Porterbrook says that by fitting a catalyst onto the exhaust of an engine, the solution could reduce nitrous oxide (NOx) emissions by more than 80% and carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbons by more than 90%.

The Department for Transport (DfT) is supporting the trial through InnovateUK’s first-of-a-kind funding (FoaK2), which will allow trial fitment of the Eminox SCRT technology to a SWR class 159 DMU.

State-of-the-art telemetry will be fitted to the trial class 159 to provide real-time diagnostics and performance data from the system. The project aims to overcome rail-specific challenges such as high exhaust temperature duty cycles using advanced catalyst technology.

“SWR has committed to a 56% reduction in traction carbon emissions by 2023-24 and it is hoped that this type of technology could help make a major contribution to achieving that target,” says SWR engineering director, Mr Neil Drury.