Great Western Railway is celebrating after its record-breaking battery-electric train scooped another major industry award.
GWR was the winner in the Innovative Rolling Stock category at the Spotlight Rail Awards, just weeks after claiming the Innovation of the Year prize at the Rail Business Awards.
Its Class 230 train, 230001, made headlines across the globe last summer after achieving a world record distance of 200.5 miles on a single charge, obliterating the previous record of 139 miles set by Stadler Deutschland in Berlin in 2021.
The achievement, independently validated by the Railway Performance Society, demonstrated that zero-emission regional rail travel is an achievable option for today’s railway without full overhead electrification.
The Spotlight Rail Awards are designed to shine a light on the people, teams and companies driving transformation across the UK rail sector, offering a level playing field to showcase innovation, impact and leadership.
GWR Engineering Director, Dr Simon Green, said:
“It was fantastic to share in more success for our Innovation Team. They are quite rightly receiving the accolades for what has been a groundbreaking trial of fast-charge battery technology over the past two years.
“As well as capturing the imagination, the world record attempt was about underlining a serious point: investment in battery technology is essential as we look to replace our ageing diesel fleet.
“We’ve since delivered the train into passenger service and continue to gain further insight which can be fed into our own decarbonisation plans, as well as those of the wider rail industry.”
GWR was also highly commended in the Training Award Excellence category at the ceremony at the London Hilton on Park Lane.
Its Fraud Investigation Apprenticeship has showcased how forward-thinking training programmes can tackle critical business needs, enhance workforce culture and establish new standards in professional development.
By fostering talent and equipping employees with specialised skills, GWR has helped to ensure the industry remains resilient, financially sustainable and ready to face the challenges of the future.
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