting battery trainsets in Bayern’s plan to abolish diesel

2025-04-06T07:00:00+01:00

GERMANY: The Land of Bayern has announced plans to replace diesel traction on 462 km of non-electrified lines with battery and electric traction by 2036.

Impression of Hitachi tri-mode train with Grand Central livery

Arriva orders battery-equipped electro-diesel trains for Grand Central

2025-04-03T05:00:00+01:00

UK: Arriva Group has ordered nine electric-diesel-battery hybrid trains to replace its open access operator Grand Central’s entire fleet.

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