ScotRail trials renewable diesel in Class 156 train

Photo: ScotRail

Scottish government-owned ScotRail announced in mid-March that it has begun an innovative trial using hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), also known as renewable diesel, as an alternative to diesel fuel in one of its Class 156 trains.

The trial, which began Feb. 19 and will run for 12 weeks at ScotRail’s Corkerhill Depot, is being conducted in partnership with Angel Trains and Crown Oil.

If the trial is successful, HVO could offer a step towards reducing greenhouse-gas emissions on Scotland’s railway, acting as a transition fuel while carbon-neutral fuels such green hydrogen become more readily available.

HVO is a renewable and biodegradable fuel that complies with fire-safety standards.

The renewable fuel reduces carbon emissions and improves air quality compared to traditional diesel.

The key benefits of HVO include:

• A renewable fuel source made of waste product from agricultural and food-production activities.

• Reduction in greenhouse-gas emissions.

• It can be used in existing diesel engines without modification.

• Cleaner air quality with a reduction in nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter and carbon-monoxide emissions (black smoke).

The trial has seen the installation of a dedicated HVO fuel tank at Corkerhill Depot, with weekly fuel deliveries to support the operation of a single Class 156 unit (156 436), which will remain in passenger service throughout the trial.

“This trial is an exciting step forward in our commitment to reducing the environmental impact of Scotland’s railways,” said Poul Wend Hansen, ScotRail’s head of sustainability.

“HVO has the potential to significantly lower our carbon footprint while allowing us to continue using existing diesel trains more sustainably,” Wend Hansen added. “We’re eager to see the results and assess how this fuel could be part of a greener future for rail travel.”