Does Europe have electric trains?

Europe's first trains to use batteries as a main source of power have arrived. Hitachi Rail announced last week that 20 tribrid trains—nicknamed “Blues”—are now running on rail lines across Italy. The trains have the ability to switch between battery power, electricity and diesel.



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Out of the European Union member states, Luxembourg had the highest share of electrified railway systems, at 91 percent. The EU-27 average stood at 56.6 percent in 2020.

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The number of route miles electrified in these years was answered to a written question in parliament. In November 2019 the annual statistics for route miles electrified was published by the DfT and shows that 38% of the UK network is now electrified.

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All Electric Trains in The Netherlands Are Now 100% Wind-Powered. The Netherland's national railway company, NS, has announced that all of its electric passenger trains are now 100 percent powered by wind energy.

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Trains in the UK are powered by a mix of electricity and diesel fuel. According to Network Rail, nearly half of the UK rail network is now electrified – with more than 30 per cent of the stock using a 'third rail' to power the train.

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The Swiss rail network is the largest fully electrified network in the world and one of only eleven to achieve this. China has the 2nd largest electrified railway length with over 70% of the network, after India overtook china having almost 80% of its railway network electrified.

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Japan: Japan is often praised for having one of the world's most efficient and punctual railway systems. The country is known for its high-speed Shinkansen (bullet trains) and extensive network of commuter and regional trains. Japan's commitment to safety, cleanliness, and customer service is also noteworthy.

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Electric railways began in Great Britain in 1883 and the first EMU ran on the Liverpool Overhead Railway in 1893. In the early 20th century, systems were developed where all the motors on a train could be controlled by a low voltage signal from any cab.

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Some locomotives collect electricity from overhead cables, while others take power from a third “live” rail on the track. It is very expensive to build the lines or rails that carry the electric current, but electric locomotives are cleaner, quieter, faster, and more reliable than steam or diesel engines.

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Why are UK trains so expensive? One of the main reasons the price of train tickets keeps rising is the privatisation of rail networks, with every private company striving to make a profit.

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Electric locomotives are typically 20% less expensive than diesel locomotives. Maintenance costs can be 25 to 35 percent lower and operating costs can be up to 50%.

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By 1848, Brassey and his partners had built three-quarters of all the mileage of French railways yet constructed. These were built in accordance with best British practice, with the trains running on the left. And that is why French railways run on the left to this day.

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“On most of the approximately 500 routes in Germany that are currently served with diesel, [batteries are] the more efficient and cheaper solution,” Obst observed. “These are usually between 40 and 80km long, which you can easily travel with a battery train.”

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