Modern battery-electric trains have the ability to operate on both types of track. A number of metro networks around the world have extended electrified metro lines using battery-electric technology, with a number of networks considering the option. From March 2014, passenger battery trains have been in operation in Japan on a number of lines.
Vivarail in the United Kingdom claim their trains have a range of 100 miles (160 km) on only battery power, with a 10-minute charging time. These sorts of ranges and battery recharging times greatly widens the scope of use of battery or battery-electric trains.
One of these trains was converted to a battery electric multiple unit and branded as cityjet eco. The battery-electric version of the Siemens train is equipped to operate with batteries and overhead wires, with a battery only range of 80 km (50 mi) reaching a maximum speed of 100 km/h (62 mph) in battery mode.
In 2017, Vivarail battery trains were being considered for use on the Valley Lines network in South Wales. The trains would be battery powered, capable of being recharged via 25 kV OHLE.
The battery-electric version of the Siemens train is equipped to operate with batteries and overhead wires, with a battery only range of 80 km (50 mi) reaching a maximum speed of 100 km/h (62 mph) in battery mode. The trains are to be tested on regional and suburban rail lines on electrified and unelectrified track.
The Japanese lead the world in battery trains with at least 23 battery electric multiple units in regular operation, replacing diesel multiple units (DMU) on non-electrified routes or non-electrified sections of route.
The Byron Bay Train service in Byron Bay, New South Wales operates a heritage 600 class railcar. The railcar was formerly diesel powered which was operational from 1949 to 1994. The railcar had the diesel equipment stripped out with electric traction motors fitted, being converted to solar power using a battery set to store solar generated energy from the cars'' roof panels. The sol…