ScotRail Begins Trials of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil

ScotRail has begun trialling Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) as an alternative to diesel in one of its Class 156 train units.

The trial was initiated on 19 February, and is set to run for 12 weeks at the operator’s Corkerhill Depot, with testing carried out in partnership with Angel Trains and Crown Oil.

If successful, ScotRail plans to further investigate the use of HVO as a means to reduce greenhouse gases along railway lines throughout the country, utilising the alternative as a transitionary measure until such time as carbon-neutral fuel sources become more readily available.

Poul Wend Hansen, ScotRail Head of Sustainability, said:

This trial is an exciting step forward in our commitment to reducing the environmental impact of Scotland’s railways.

HVO has the potential to significantly lower our carbon footprint while allowing us to continue using existing diesel trains more sustainably.

We’re eager to see the results and assess how this fuel could be part of a greener future for rail travel.

Compared to diesel, HVO is capable of reducing carbon emissions by anywhere up to 16%, as well as improve air quality by nearly a third.

The alternative is made of waste product from a mix of agricultural and food production, and is able to be used in existing diesel engines without the need for any modifications.

In order to accommodate the trial, a dedicated HVO fuel tank has been installed at the Corkerhill Depot, which has thus far received weekly fuel deliveries to support the pilot programme.

ScotRail’s chosen vehicle, a single Class 156 unit, will remain in active operation on passenger services throughout the trial.