Great Western Railway said a prototype battery-powered passenger train completed a 200-mile (about 322-kilometre) journey between Reading, London and Oxford on 20 August, setting a new world record for the longest distance travelled on a single charge. The train maintained an average speed of roughly 40 kilometres per hour during the run, according to the operator. Reuters reported that the feat eclipses previous benchmarks for battery-electric rolling stock and was verified as a world record. Great Western Railway said the demonstration underscores the commercial potential of battery trains as a lower-emission, cost-effective alternative to diesel units on non-electrified lines, although it did not provide a timeline for wider deployment.