February 16, 2022 10:14 pm
The title of this post is the same as that of this article on Railway Gazette.
This is the first paragraph.
Great Western Railway has signed an agreement to test Vivarail’s Class 230 battery multiple-unit and fast charging technology under real-world conditions on the 4 km non-electrified branch between West Ealing and Greenford in West London.
As an engineer, who started designing control systems for rolling mills in the mid-1960s and went on to get a Degree in Control and Electrical Engineering from Liverpool University, before working for ICI applying computers to a variety of problems, I can’t look at a railway line like the Greenford Branch without wanting to automate it.
I had one amateurish attempt in An Automated Shuttle Train On The Greenford Branch Line. I was trying to get four trains per hour (tph) on the branch and I don’t think that is possible, with the Class 230 trains.
Now we know the train we are dealing with, I could plan an automated system, that would drive the train.
From this rough calculation to run a two tph service, I suspect that the train needs to be able to go between West Ealing and Greenford stations in ten minutes. Assuming one ten minute Fast Charge per hour, this would give three minutes and twenty seconds to turn the train, at the three terminal station stops.
I certainly feel, that an automatic shuttle would be possible.
Posted by AnonW
Categories: Transport/Travel
Tags: Automated Shuttle Train, Automation, Class 230 Train, Control Engineering, Great Western Railway, Greenford Branch, Greenford Station, ICI, Vivarail, Vivarail/GWR Fast Charge, West Ealing Station
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This could also be tried on the Slough – Windsor branch line. However, the turnaround at Slough is quite short to maintain the 20 minute cycle. I understand that the refurbished tri-mode 319’s (769’s I think) are due start on this line in due course. The acceleration on these is allegedly greater than the 165/6’s currently in use on the branch. This could mean longer turnaround times despite the speed restrictions at the Slough end. Given this line was upgraded to majority continuous welded a few years ago, I’m sure it would be possible to review the speed limit for the majority of the route.
Moving to a 4 car service from the current 2/3 car would be beneficial for the few journeys that do get well loaded during the peaks.
If the 230’s had good acceleration, it would be more economical to use these on this route. Otherwise I suspect the timetable would have to revert to a 30 min frequency which is generally more than adequate off peak.
By Andrew Bruton on February 16, 2022 at 11:50 pm
I don’t see why there needs to be a formal timetable on some of these routes. I also think, that the driver doesn’t need to change ends , if they have the right automation and video screens. Crossrail are using auto-reverse at Paddington to speed things up, so are setting a precedent. It could be very much like the DLR, with the operator on board and only one train on the line.
By AnonW on February 17, 2022 at 6:35 am