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 Stage V 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
After trials and demonstration on the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, No. 168329 was formally unveiled at Chiltern’s 25th birthday celebrations in July 2021 and entered full passenger service in February last year. The culmination of
