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Prototype battery-powered ‘IPEMU’ test train transported passengers for first time. (Press foto: Network Rail, Britain)

Battery-powered train transported passengers

Published: Mon, 2015-03-09 16:30

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Battery powered trains at a fast pace

Prototype battery-powered ‘IPEMU’ carried passengers for first time. For the interurban purposes, this sort of train could operate quite well on sections of non-electrified track, including the 12.5 section of shared track with the Roberts Bank Railway and the 22 km section from the Fraser River Bridge to the downtown Vancouver Central Station.

As battery powered trains and trams advance, by the time the government comes out of its transit mega project stupor, the ability of battery powered trains to run further afield, will only increase.

The first battery-powered train to run on Britain’s rail network in more than half a century carries its first passengers this week.

The modified Class 379 Electrostar battery-powered train – also known as an Independently Powered Electric Multiple Unit (IPEMU) – will run in weekday timetable service for five weeks between Harwich International and Manningtree stations in British Essex.

It was retrofitted and tested by Bombardier in Derby and Leicestershire. The IPEMU is a joint project between Network Rail, Bombardier, Abellio Greater Anglia, FutureRailway and the Rail Executive arm of the Department for Transport.

The partner companies involved in the project believe there is huge potential for battery-powered trains to bridge gaps between electrified parts of the network and to run on branch lines where it would be too expensive to install overhead electrification.

Data gathered during the experiment will be used to help the wider rail industry determine what form a future IPEMU will take, be it a straight battery unit or hybrid.

The auxiliary reservoir has been relocated to the DMOS, and six battery rafts have been installed, alongside new power cables, trailer bogie, and new button on the cab desk, an additional HMI screen, and data acquisition instrumentation.

Source: Rail for the Valley

4_Photo: Prototype battery-powered ‘IPEMU’ test train transported passengers for first time. (Press foto: Network Rail, Britain)

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