The Anonymous Widower

Chiltern Electrification Alternatives Studied

The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Railway Gazette.

These are the first two paragraphs.

Chiltern Railways is working to present the Department for Transport with options for a fleet renewal programme, with London Marylebone being the only non-electrified London terminal and pressure for the withdrawal of diesel trains continuing to mount, particularly from local residents.

Industry insiders report that this could see at least the 39 two and three-car Class 165 diesel multiple-units replaced.

Note.

1. The Class 165 trains were built in 1990-1992 and refurbished around the turn of the century.
2. Chiltern Railways have 28 two-car and 11 three-car Class 165 trains.
3. Chiltern Railways also have ten similar two-car,  nine three-car and nine four-car Class 168 trains.
4. In addition, Great Western Railway has 20 two-car and 16 three-car Class 165 trains, and 23 Class 166 trains.
5. The Class 165 and Class 166 trains are 90 mph units, whereas the Class 168 trains are 100 mph units.

As Chiltern’s study would appear to rule out electrification, could all of these trains be replaced with an appropriate number of a new class of 100 mph  zero-carbon independently-powered multiple units?

In Alstom And Eversholt Rail Sign An Agreement For The UK’s First Ever Brand-New Hydrogen Train Fleet, I talked about a proposed hydrogen train fleet.

These trains are described as three-car in Alstom’s press release.

• Most Aventras are 100 mph trains.
• They could easily be lengthened to four cars by the addition of an extra car.
• It may even be possible, that these trains could be fitted with a pantograph for working on electrified lines.

The only problem, I can envisage, is that a two-car version might not have enough space for the hydrogen and electrical gubbins.

Chiltern’s Locomotive-Hauled Mark III Stock

Greater Anglia have replaced locomotive-hauled Mark III stock with multiple units and it appears to have been successful.

Could Chiltern’s locomotive-hauled Mark III stock be replaced by six-car hydrogen-powered Aventras, with a long-distance interior?

Other Routes

Alstom and Eversholt Rail announced their agreement in November 2021.

Since then, I have written these posts, where the proposed Alstom Hydrogen Aventra could have an application.

• Adding Buxton And Manchester Piccadilly To The Bee Network
• ‘Castle’ HSTs To Be Withdrawn By Great Western Railway
• Proposals Submitted To Create Darlington To Dales Rail Link
• Alstom Hydrogen Aventras And Teesside
• Alstom Hydrogen Aventras And The Reopened Northumberland Line
• Alstom Hydrogen Aventras And Extension Of The Birmingham Cross-City Line
• Alstom Hydrogen Aventras And Great Western Branch Lines Between Paddington And Oxford
• Alstom Hydrogen Aventras And The Uckfield Branch

Note.

1. A two-car version would surely increase the number of applications.
2. A 110 mph capability would allow the trains to mix it with high speed trains on fast lines.
3. Bombardier proposed a 125 mph bi-mode Aventra. Could this be achieved with hydrogen power?

I feel the eight applications, I listed, could be the start of something a lot bigger.

Conclusion

Alstom and Eversholt Rail Group appear to have done their research.

May 17, 2023 - Posted by AnonW | Hydrogen, Transport/Travel | Alstom, Alstom Hydrogen Aventra, Chiltern Railways, Class 165 Train, Class 166 Train, Class 168 Train, Eversholt Rail Group, Great Western Railway, High Speed Bi-Mode Aventra, Hydrogen-Powered Trains