London St Pancras is finally on track to shed its diesel fumes as East Midlands Railway announces it will fire up its last remaining diesel units by the end of 2026, marking a significant milestone for one of Britain's most infamous smoke-choked areas.
The decision comes after years of delays and cost overruns in electrifying the Midland main line, with many having hoped that the process would be completed sooner. However, it seems that East Midlands Railway's fleet of new Hitachi-built Aurora trains, which arrived three years late, will play a crucial role in reducing emissions.
The bi-mode trains are set to make a significant impact on noise and emissions levels at St Pancras station, according to managing director Will Rogers, who says they "are going to make a step-change" for passengers. While the trains can run on electricity up until just south of Leicester, where they switch back to diesel, the carbon savings are substantial – with 66% fewer emissions.
However, despite the progress made by rail travel in terms of reducing its environmental impact, it still falls short of being completely green. A staggering 70% of Britain's passenger train rolling stock is electric, while a mere 39% of the entire route length of the railway network is electrified – with much of this concentrated in the south-east of England.
A study by the Rail Safety and Standards Board found that passengers on the worst diesel trains at London stations can be exposed to nitrogen oxide emissions exceeding those from air pollution on busy roads. The fact that many main line stations have already eliminated diesel, while others are introducing new fleets with cleaner engines, highlights the inconsistent approach taken by operators.
The Chiltern Railway is a notable exception, however, as it will continue to run its trains on diesel due to infrastructure costs making full electrification prohibitively expensive. But other operators, such as Chiltern and Great Western Railway, are exploring alternative solutions, including battery-hybrid technology and partial electrification.
Network Rail's route director, Denise Wetton, is looking at battery-hybrid trains and selective track upgrades as a way forward for the railway network. Meanwhile, GWR's engineering director Simon Green says that fast-charge technology has the potential to revolutionise the industry – even if it's not yet widely available.
As the Department for Transport reviews its ambitious plan to clear all diesels from the railway by 2040, operators are beginning to adapt their strategies in light of changing environmental concerns. East Midlands Railway's decision marks a significant step towards a cleaner future for Britain's rail network, but there is still much work to be done before it can truly say that it has left its diesel fumes behind forever.
The decision comes after years of delays and cost overruns in electrifying the Midland main line, with many having hoped that the process would be completed sooner. However, it seems that East Midlands Railway's fleet of new Hitachi-built Aurora trains, which arrived three years late, will play a crucial role in reducing emissions.
The bi-mode trains are set to make a significant impact on noise and emissions levels at St Pancras station, according to managing director Will Rogers, who says they "are going to make a step-change" for passengers. While the trains can run on electricity up until just south of Leicester, where they switch back to diesel, the carbon savings are substantial – with 66% fewer emissions.
However, despite the progress made by rail travel in terms of reducing its environmental impact, it still falls short of being completely green. A staggering 70% of Britain's passenger train rolling stock is electric, while a mere 39% of the entire route length of the railway network is electrified – with much of this concentrated in the south-east of England.
A study by the Rail Safety and Standards Board found that passengers on the worst diesel trains at London stations can be exposed to nitrogen oxide emissions exceeding those from air pollution on busy roads. The fact that many main line stations have already eliminated diesel, while others are introducing new fleets with cleaner engines, highlights the inconsistent approach taken by operators.
The Chiltern Railway is a notable exception, however, as it will continue to run its trains on diesel due to infrastructure costs making full electrification prohibitively expensive. But other operators, such as Chiltern and Great Western Railway, are exploring alternative solutions, including battery-hybrid technology and partial electrification.
Network Rail's route director, Denise Wetton, is looking at battery-hybrid trains and selective track upgrades as a way forward for the railway network. Meanwhile, GWR's engineering director Simon Green says that fast-charge technology has the potential to revolutionise the industry – even if it's not yet widely available.
