Cleaner alternative fuels for non-electrified rural and suburban railway operations

Adopting cleaner alternative fuels for non-electrified rail operations is complex and multifaceted. Some railway lines use diesel-powered trains. Electrifying those lines can help reduce pollution and carbon emissions, but this requires large investments in infrastructure and an expensive connection to the power grid.

This report by the Regional & Suburban Rail Committee looks at alternatives for non-electrified operations including batteries, supercapacitors, hydrogen fuel cell systems, and biodiesel. To make an informed decision, three key aspects should be considered throughout the decision-making process: policy, location, and technology. The report provides several case studies, examining these key aspects.

Check out the case studies (Members only)

• Introduction
• Existing alternatives fuel options for non-electrified rural and suburban railways
  • Bimodal vehicles with onboard batteries
  • Bimodal vehicles with onboard supercapacitors (SCS)
  • Multimodal vehicles with onboard batteries and supercapacitors
  • Multimodal vehicles with fuel cell systems
  • Biodiesel
  • Discussion
• Decision making tools for adopting cleaner alternative fuels for non-electrified rural and suburban railway operations
  • Policy approach
  • Location approach
  • Technology approach
  • Selection of case studies
• Merseyrail and the Class 777 IPEMUS
  • Policy approach
  • Location approach
  • Technology approach
• Province of Groningen and the Coradia iLint trial
  • Policy approach
  • Location approach
  • Technology approach
• Norwegian Railway Directorate and the NULLFIB project
  • Policy approach
  • Location approach
  • Technology approach
• Additional examples of project adopting cleaner alternatives to fuel for non-electrified suburban and regional rail operations
  • H2iseo project by Ferrovie Nord Milano and Trenord
  • Fastcharge technology: Great West Railways fast charging battery trial in West Ealing
  • UK Hydroflex trains
• Conclusion