Overview
- Unit 230001 has entered passenger service on the West Ealing–Greenford line with operations limited to Saturdays as GWR gathers real-world performance data.
- A 2,000 kW fast-charger at West Ealing re-energises the train in about three and a half minutes via a short rail that is only live when the train is correctly positioned.
- Network Rail installed the charging banks and supported safety reviews to ready both the train and infrastructure for public service.
- A 22-month trial produced a 200.5-mile single-charge world record, with results published in a July 2025 GWR white paper.
- GWR says future battery fleets must exceed 60 miles per charge, and the Department for Transport is exploring power ‘islands’ for routes such as East West Rail where infrastructure and trains are yet to be procured.