UK: Hitachi Rail has selected Turntide Technologies to supply lithium iron phosphate batteries for use on electric-diesel-battery hybrid inter-city trainsets it is to build for Arriva’s open access operator Grand Central.
Nine five-car trainsets are to be manufactured at Hitachi Rail’s Newton Aycliffe factory for delivery in 2028 under a order placed by leasing company Angel Trains in March.
Under the latest agreement announced on July 2 Hitachi Rail will place orders worth nearly £10m for Turntide to continue with R&D and supply next-generation LFP batteries, which are designed to be smaller and more powerful than previous lithium-ion batteries. The Safety Integrity Level 2 and IEC 61508 compliant battery management system will detect and mitigate hazards and meet the IEC 62243 cybersecurity standard.
The battery technology is expected to cut the Grand Central trains’ emissions and fuel consumption by around 30%, with the trains entering and exiting stations in zero-emission mode to improve air quality and reduce noise in urban centres.
The Grand Central project will provide a pipeline of work to support expansion of Turntide’s Gateshead factory, and the companies said they believe that new and retrofitted battery trains can provide a sizeable and long-term advanced manufacturing opportunity for the UK.
In 2020 Turntide signed an exclusive agreement to design and supply traction battery systems for Hitachi Rail. In 2024 trials with a TransPennine Express Class 802 inter-city electro-diesel trainset retrofitted with a battery in place of one of its engines achieved fuel cost savings of 35% to 50%.
‘Our collaborative relationship with Hitachi Rail transitions from strength to strength and being selected for this milestone project reflects the quality and innovation of our electrification technology’, said Turntide CEO Steve Hornyak. ‘As battery-electric trains gain global momentum, we’re honoured to support a project that represents not just regional progress, but a broader shift toward sustainable transport across continents.’
Koji Agatsuma, Chief Technology Officer Vehicles at Hitachi Rail said ‘battery trains aren’t just about delivering greener, quieter journeys—they also create a new advanced manufacturing opportunity and unlocks energy optimisation through vehicle-to-grid technology.’
