SSE Energy Solutions Powers Ascot’s Shift To Electrification With One Of UK Sport’s Largest Rooftop Solar Projects
The title of this post, is the same as that of this press release from SSE.
The press release starts with these three bullet points.
- System expected to generate approx. 569,000 kWh of renewable electricity annually, reducing reliance on fossil fuel power
- Installation to supply around 9% of Ascot’s annual electricity needs
- Helps improve energy resilience and cost predictability through on-site generation
These first two paragraphs add more details.
Ascot Racecourse has taken a major step in electrifying its operations with the completion of a large rooftop solar installation, delivered in partnership with SSE Energy Solutions and Ortus Energy. The system, installed across the 480-metre Grandstand roof, includes more than 1,200 solar panels and has a total capacity of 608.04 kWp.
Once fully energised, the project is expected to generate approximately 569,000 kWh of renewable electricity each year. The electricity will be used on site to help power race days, including Royal Ascot, as well as more than 180 non-racing events hosted at the venue annually. By generating electricity at source, Ascot can reduce its reliance on grid electricity generated from fossil fuels and strengthen the resilience of its operations.
The installation will meet around 9% of Ascot’s total annual electricity demand.
I have a few thoughts.
The Scheme Is Delivered Via A Long-Term Power Purchase Agreement
This is the last paragraph of the press release.
Delivered via a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA), the project requires no upfront capital investment from Ascot. SSE Energy Solutions funds the installation, while Ortus Energy designs, installs and operates the system — enabling Ascot to access renewable electricity with long-term price visibility and reduced exposure to volatile fossil fuel markets.
It looks like King Charles III, who owns Ascot racecourse, hasn’t had to put any cash up front.
What Is The Capacity Of Ascot Racecourse?
Google AI said this.
Ascot Racecourse has a maximum race-day capacity of 70,000 guests, which was reduced from 80,000 to manage crowd density and improve the overall customer experience. The venue is divided into several enclosures, each with its own limit to maintain a comfortable environment during premier events like Royal Ascot.
It may be only the third largest horse racing venue in the UK, but it is probably larger than most sports stadiums.
Which Other Stadiums Have Or Plan To Have Solar Panels In The UK?
A quick use of Google AI found these.
- Hampshire Cricket Stadium
- London Stadium
- Principality Stadium
- Queen’s
I suspect this list could grow fairly quickly.
Could SSE Be Using Ascot Racecourse To Sell Solar Roofs?
Consider.
- Ascot racecourse is one of the most prestigious venues in the UK.
- Ascot racecourse has its own dedicated railway station.
- There are twenty-six race days per year.
- Both codes of horse-racing are featured.
- Some meetings are followed by live music.
- I suspect flying drones about the stands to show off the solar panels could be arranged.
- Catering should be top notch.
- Everything for a high-class sales-presentation should be available.
Ascot racecourse could be an ideal venue to sell large solar roofs to owners of sports stadia or other large buildings.
Carlos Queiroz Has An Excellent cv For Coaching A Good African Team In A North American World Cup
Carlos Queiroz is the head coach of Ghana in the 2026 World Cup.
I have just read his Wikipedia entry.
These are a few points.
- He was born in Mozambique.
- He is 73, which is older than I thought.
- He played professional football as a goalkeeper, which is unusual for a well-respected coach.
- He was a successful coach of young players and won the Youth World Cup twice with Portugal.
- He has coached at a top-level in the United States and Japan.
- Queiroz is a graduate of the University of Lisbon.
- He has managed the Portuguese National team.
- He authored the Q-Report, detailing plans to professionalize the development of footballers in the United States.
- He has coached Real Madrid
- He coached at Manchester United alongside Alex Ferguson.
- He has also coached the national teams of Columbia, Egypt and Iran.
I must admit with a cv like that, I’m surprised he hasn’t managed a Premier League team, that’s in serious trouble of relegation.
Toyota Hydrogen Cars At Le Mans
I gave the title of this post to Google AI and this is what I received.
Toyota is aggressively pushing hydrogen technology at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, moving beyond concepts to on-track public demonstrations of the TR LH2 Racing Prototype. Powered by a liquid-hydrogen combustion engine, the vehicle aims to showcase the viability of hydrogen as a near-zero emission fuel in endurance racing.
The TR LH2 Racing Prototype
The Vehicle: Built on the same chassis as Toyota’s TR010 HYBRID. It acts as a dedicated technology development platform to test hydrogen performance under extreme endurance conditions.
