Siemens’ new battery electric trains charge via overhead wires and may consign diesel trains to history

**Title: Siemens’ British Battery Trains Set to Revolutionize Rail Travel and Save Billions**

Only 38% of UK rail lines are currently electrified, and the pace of electrification has been notably slow. However, Siemens Mobility offers a promising solution with its new battery bi-mode trains, projected to save £3.5 billion and cut CO2 emissions by 12 million tonnes over 35 years.

These trains can switch between overhead wire power on electrified routes and battery power on non-electrified sections, requiring only partial route electrification. Siemens’ innovative Rail Charging Converter (RCC) enables quicker and cheaper installation of overhead line equipment (OLE), potentially reducing installation time from seven years to just 18 months.

Sambit Banerjee, Joint CEO for Siemens Mobility UK & Ireland, stated, “Britain should never have to buy a diesel passenger train again. Our battery trains can replace aging diesel trains without extensive electrification, saving the country £3.5bn over 35 years.”

Several operators, including Chiltern, GWR, Northern, ScotRail, TPE, and TfW, are eyeing these battery bi-mode trains to modernize their fleets. The trains, which charge quickly and efficiently, could see widespread use across the UK by the early 2030s.

This initiative not only supports the UK government’s goal of eliminating diesel-only trains by 2040 but also promises significant environmental benefits, equivalent to removing 80,000 cars from the roads or planting a forest the size of the Isle of Man.

For more information, visit [Siemens’ battery trains](www.siemens.co.uk/batterytrains).