The UK’s first superfast-charging train running only on battery power will come into passenger service this weekend – operating a five-mile return route in west London. The GWR train and the fast-charge technology has been trialled on the 2.5-mile line since early 2024, but has not yet carried paying passengers. Hybrid battery-electric trains, running on battery where power lines are not available, are already established in Japan and elsewhere. Merseyrail also has trains running a short distance on batteries, but primarily powered and recharging from a third rail. GWR believes the technology could now allow it to switch away from diesel on much longer routes in south-west England.