Thoughts On A Tri-Mode AT-300 Between Waterloo And Exeter
Note that in this post, I’m using the Class 802 train as an example of Hitachi’s AT-300 train.
In writing my post called What Would Be The Range Of A Tri-Mode Class 802 Train?, I realised that an efficient tri-mode train with electric, battery and diesel power could have a range of over a hundred miles.
Suppose a Class 802 train was built with the following characteristics, were designed for service on the West Of England Line.
- Five cars, which would seat around 350 passengers.
- Two diesel engines replaced with batteries of the same seven tonne weight.
- At least 840 kWh or perhaps as much as 1,500 kWh of battery power could easily be installed.
- One 700 kW diesel engine would be retained for electrification failure and to boost battery power.
- All electrical equipment on the train will use the minimum amount of electricity.
- Regenerative braking to batteries.
- Aerodynamics would be improved, as I believe Hitachi are doing.
- I believe that the train could have an energy consumption to maintain 100 mph on the West Of England Line around two kWh per vehicle-mile.
So what would be the range of a five-car train on just 840 kWh of batteries?
- The train would consume 10 kWh per mile.
So this would give a range of 84 miles.
The diesel engine could be key.
- At 100 mph, the train does a mile in thirty-six seconds.
- In this time, the diesel engine can generate up to 7 kWh.
- The train would need just 3 kWh per mile from the batteries to maintain 100 mph.
This would give a range of 280 miles,
This is more than enough for the 125 miles between Basingstoke and Exeter St. Davids stations.
Other people read books in the evening, I do puzzles and mathematical exercises.
In How Much Power Is Needed To Run A Train At 125 mph?, I calculated that a forty-year-old InterCity 125 needs 2.83 kWh per vehicle mile to maintain 125 mph. Surely, modern trains can halve that figure.
Suppose Hitachi, improve the aerodynamics and the energy consumption of the train, such that it is 1.5 kWh per vehicle mile, which is a figure I don’t consider impossible.
This would give a range with 840 kWh batteries of 112 miles.
With selective use of the diesel engine and a charging station at Exeter, this train could easily run between Waterloo and Exeter.
Passenger Capacity
The passenger capacity of the current Class 159 trains is 392 in two three-car trains working as a pair.
A five-car Class 802 train would probably seat 350 passengers in comfort.
Train Length
These are the train lengths.
- A pair of three-car Class 159 trains are 156 metres long.
- A five-car Class 802 train is 130 metres long.
So it would appear, there would be no platform length problems.
Conclusion
A tri-mode Class 802 train or AT-300 would appear to be ideal for Waterloo and Exeter.
Details of the AT-300 trains, that have been ordered by East Midlands Railway and the West Coast Partnership are not very comprehensive, but do say, the following.
- Five-car trains will have four engines instead of three. Would they be smaller, with an added battery? Or will they use MTU Hybrid PowerPacks.
- They will have a new nose. For better aerodynamics?
, But I believe they will make extensive use of battery traction to reduce the use of diesel.
The Anonymous Widower 