Northern trial shows how train driving style can cut fuel use

With only a quarter of the UK’s rail network electrified, diesel trains remain a vital transport link for virtually all corners of the country. According to Northern, its annual fuel bill is around £50m, with corresponding CO2, NOx and particulate matter emissions. Reducing that bill would therefore be both a financial and environmental boon for the operator. 

Northern, examining the routes on which its 2,500 daily services run, developed a model that determines the optimal train speed and braking patterns for routes across its network. In an early test between Middlesbrough and Whitby, the model identified a potential seven per cent saving in fuel consumption. It’s planned that the data will be used to coach train drivers to use less fuel whilst keeping trains on time.

“Along with the rest of the UK rail industry, Northern is working towards phasing out diesel-only trains by 2040,” said Rob Warnes, strategic development director at Northern.