On-Track Debut: The prototype officially took to the track for demonstration laps at the 13.626km Circuit de la Sarthe during the 94th Le Mans 24 Hours.
The Drivers: The vehicle was driven in special dynamic sessions by former Le Mans winner Kazuki Nakajima.
The Competition: Toyota’s demos also featured other pioneering hydrogen machines, including the Alpine Alpenglow and the Ligier Bosch JS2 RH2.
Long-Term Vision & Infrastructure
Timeline: The ACO (Automobile Club de l’Ouest) is targeting the introduction of an official hydrogen class at Le Mans, with race entries potentially slated for upcoming endurance racing seasons.
Hydrogen Village: During the race week, Toyota highlighted the full hydrogen ecosystem.
Fans could explore the Hydrogen Village, which featured a functional TotalEnergies 700-bar liquid hydrogen refueling station.
Fuel Cell Support: Toyota’s commitment expanded to race operations, with official team staff and drivers utilizing hydrogen fuel cell buses and Toyota Hilux Fuel Cell prototypes during the event week.
Toyota seem serious about hydrogen.
FlixBus Launches New Coach Services For Luton DART Parkway
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Luton Today.
These paragraphs describe the service.
Coach brand FlixBus is announcing the launch of a new service between Norwich and Luton DART Parkway from 25 May.
Tickets between Norwich and Luton DART Parkway start at £8.99, while tickets between Thetford and Luton DART Parkway start at £8.49, and tickets between Cambridge and Luton DART Parkway start at £6.99.
Six daily departures each way will offer travellers a convenient, affordable link between East Anglia, Cambridgeshire and Luton airport, ahead of the busy summer season.
Could This Service Be Run By A Hydrogen-Powered Coach?
Luton and Norwich is around 160 km.
So six round trips would be under 2,000 km, which could be run, by two coaches having one fill-up per day.
The Coach Calls At The University Of East Anglia
This will be very convenient for some.
Should The Coach Stop At Newmarket?
Because of the horse racing industry, there are a lot of people travelling between Newmarket and the Dublin area, and the most convenient route is to fly between Luton and Dublin.
Conclusion
This service will be a winner.
World Cup 2026: Fans To Pay $150 For Train Ticket To Stadium
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on DW.com.
This is the sub-heading.
Transportation costs for World Cup fans traveling to US stadiums could be more than 10 times higher than regular fares. Local officials and FIFA bosses are trading blame for the increased prices while fans feel fleeced
These three paragraphs add some detail.
Football fans trying to get to MetLife Stadium from New York City for the World Cup matches this summer will have to pay $150 (€127) for a round-trip, according to local transportation officials.
The price is almost 12 times higher than the usual $12.90 fare for the 15-minute trip from Penn Station in Manhattan to the stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
“We are going to charge $150 for our roundtrip ticket on our system. So from New York to MetLife, MetLife back to New York,” said Kris Kolluri, the president and CEO of NJ Transit.
For less than the equivalent of $150 dollars, I could get a ticket from my house to any of the Premier League grounds in England and some will take a lot longer than 15 minutes.
Welcome to Trumpland, where the World Cup is primarily to make money.
The Proposed Lionel Road Station On the West London Orbital Railway
Starting with Lionel Road station may seem a strange place to start, but this important station for supporters of Brentford FC, may in the end define how the new line is designed and built.
This OpenRailwayMap shows the tracks around the stadium, that has been built for the Premier League football club, which is now called the Gtech Community Stadium.
Note.
- In the North-West corner of the map is the Piccadilly Line branch to Heathrow Airport.
- Northfields Depot is prominent, with the station of the same name to its East.
- South Acton station is in the North-East corner of the map.
- Syon Lane station is in the South-West corner of the map.
- The West London Orbital Railway runs between these two stations.
- Lilac sections are electrified and black sections have none.
- South Acton station is also on the North London Line, which runs North-South to Richmond station off the bottom of the map.
- Syon Lane Station is also on the Hounslow Loop Line, which curves across the bottom half of the map to the South-East corner.
- Click the map to show it to a larger scale.
This second OpenRailwayMap shows triangular junction in the middle of the first map to a larger scale.
Note.
- The Gtech Community Stadium sits in the middle of the triangular junction.
- Provision has been made in the layout of the stadium for the station to be on the North-West leg of the triangular junction.
- Kew East Junction is in the North-East corner of the map.
