Rolls-Royce is to supply its very first series production MTU PowerPacks that are prepared for future use as hybrid traction units, after Irish Rail, the national railway operator of Ireland, ordered 41 units.

Fitted with MTU 6H 1800 R86 engines, the PowerPacks comply with the EU Stage V emissions directives and each delivers 375kW from the diesel engine as well as 150kW from the ‘electrical machine’.

Delivery is to commence in 2021, and the PowerPacks are to power Class 22000 trains on scheduled services from late 2022.

At a later date, yet to be decided, Rolls-Royce could equip these PowerPacks with batteries, turning them into fully-fledged MTU Hybrid PowerPacks.

The order is a further milestone in the partnership between Rolls-Royce and Irish Rail; this currently includes refurbishing the railway operators fleet with new transmissions and testing both conventional EU Stage V and hybrid traction systems from 2021.

Irish Rail also plans to introduce into service further MTU Hybrid PowerPacks in the years to come.

Peter Smyth, chief mechanical engineer at Irish Rail, said: “Reducing the exhaust emissions of our trains is a key part of our commitment to sustainability and to the strategic ‘Ireland 2040’ project; and with Rolls-Royce we have the right traction partner on board to help us do that.”

Jürgen Blassmann, head of rail business at Rolls-Royce’s Power Systems business unit, said: “We are delighted to be playing this pioneering role with Irish Rail in shaping the future of environment-friendly rail transport.

“The series-production MTU traction systems we are now supplying set new standards for cleanliness, reliability and fuel economy. Following conversion to MTU Hybrid PowerPacks, Irish Rail will use these drive systems to make fuel savings of over 30%, depending on the route, also reducing CO₂ emissions by the same amount.”

Rolls-Royce Power Systems is headquartered in Friedrichshafen in southern Germany and employs more than 10,000 people.