‘HybridFLEX’ unit No. 168329 is pictured in the station yard at Wirksworth on the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway where it underwent testing and demonstration runs in May 2021.
CHILTERN RAILWAYS
FOLLOWING a review alluded to in its Right Route 2030 Vision (reported in The RM last month), Chiltern Railways has decided that, due to cost, the ‘HybridFLEX’conversion carried out on Class 168 No. 168329 will not be applied to the rest of the fleet.
The unit was equipped with two hybrid power packs, a StageV emissions-compliant MTU 6H 1800 engine and a battery pack system and electric motor enabling it to arrive and depart from stations without emissions, the diesel engine activating at around 30mph. It was also fitted with a new six-speed gearbox and AdBlue exhaust treatment equipment.
Demonstration