Euston is my favourite post WW2 large station, rather spoiled by growing clutter but still impressive.
Rather spoiled in the 1980s by use of nasty orange high pressure sodium lamps. Now replaced with cool white metal halide lamps.

A battery powered train SHOULD be more reliable than a diesel powered one.
Batteries are inherently modular and means are readily available to automatically bypass a failed battery, allowing the train to proceed with almost unaltered performance.

Lithium iron phosphate batteries are the most likely technology, these are no longer new or exotic or untried technology, and are safer than lithium polymer batteries.

A 12 volt 100 AH lithium iron phosphate battery costs about £500 retail, less than half that much in bulk.
1,000 such batteries would cost in the region of £250,000 and would store over 1,000 Kwh of energy.
The total weight of these batteries is about 12 Kg each, or about 12 tons for 1,000 such.
That would power a 4 car train for a very considerable distance, silently and with zero pollution at the point of use.
Regenerative braking is easy with a battery train.
Charging could be fully automatic via a short length of conductor rail that for safety reasons is only rendered live when the train is over it.
Fast charging would be possible anywhere with an 11Kv mains supply available.
Slower charging anywhere with mains electricity.
Charging from existing OHLE is an alternative on routes that are partially electrified.

Returning to the more general issue as to whether questions should be anonymous or not, I have no strong feelings either way.
There is a lot to be said for transparency, but on the other hand, publishing the name of the questioner could be misleading, when the question might incorporate elements of similar but not identical questions from several members.
If attributed to one particular member, they might have reason to complain "I never said that"

The other reason for publishing the name of the questioner is to deter rude, libellous, profane, or otherwise improper  remarks. Not applicable in this case as the questions were reviewed before submission.

I wonder whom it could have been  

Welcome, also reported on THIS forum, that the survey showing the alleged preference for a trolley was done AFTER the new trains were specified without buffets.
No doubt then as to what result was required from the survey.
The purpose of such surveys is to justify decisions already taken.

This thread http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=15945.0 discusses the downgrade from buffets to just a trolley, and also contains promises about the greatly improved trolley service that was promised.
These promises have become future aspirations, that are still being worked on after a couple of years.

How to introduce a battery powered train.

1) Build a prototype, either completely new construction or by conversion of an existing EMU^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit).
2) Run it on the WSR on non public operating days, encourage volunteers, friends and family to ride thereon and test the doors for reliability under a reasonable simulation of normal working conditions.
3) Run it on the WSR on public running days, in place of the diesel diagram.

If successful then use it on a GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) branch, and order some more like it. Design for simplicity and reliability, minimising the amount of new technology and reliance on computers.

Despite the assurances offered by Mark Hopwood, I am very doubtful indeed about the trolley service being significantly and consistently improved. And then provided reliably in both portions of a train, even on Sundays.
They had a couple of years to recruit staff and make the trolley service work properly, and failed miserably.
We have heard very similar re-assurances before, from a previous meet the manager session on these forums.

Whilst GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) have said in effect "no way" regarding buffets, the next operator might be better in this respect.

Enough of these old diesels, what about something newer such as Tornado 

I appreciate that obtaining taxis can be challenging at remote locations.
What however is not acceptable to the average passenger is when it takes GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) an hour or more to obtain taxis at a station with a queue of empty taxis on the station forecourt.
I have observed this at Taunton, loads of taxis for hire, but of no help to those stranded by a missed connection.

Whilst I am reassured that steps are being taken to improve the trolley service, why were suitable staff not recruited initially ? The downgrade to trolley catering was known about in plenty of time to recruit staff.
We have had nearly two years of no trolley/static trolley/trolley in other half of the train/trolley hiding in first.

Why not get it right from the beginning?

Time in my view for the government to procure a battery train and to test it perhaps on the West Somerset Railway, followed by use on a Cornish branch line, in the off season to begin with.

Sounds a splendid idea and could be chartered for special occasions. Could even have a buffet car, and a van for surfboards, bicycles, and holiday luggage.

True, but it would be easy to modify an existing EMU^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit) by fitting batteries. The rest of the train should remain as standard as possible to minimise the number of things to go wrong.
A single unit should be regarded as a prototype and quantity production only considered if the prototype works as expected.

I agree that the Pullman service is excellent and well deserving of the many positive reviews on trip advisor, two of which are from me.
I greatly enjoy the Pullman.

However I do not feel that the excellent Pullman service justifies the removal of the buffet, and in practice the removal of all catering  on those services with no available trolley.

On a recent trip in first class I was not able to buy any wine or beer from the trolley which was hiding in first class "because the card machine is broken"  I offered cash, but the trolley operator was "unable" to accept that either.

I am not convinced that having to search for the often static trolley is better than a proper buffet.

What is needed in my view is not more research, studies, and consultations, but to obtain a battery powered train and try it out.
Batteries are available right now that give an electric car a 200 mile range. Trains though much heavier than cars also have much more room for batteries, and need less energy per ton due to the reduced friction.