Great Western Railway (GWR) has introduced the UK’s first battery-only-powered passenger train on a suburban rail link in west London.
The GWR Class 230 battery train will carry passengers on the Greenford branch line, a five-mile return route from West Ealing to Greenford, replacing its diesel counterpart.
The fast-charge technology used in the Class 230, a retro-fitted 1982 District Line train, has been undergoing trials for the past 22 months. In August 2025, it even set a new world record for a battery-electric train, travelling 200 miles on a single charge.
During the trial, Network Rail worked with GWR to install the fast-charge battery banks and assisted with the safety reviews to ensure both the train and the recharging infrastructure were ready for the introduction of passenger services.
GWR says the train – 230001 – will initially operate in passenger service on Saturdays only, covering the full timetable, with a view to increasing timetabled services throughout the year as the...