05.02.20
Heritage Great Britain invests £1.1m into Snowdon hybrid locomotives
Heritage Great Britain, who are responsible for operating Snowdon Mountain Railway, have invested £1.1m in their new hybrid diesel locomotives to service the popular Welsh tourist destination.
Having unveiled the plans for greener trains back in early January, the investment from Heritage Great Britain has allowed the mountain railway to push forward with the new locomotives and get them into service by May, in time for Snowdon’s busy summer season.
The locomotives will run alongside the traditional steam and diesel trains, which will continue to operate along the route – which takes passengers to the summit of Snowdon.
Heritage Great Britain’s £1.1m investment reflects the company’s commitment to reducing their carbon footprint without impacting negatively on the important tourist industry on the mountain. This was furthered by turning around the new locomotives to be ready for service just nine months after the order was placed, to minimise disruption during the peak season.
READ MORE: Snowdon Mountain Railway unveils plans for hybrid diesel locomotives
The new locomotives will be driven by maintenance free electric motors which will be powered by traction battery and a diesel generator. On their descent from the summit the diesel generator in the locomotive will be switched off whilst service braking recharges the battery, preparing the engine for its next ascent. The new diesel generator engines are Euro 5 standard and are much more fuel efficient and far lower in emissions than the existing diesel fleet.
Commenting on the investment, Mike Robertshaw, Senior Engineering Manager at Snowdon Mountain Railway, said: “We are extremely proud of the development of our new Hybrid Diesel Locomotives.
“This is a significant investment in new technology which will not only allow us to carry more passengers but also allow us to help the environment.
“This is just the beginning of further investment in Snowdon Mountain Railway as we make it sustainable for the years ahead. It’s an exciting time for us all.”