The Anonymous Widower

Don’t Mention Electrification!

This page on the Transport for London web site,  is the main page for the Barking Riverside Extension.

This is a simple description of the project from the page.

The extension – which includes 1.6km of new track – is one of several transport measures designed to serve the emerging development area at Barking Riverside.

Like many other documents concerning this project, there is no mention of electrification or electric trains on the page.

It’s not just Transport for London documents either.

This article on the Construction Enquirer is entitled £260m Barking Overground Extension Down To Three.

The article talks about three contractors in the short list, but again there is no mention of electrification.

When I read the original specification for the extension, electric trains were mentioned, but there was no mention of electrification.

Consider.

• All Aventras are wired for on-board electrical storage.
• The Barking Riverside Extension is only 1.5 km long.
• The area of the extension has some very large electricity pylons, that the extension has to dodge through.
• If the line is extended under the Thames, it would be cheaper to build a tunnel for third rail, as it will connect to third-rail lines on the South Bank.
• There must be substantial savings by not putting up overhead wires.
• A safer and more reliable railway in extreme weather.

I shall keep digging on this one!

December 15, 2016 - Posted by AnonW | Transport | Barking Riverside, Class 710 Train, Electrification