Europe’s first hybrid energy-saving high-speed train was demonstrated on the Great Central Railway at Quorn on 3 May 2007.

Developed and proven under test by Hitachi in Japan, the technology cuts fuel used by 20% and harmful emissions by up to 50%. The test train uses a hybrid traction system consisting of a battery assisted diesel-electric traction drive installed into HST powercar No. 43089 and a modified Mk3 TGS No. 44062. The technology has been developed and tested in Japan from 2003 and is entering revenue-earning service in that country in July this year.

Hitachi, together with partners Porterbrook Leasing, Network Rail and Brush Traction, are trial running the vehicles on the Great Central Railway together with Paxman Valente powercar No. 43160 and a trailer vehicle 977974for comparison purposes, and when the initial testing is completed in September, the vehicles will then run on Network Rail metals as part of the New Measurement Train for a further period of six months.
            
At a briefing, Alistair Dormer, General Manager of Hitachi Europe, said his company is very proud of the technology, which will not only demonstrate energy and emissions savings but will unlock the future potential for the application of rapidly improving  battery hybrid powered traction technology to future generations of rail vehicles in the UK.

Paul Francis, Managing Director of Porterbrook, commented that the technology has enormous potential in a rail application and could well be a key part of the Intercity Express Project, and to this end Porterbrook had donated the powercar and TGS vehicle.

Andrew McNaughton, Chief Engineer of Network Rail, believes that the technology could help to make the greenest form of mechanised transport on the railway even greener, and John Bidewell, Managing Director of Brush Traction, added that his company is pleased to be an integral partner in the Hybrid HST development and is committed to developing the technology for further use within the rail industry.

At the Quorn event, the power car was named 'Hayabusa' Japanese for 'Falcon', with a cast nameplate applied in the style used on 1960s Brush prototype No. D0280 (D1200). The other powercar in the development train No. 43160, finished in unbranded FGW blue is named 'Porterbrook'