Battery Train Deployment Report Commissioned
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Railway Gazette.
This is the first paragraph.
The Rail Safety & Standards Board has commissioned consultancy WSP to produce evidence-based recommendations for optimising and standardising the adoption of battery-powered trains.
Note.
- The train shown in the picture in the article is a Stadler FLIRT Akku.
- WSP are a well-respected Canadian engineering consultancy.
To commission a development report sounds to be a sensible act.
The Anonymous Widower 
At the end of the day isn’t this work essentially a role in which the future GBR and the current RDG and Network Rail will play a major role.
I only hope that RSSB do not end up straying from far from what is happening in the EU. If they do I can only see there being added cost for UK plc.
Comment by fammorris | August 7, 2023 |
As I’ve said many times on this blog, Aventras are designed to take batteries and supercapacitors.
See this post for more details, which also includes my thoughts on hydrogen Aventras.
Stadler are running four different battery-electric trains or tram-trains in the UK.
CAF have made proposals for a battery-electric train.
Hitachi are developing battery-electric trains.
We’ve probably not heard the last of Vivarail.
I feel we probably have enough battery-electric train projects.
Comment by AnonW | August 7, 2023 |
Right on cue, I see Northern want to set up a framework agreement for up to 450 multiple-units with options for multi-mode, battery, whatever https://www.railwaygazette.com/uk/northern-trains-plans-framework-contract-for-450-multiple-units/64671.article
As with the recent plans from Chiltern, it’s good to see Northern are giving some serious thought to this. Though quite how this ties in with either this report from the ORR, or GBR taking over all procurement, I’m not sure.
Comment by Peter Robins | August 7, 2023 |
sorry, ORR should have read RSSB
Comment by Peter Robins | August 7, 2023 |
As with all these invitations to tender the company offering the ITT make no guarantee that they will place orders and consequently the costs of bidding are all bourne by the bidder. I just wonder how much effort each of the train builders and the suppliers to them are putting into the process given their perception that there is no serious commitment by the government to support the procurement of new trains. Remember it is getting on for four years since an order was last placed.
Comment by fammorris | August 8, 2023 |
Yeah, there’s a lot of uncertainty atm. Another unknown is the position with the combined authorities. This affects Northern in particular. Manchester wants to set up its Bee network, which would presumably include local/commuter trains. If the same happens in W Yorks, which already has its metro network, then presumably these would no longer be Northern’s responsibility. TfGM could contract with them, but equally they might choose someone else.
Comment by Peter Robins | August 8, 2023
I have done a few calculations about the Northern framework and will be posting soon.
Comment by AnonW | August 8, 2023
I have now posted my thoughts on Northern’s new trains.
I feel that after the new trains have been delivered, that Northern will have an homogenous fleet, whether that is CAF or whatever.
This will give so many advantages in operation and the training of drivers. They could sub-contract services from the Bee Network.
During the changeover to zero-carbon, the Class 195 trains will be a problem converting from mechanical drive to electrical.
Comment by AnonW | August 8, 2023 |