Power from passing trains: LNER and Treeva put turbines next to the track in a UK first

As part of a proof-of-concept initiative, three wind turbines have been safely and successfully installed alongside the East Coast Main Line at Hitachi Rail’s Craigentinny depot. Standing around six feet tall and manufactured using upcycled materials, the turbines are the first of their kind to be installed and operated next to a UK main line railway.

The turbines require no grid connection and are designed to be easily deployed on unused land alongside railway tracks, capturing energy generated by passing trains. The clean energy generated will be harnessed, measured, and used to power a range of devices, enabling a better understanding of how this groundbreaking technology could be rolled out across Britain’s rail network.

A single turbine can generate enough energy to power a third of a small station's lighting needs, four CCTV cameras, or run two passenger information screens. Five turbines have the capacity to reduce emissions of more than 12,000 kilograms of CO2 each year - the equivalent of planting 500 trees.

British company Treeva are graduates of the Future Labs innovation programme. The scheme brings technology start‑ups together with train operators to share ideas, expertise, and develop innovative solutions to rail industry challenges.

Since winning the People’s Choice Award, Treeva and LNER have continued to work together to further develop the technology for rail environments, resulting in the installation of the three turbines at Craigentinny. The turbines – named Sir Spins‑a‑Lot, AC Breezy, and Windiana Jones by LNER colleagues – will remain in place for at least six months.

Anjali Devadasan, CEO and co‑founder of Treeva, said: “Our goal is to transform the way transport infrastructure is powered. By capturing energy created by passing trains, we can turn unused land into a meaningful source of clean power and enable sustainable systems that pay for themselves within months. We’re excited and optimistic about this next step in our work with LNER and the wider rail industry, and we look forward to seeing the turbine results and exploring future opportunities.”

Mark Haymer, Innovation Product Owner at LNER, said: “This is a really exciting next step in the project. Developing new ideas and solutions in any industry is always a challenge, but thanks to a strong partnership between Treeva, Hitachi, Network Rail, and LNER, we’ve delivered a successful and safe installation at Craigentinny. We’re looking forward to seeing how the turbines perform over the next six months. The data collected will shape the next stages of the project, supporting LNER and the other DFTO train companies to become zero‑carbon operators, making rail an even greener choice.”