The Anonymous Widower

Lumo Carbon Data Shows Its Trains Are 22 Times Greener Than Flying

The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Rail Advent.

These paragraphs detail how the figures were obtained.

To mark the second anniversary of its branding as ‘Lumo’, the operator commissioned consultancy firm Arup to provide an independent report about all direct emissions from its operations; emissions from the grid-supplied energy it uses; and other emissions in its supply chain.

Scope 1: Direct emissions from operations that are owned and controlled by Lumo;
Scope 2: Emissions from the use of grid-supplied electricity, heat, steam and/or cooling by Lumo;
Scope 3: All other emissions that occur in the value chain of Lumo.

In the last two years, Lumo has carried over two million passengers. The figures reveal that, per passenger, emissions from a London-to-Edinburgh journey are twenty-two times the level for flying (149 kgCO2e) than for using Lumo (6.8kgCO2e).

I have a few thoughts.

Carbon Savings With LNER

LNER’s Class 801 trains are similar to Lumo’s Class 803 trains.

The main difference, is that the LNER have emergency diesel engines, whereas Lumo have emergency batteries to run the trains systems, if the catenary goes down.

So LNER on balance will generate a bit more carbon than Lumo.

But the difference will be marginal.

Carbon Savings With Avanti West Coast

Avanti’s Class 390 trains to Scotland, are all-electric, so there will be a carbon-saving.

Probably about the same as with LNER.

Avanti West Coast’s New Class 807 Trains

If the Class 807 trains were cars, they would be Lotuses.

• They are electric only and have no heavy diesel engines or traction batteries.
• They don’t even have emergency batteries for when the catenary fails.
• They have a redesigned nose. Is it more aerodynamic?
• The heavy tilt mechanism is history.
• As with all the other Hitachi high speed trains, they are capable of 125 mph, or 140 mph if the signalling permits.

These trains will undoubtedly have faster acceleration and deceleration and could probably knock minutes off the timings at all the stops.

Tucked away beside the Grand Union Sets Out Stirling Ambitions article in the December 2022 Edition of Modern Railways is a report on Avanti West Coast’s application for a second service between Euston and Liverpool.

This is said.

Avanti West Coast has applied for access rights for its second hourly Euston to Liverpool service, starting from December 2023, although a phased introduction of the new service is likely. This would make use of Avanti’s new fleet of 10×7-car Class 807 Hitachi EMUs, which are expected to enter service from Autumn 2023. The ‘807s’ would be deployed on the current hourly Liverpool service, on which a call at Liverpool South Parkway would be added. (provision is made for this in the December 2022 timetable.).

Pendolinos would then operate the second service each hour, calling at Lichfield Trent Valley and Tamworth.

A linespeed project is in progress to raise the permissible speed for non-tilting trains on the West Coast Main Line, and Avanti’s new Hitachi trains will take advantage of this.

I can’t wait to go to Liverpool in one of these trains.

Their  carbon emissions should be in line with Lumo.

Avanti West Coast’s New Class 805 Trains

These are equivalent to the Class 802 trains, but with probably Class 807 train interiors and looks.

I wonder how long these trains will keep their diesel engines before battery power is the most affordable option.

Once they go battery-electric, their  carbon emissions should be in line with Lumo.

Conclusion

I can’t see any other mantra than.

Electric good, diesel bad

Especially, if like most computers, it’s just plug and play.

October 24, 2023 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | Avanti West Coast, Class 390 Train, Class 801 Train, Class 803 Trains, Class 805 Train, Class 807 Train, Decarbonisation, LNER, Lumo, Lumo King's Cross And Edinburgh, Pollution, Scotland