World record-holding battery-only passenger train enters service in UK

Great Western Railway (GWR) in the UK has launched the nation's first battery-only passenger train, the GWR Class 230, operating on the five-mile Greenford branch line between West Ealing and Greenford. This battery-electric train replaces the previous diesel service and follows a 22-month trial of rapid charging technology. During testing, the train set a world record by traveling 200.5 miles on a single charge, surpassing the previous record of 139 miles held by Stadler Deutschland. The train recharges in just 3.5 minutes at West Ealing station using a 2,000 kW charger connected to a short section of rail that activates only when the train is stopped overhead. The trial, detailed in a July 2025 white paper by GWR, demonstrated that fast charging can enable battery trains to operate efficiently on routes without full overhead electrification. GWR’s engineering director highlighted the technology as a reliable alternative to traditional electrification, supporting the railway’s dec