The Anonymous Widower

A Bespoke Tram-Train For The UK

Trams, tram-trains, trains and anything that runs on rails is generally very expensive.

Does this partly explain, why the UK has relatively few urban tramways and railways?

In Stadler Presents Mock-Up Of Tram-Trains For German And Austrian Operators, I discussed how five German and Austrian operators had got together to create a common tram-train design, that would be suitable for all the operators.

The mayor of one of the cities involved in the joint order, said savings of the order of a million euros per vehicle may have resulted from the common design.

I would also feel that savings in operational costs, design of infrastructure, spares inventory and other costs would also result.

Identical tram-trains would make through running between networks easier.

Where Could Tram-Trains Be Used In The UK?

Consider.

• Currently, tram-trains are running in Sheffield and a battery-electric version of the same Stadler Citylink tram-train will soon be running in Cardiff.
• Cardiff, is developing a Cardiff Crossrail on tram-train principles across the city.
• Sheffield have said that they will be replacing their trams and I believe they could use developments of their excellent Stadler tram-trains.
• Sheffield is likely to extend their tram system and might include tram-trains to Doncaster.
• Cities that have talked about adding tram-trains to their tram networks include Birmingham, Blackpool, Manchester and Nottingham.
• Leeds is developing a metro system, which could be developed using tram-train principles.
• Glasgow has talked about a tram-train to Glasgow Airport for some time.
• The East-West Rail Link is proposing a tram-train link between Ipswich and Felixstowe to allow more freight trains into the Port of Felixstowe.

There could be quite a number of tram-trains being used in the UK, especially if they are used as at Felixstowe,  to increase freight capacity into ports.

These are a few of my thoughts.

Battery-Electric Tram-Trains

I would envisage, that a lot of the new tram-trains would operate using batteries. Especially, as battery-electric trains are showing quite long ranges of upwards of thirty miles.

Already trams in Birmingham and trains on Merseyside, are operating using batteries and it avoids the expense of putting up catenary, if enough exists to charge the trams.

Replacement of Diesel Multiple Units By Battery-Electric Tram-Trains

There are some branch lines, where diesel multiple units run off a branch of an electrified main line.These services could be decarbonised by changing the rolling stock.

This OpenRailwayMap shows the St. I’ves Bay Line in Cornwall.

Note.

1. The St. Ives Bay Line is shown in yellow.
2. The Southern terminal is St. Erth station, where it connects to the Cornish Main Line, which is shown in orange.
3. The Northern terminal is St. Ives station, which is towards the top of the map.
4. The St. Ives Bay Line is 4.25 miles long.
5. No tracks are electrified.
6. There are three intermediate stations.

This second OpenRailwayMap shows St. Erth station in more detail.

Note.

1. The St. Ives Bay Line has its own platform at the side of the station.
2. I am fairly certain, that some form of charging could be installed in this platform.
3. At the other side of the Cornish Main Line are two sidings, which could be used for cleaning and maintenance.

A neat zero-carbon branch line could easily be created.

New Branch Lines To New Developments

In Sheffield Region Transport Plan 2019 – A New Tram-Train Route To A New Station At Waverley, I gave my view on a tram-train loop from the Sheffield-Lincoln Line to serve the Advanced Manufacturing Centre and new housing at Waverley.

The tram-train would run as a train to the branch line for the development and then run as a battery-electric tram, through the development.

As the Midland Main Line to Sheffield will be electrified, the tram-trains could be charged on the electrification in Sheffield station.

Build Them In Doncaster

Wabtec are closing Doncaster works.

Surely this would be the site to assemble the scores of tram-trains that could be needed in the UK.

Conclusion

Tram-trains could do a lot to improve the railways of the UK.

They would also help to decarbonise the existing system.

 

 

February 13, 2025 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | Blackpool Tramway, Cardiff, Cardiff Crossrail, Decarbonisation, East-West Rail, Edinburgh Tram, Felixstowe Tram-Train, Glasgow, Glasgow Airport, Ipswich, Leeds Metro, Midland Main Line, Nottingham Express Transit, Port of Felixstowe, Sheffield, Trains, Tram-Train, Trams