Train firms urged by city's MPs to go all-electric

Two Hull MPs have written to train companies operating in the area urging them to buy battery-powered trains the next time they invest in new rolling stock.

Diana Johnson (Hull North & Cottingham) and Emma Hardy (Hull West & Haltemprice) contacted First Hull Trains and Northern Trains after TransPennine Express' recent announcement that it was investing £1bn in a new fleet of battery-electric trains for the 2030s.

They said it would bring the East Yorkshire region in line with what is the norm in the south-east of England.

In response, Hull Trains said it was "actively exploring" ways to "further decarbonise" its operations.

The MPs said that moving fleets away from diesel was a "matter of national security and resilience" and the latest battery-electric trains would "radically reduce" the costs of upgrading compared to using overhead cables throughout the network.

"The much reduced outlay on infrastructure would be followed by also cutting your ongoing running costs by up to half, hopefully taking some pressure off ticket prices for passengers", the two Labour MPs said.

A Hull Trains spokesperson said they welcomed the "ambition to see further investment in greener rail services for Hull".

"We are already investing significantly in the future of rail, with a £500m order for 14 new trains from UK-based Hitachi and remain open to exploring how private investment can support further improvements to railway infrastructure."

Northern have been contacted for comment.

Speaking to the BBC about the letter, Dame Diana said she and Hardy wanted Hull Trains and Northern to commit to battery-electric when they renew their fleets.

"That means we will, in effect, have the electrification of the line to Hull," she said.

Overhead lines were one way of moving to electric power, but she said battery-electric trains were more suited to East Yorkshire because structures like older bridges "can be a problem" when putting in overhead lines.

As well as being able to charge up in Hull for return journeys, battery-electric powered trains were "quicker than diesel trains", she added.

"That will add increased capacity on the train line across the North as well, which is better for passengers and we'll be able to see better timetabling hopefully as well."

In the letter, both MPs also raised concerns about the effects of diesel trains on passengers waiting in Hull Paragon station.

Dame Diana said: "We don't want to use dirty diesel trains, and have the air polluted - particularly in Hull Paragon Station.

"It's got a roof on it, so that's a fairly contained space for that air to be polluted by diesel fumes."

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