Hitachi Rail has unveiled a long-distance hybrid battery train which it claims will help to cut carbon emissions by 83 per cent when it enters service later this year.
Presented at an event in Reggio Calabria by Italian train operator Trenitalia, new hybrid intercity battery train is the first of seven due to be manufactured this year. The trains will run on routes between Calabria, Basilicata and Puglia, and are part of a wider €1.23bn framework agreement for hybrid battery trains with Trenitalia.
The intercity train is an evolution of Hitachi Rail’s Masaccio fleet, which first entered service on urban and commuter routes across Italy in December 2022. As previously reported by The Engineer the Masaccio is a so-called Tribrid train that is powered by a combination of overhead power, diesel and batteries.
The new intercity train uses the same hybrid approach, seamlessly switching between battery, electric, hybrid and diesel power as well as drawing on energy recovered during deceleration and braking. According to a statement from Hitachi Rail, this hybrid system reduces carbon emissions by up to 83 per cent compared to current diesel-powered trains.
https://www.theengineer.co.uk/content/news/hitachi-rail-launches-long-distance-hybrid-battery-train