Great Western Railway has confirmed that it has purchased a number of assets from battery train manufacturer, Vivarail, which went into administration last December.
GWR has purchased intellectual property, rolling stock and equipment relating to the development and FastCharge technology.
The operator has also employed nine former Vivarail employees to support the trials and development.
GWR Engineering Director Simon Green said: “We've been working closely with the Vivarail team on this exciting project for some time, and we are delighted we have been able to step in and make sure its important work can continue.
“There have clearly been some setbacks that mean we will need to review the existing plans and timescales, but we will continue to work with Network Rail and the Department for Transport to get the project back on track.
“This work is a key part of our commitment to reduce the carbon emissions of our train fleet with a view to removing all diesel-only traction from the network by 2040, in line with the Government's Transport Decarbonisation Plan.”
What next? Government subsidised chocolate teapots?
Maybe the Battery powered trains could be suitable for the Slough-Windsor & Eton Central, Maidenhead-Bourne End/Marlow and Twyford-Henley-on-Thames branch lines. And GWR should have kept the Class 769 to be used on the North Downs Line instead they have had so many problems and were withdrawn.
What will happen to the Vivarail units already in service?
Only the 484 class on the isle of wight, these are maintained by in house iow team
Perhaps the Marston Vale line might get back to normal fairly soon.