The Anonymous Widower

Mammoet Launches ‘World’s Strongest’ Land-Based Crane That Can Handle Large Offshore Wind Turbine Components

The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on offshoreWIND.biz.

This is the sub-heading.

Mammoet has launched the SK6000 ring crane, said to be the world’s strongest land-based crane, at its Westdorpe facility in the Netherlands. According to the company, the new crane supports the continued constructability of next-generation offshore wind turbines and foundations.

This is the first paragraph.

The new crane has a maximum capacity of 6,000 tonnes and can lift components of up to 3,000 tonnes to a height of 220 metres, and builds on the design philosophy of Mammoet’s SK190 and SK350 series, which are proven in the market, the company said.

In the early decades of North Sea Oil and Gas, I remember a project management consultant telling me how larger cranes were improving productivity.

It appears history is repeating itself.

The crane can also be transported in standard shipping containers, as this sentence details.

The crane design uses containerization techniques for ease of deployment and can be transported using shipping containers to any location worldwide.

Let’s hope wind farms can be erected faster.

August 31, 2024 Posted by | Design, Energy | , , , , | 1 Comment

Heathrow Rail Link Withdrawn, But MP Vows To Carry On

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

These are the first three paragraphs.

Hopes for a rail link between the Great Western Main Line and Heathrow Airport appear to have finally ended.

The scheme had been on hold since 2021, when Network Rail staff working on it were transferred to other tasks.

At the time, NR called it a “controlled pause”, but a pre-application process has now been withdrawn, according to the Planning Inspectorate website.

Currently, the two main routes to Heathrow from the Great Western Main Line are.

  • Continue to Paddington and get either the Heathrow Express or the Elizabeth Line to the airport.
  • Use the RailAir bus from Reading to the airport.

Both routes probably encourage passengers and staff to drive to the airport.

I have my thoughts.

Tan Dhesi

The article says this about this MP’s support for the rail link.

However, Slough MP Tan Dhesi, a former shadow transport minister, believes the link still has wide support as it would bring 20% of the UK population within one interchange of its busiest airport.

Dhesi led an All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Western Rail Link to Heathrow before the General Election. He now plans to re-launch the group, as some previous members have since lost their seats.

He has a point, but is this because a large number of his constituents work at Heathrow.

Would an improved local bus service, at least partially serve the need?

RailAir Between Reading And Heathrow

This appears to have two drawbacks.

  • It only runs every thirty minutes.
  • It doesn’t serve Terminal Four.

But at least it runs modern coaches, not buses.

I would increase the frequency to perhaps every twenty or even fifteen minutes, serve Terminal Four and perhaps in the future, switch to Wrightbus’s new hydrogen coaches, which I wrote about in Wrightbus Hydrogen Coach Planned For 2026.

I feel that switching to hydrogen power, may attract more passengers to the route.

Obviously, I feel the other RailAir routes from Guildford, Watford and Woking to Heathrow would also be updated.

Improving The Rail Route Between Reading And Heathrow Via Hayes And Harlington Station

Hayes and Harlington station has the following frequencies to Heathrow and Reading, in trains per hour (tph)

  • Heathrow Terminals Two & Three – 6 tph
  • Heathrow Terminal Four – 4 tph
  • Heathrow Terminal Five – 2 tph
  • Maidenhead – 2 tph
  • Reading – 2 tph

More trains between Reading and Hayes and Harlington might encourage more passengers to use the trains.

Could Hayes And Harlington Station Become A Transport Hub For Heathrow?

This Google Map shows Hayes and Harlington station.

Note.

  1. It has platforms on all four tracks of the Great Western Main Line.
  2. There is a London-facing bay platform to terminate Elizabeth Line trains, if needed.
  3. The land to the North of the station has been developed.
  4. There is land to the South of the station that could be developed.

Could the space above the tracks, with some of the land to the South of the station be developed into a transport hub for Heathrow?

Heathrow Southern Railway

I prefer the Heathrow Southern Railway, which is a comprehensive, privately funded scheme.

 

 

August 31, 2024 Posted by | Transport/Travel | , , , , , , | 6 Comments