As the Department for Transport reviews its ambitious plan to clear all diesels from the railway by 2040, operators are beginning to adapt their strategies in light of changing environmental concerns. East Midlands Railway's decision marks a significant step towards a cleaner future for Britain's rail network, but there is still much work to be done before it can truly say that it has left its diesel fumes behind forever.
they're only doin this cuz its goin to cost 'em a pretty penny to electrify everything, and even then theres gonna be some loopholes 
like whats with chiltern still runnin on diesel? seems like a convenient excuse 2 me 
but i guess its progress or nothin... at least these new trains are gonna make a difference tho 
66% fewer emissions is somethin we should be proud of! still, cant help but think theres more to it than meets the eye 
, I mean what took so long? I've been complaining about the air pollution on my daily commute from this station for ages 
. The new trains might not be a complete game changer yet, but 66% fewer emissions is still a big deal 
. We need more operators like East Midlands Railway to follow suit and make electrification a priority 
. And what's up with Chiltern Railway sticking to diesel? Can't they see the writing on the wall? 
... i mean, what's the point of having an electric train if it only runs on diesel for a bit? cant they just do electrification already?! its like they're making progress but going in circles at the same time 
. and dont even get me started on how much NOx emissions those old trains are spewing out... my kids wouldnt be able to breathe all that toxic air 
. seriously though, its a good start for East Midlands Railway, but we need more operators following suit ASAP 
like who needs all those toxic fumes in their face every day? but seriously, 66% less emissions is still a big deal 
its crazy to think that only 70% of train stock is electric and most of that is just in the south-east lol what even is that? i mean i know electrification costs money and all but cmon guys we need to step up our game 
but I guess it's progress, right? those new Hitachi-built Aurora trains better not be as broken as their predecessors, or it's back to diesel for us 
... but on the other hand, I don't know if it's enough, you know? I mean, 66% fewer emissions is still pretty massive, but what about all the other stations that are stuck with diesel trains? And don't even get me started on how long it took to electrify the Midland main line... three years late, right? 
... which is kinda a step back for the whole environment thing. But at the same time, I love that East Midlands Railway is finally moving forward with their new bi-mode trains, and I'm all about supporting green tech 
... or so I thought until I saw that 70% of the passenger train rolling stock is still electric 
London St Pancras is gonna breathe easier by the end of 2026 
East Midlands Railway making a huge step in reducing emissions - 66% fewer emissions yay 
and 70% of passenger trains are electric? That's like, totally unfair to those diesel-only trains 
. Can't wait for battery-hybrid tech and fast-charge technology to take over 
.
. Let's keep pushing towards a cleaner, greener future for our rail network 
and i'm totally obsessed with trying out this new matcha latte at this adorable coffee shop in kona 
️ anyway, back to trains... i mean, who needs trains that are super quiet when you can have a good old fashioned diesel rumble? it's like music to my ears lol, but seriously, 66% fewer emissions is still pretty impressive. speaking of music, have you guys heard the new album by that indie band from london? it's literally the best thing since sliced bread 
. btw, 70% of passenger train rolling stock is electric? that's some stats right there 
it feels like such a big milestone for the city, finally getting some clean air in the area... but you know, electrifying the entire railway network is still gonna take time & cost 
i mean, those hitachi trains are cool and all, but they're not everywhere yet. we need more battery-hybrid trains & fast-charge tech to make a real difference 
it was actually pretty good! anyway back to this rail thingy... 70% of passenger train stock being electric is kinda cool but like, where's the UK's investment in hydrogen fuel cell tech? 
. We've been promised electrification for years, but it keeps getting pushed back or, like with the Aurora trains, delayed by three whole years! And what about the costs? How much are these "solutions" really going to set us back? I'm all for reducing emissions and making the rail network cleaner, but we need a more sustainable plan than just piecing things together as we go along.
. Maybe one day we'll see some real progress on this.
. 66% fewer emissions is a huge step forward for the environment, and those new Hitachi-built Aurora trains are gonna make a massive difference 
. and let's be real, who doesn't want to ride on trains with fast-charge tech 
?