A new study suggests it no longer makes sense to consider the continued dominance of fossil fuels a “business as usual” scenario. Solar power (also known as photovoltaics, or PV) is likely to become the …
Continue readingCategory: Electrification
Why does UK electrification cost so much more & how can we change it? (SamDumitriu)
To get our railways to Net Zero by 2050, Britain will need to electrify more than 13,000 km of track. That’s almost 500km of track each year, every year, for the next 27 years. So, how are …
Continue readingRenfe aims to build solar plants to power trains (RailTech)
Spanish railway operator Renfe plans to build a 20 MW solar panel facility to power its trains, after which many will follow. Most of the generated electricity will be used for train traction, with any …
Continue readingDithering & long processes make the UK’s infrastructure too expensive (SamDumitriu)
“Unachievable.” The Infrastructure and Projects Authority’s assessment of High Speed 2 (HS2) does not pull its punches. Back in 2013, the high-speed line to connect London, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds was estimated to cost about £56.7bn …
Continue readingThe future of UK railways electrification (RailEngineer)
Since the PWI held its first electrification seminar in 2018, the event has become increasingly popular. As reported in issue 196 (May-June 2022), last year’s Scottish seminar focused on the Scottish electrification programme and initiatives …
Continue readingFriday Reads – 2 June 2023
• A train ride makes everything better, there are always people you can talk to: Video (GeoffMarshall) • Why the revolutionary Rotodyne failed in city centre transport: Video (Mustard) • The painful consequences of liking …
Continue readingRail electrification possible for 95% of UK freight trains, research reveals (CILTUK)
The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport – CILT(UK) – has released its electrification strategy research which reveals the significant opportunity of electrification across the UK’s rail network. CILT has released a detailed map and …
Continue readingCan UK learn from Denmark’s affordable electrification? (RailTechnology)
Denmark’s governmental rail body, Banedanmark, is in the process of electrifying the mainline Danish railway in a £1.4billion programme that started in 2014 and is due to be completed in 2028. The program has already …
Continue readingElectric semis/HGVs are coming & truck stops aren’t ready (Bloomberg)
Next month, Tesla Inc. plans to deliver the first of its electric Semi trucks—able to haul a full 40 ton-load some 500 miles on a single charge. These massive batteries-on-wheels may accelerate the transition to electrified transport, but those responsible for delivering …
Continue readingRIP Traction Decarbonisation Network Strategy (RailEngineer)
Two years ago, Network Rail published its Traction Decarbonisation Network Strategy (TDNS) which proposed a rolling electrification programme of 13,000 single track kilometres (stk). Although the Department for Transport (DfT) has not responded to TDNS, …
Continue readingNew Merseyrail train runs 135km on battery (LiverpoolBusiness)
One of the new class 777 trains set to run on the Merseyrail network travels for 135km on test run using just a battery – paving the way for the network’s expansion. A test run of …
Continue readingSiemens Mobility receives UK funding for solar powered trains (RailTech)
The UK’s Department for Transport has awarded Siemens Mobility funding for the further development of solar technologies for trains on non-electrified lines. Using a second funding stream, Siemens will also explore charging options for on-train batteries …
Continue readingVivarail announces intention to appoint administrators (RailAdvent)
Battery and hybrid train manufacturer, Vivarail, has announced it has filed a Notice of Intention to appoint administrators. Adrian Shooter CBE founded Vivarail in 2013 and the last 9 years have been spent investigating, trialling and …
Continue readingDB begins constructing OLE islands for battery trains (RailwayNews)
Deutsche Bahn (DB) has begun construction of electrified overhead contact line islands that will charge battery-powered trains in the state of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. These islands will provide a future energy supply for battery-powered trains without …
Continue readingGerman state no longer considering hydrogen trains (HydrogenInsight)
Study commissioned by Baden-Württemberg concludes that line electrification or battery hybrid trains would be far cheaper over 30 years. Hydrogen trains will no longer be considered as a possible replacement for diesel locomotives in the …
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