In the UK, ScotRail has begun an innovative trial using Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) as an alternative to diesel fuel in one of its Class 156 trains. The trial, which began on February 19 and will run for 12 weeks at ScotRail’s Corkerhill Depot, is being delivered in partnership with Angel Trains and Crown Oil.
If the trail is successful HVO could offer a step towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions on Scotland’s Railway, acting as a transition fuel while carbon-neutral fuels such green hydrogen become more readily available.
The trial has seen the installation of a dedicated HVO fuel tank at Corkerhill Depot, with weekly fuel deliveries to support the operation of a single Class 156 unit (156 436), which will remain in passenger service throughout the trial.