- Old Kew Junction is in the South-West corner of the triangular junction.
- New Kew Junction is in the South-East corner of the triangular junction.
- The lilac track crossing the map is the electrified Hounslow Loop Line.
- The M4/A4 runs across the map
- Only the Southern leg of the triangular junction is electrified.
- Click the map to show it to a larger scale.
These are some of my thoughts.
Lionel Road Station Will Be Unlikely To Be Electrified
Consider
- It will be extremely unlikely that between South Acton station and Old Kew junction will be electrified with third-rail electrification because of safety issues.
- There is a very long chance, that it might be decided to create a 25 KVAC overhead electrified route across London, by means of the North London Line.
- I believe hydrogen trains will be developed for freight services.
- The station will have large numbers of passengers on match-days, so safety may determine an electrification-free station.
- The electrification gap is only 1.4 miles, which is well within range of a battery-electric train.
I think it is more likely that hybrid trains will use what is available.
Will Lionel Road Station Be Step-Free?
Sixty years ago, I used Manchester United station to see a match.
This Google Map shows the station.
Note.
- The station is a single platform tucked in behind the South stand.
- The station entrance is indicated by a red arrow.
- When I went in the 1960s, the train was a steam-hauled shuttle from the city centre.
- This Wikipedia entry gives more details.
I suspect a similar space-saving design could be used at Lionel Road station.
There will be a need for a bridge if the station is used on more than match days.
Will Lionel Road And Kew Bridge Stations Be An Out Of Station Interchange?
This OpenRailwayMap shows the triangular junction, with the GTech Community Stadium in the middle.
Note.
- Lionel Road station will be on the North-West side of the station.
- Kew Bridge station is marked by a blue arrow.
- There appear to be walking routes all over the plot on which the stadium sits.
- All sides of the junction are double track.
I think an Out-Of-Station Interchange would be useful, especially for those who don’t know the area.
How Easy Will It Be To Get To Lionel Road Station From Major London Stations?
These are my best estimates at a degree of difficulty.
- Bank – 1 Change – Take Central Line with a change at Old Oak Common Lane to Lionel Road.
- Blackfriars – 1 Change – Take Thameslink with a change at Brent Cross West to Lionel Road.
- Bond Street- 1 Change – Take Elizabeth Line with a change at Old Oak Common Lane to Lionel Road.
- Cannon Street – 2 Changes – Get out at London Bridge – Take Thameslink with a change at Brent Cross West to Lionel Road.
- Charing Cross – 1 Change – Take Bakerloo Line with a change at Harlesden to Lionel Road.
- City Thameslink – 1 Change – Take Thameslink with a change at Brent Cross West to Lionel Road.
- Euston – 1 Change – Take Watford DC Line with a change at Harlesden to Lionel Road.
- Farringdon – 1 Change – Take Thameslink with a change at Brent Cross West to Lionel Road.
- King’s Cross – 1 Change – Take Thameslink with a change at Brent Cross West to Lionel Road.
- Liverpool Street – 2 Changes – Get out at Stratford – Take the Overground with a change at South Acton to Lionel Road.
- Liverpool Street – 1 Change – Take Elizabeth Line with a change at Old Oak Common Lane to Lionel Road.
- London Bridge – 1 Change – Take Thameslink with a change at Brent Cross West to Lionel Road.
- Marylebone – 1 Change – Take Bakerloo Line with a change at Harlesden to Lionel Road.
- Moorgate – 1 Change – Take Elizabeth Line with a change at Old Oak Common Lane to Lionel Road.
- Old Street – 2 Changes – Go to Moorgate – Take Elizabeth Line with a change at Old Oak Common Lane to Lionel Road.
- Oxford Circus – 1 Change – Take Bakerloo Line with a change at Harlesden to Lionel Road.
- Paddington – 1 Change – Take Elizabeth Line with a change at Old Oak Common Lane to Lionel Road.
- Piccadilly Circus – 1 Change – Take Bakerloo Line with a change at Harlesden to Lionel Road.
- St. Pancras – 1 Change – Take Thameslink with a change at Brent Cross West to Lionel Road.
- St. Paul’s – 1 Change – Take Central Line with a change at Old Oak Common Lane to Lionel Road.
- Tottenham Court Road – 1 Change – Take Elizabeth Line with a change at Old Oak Common Lane to Lionel Road.
- Vauxhall – 2 Changes – Go to Oxford Circus – Take Bakerloo Line with a change at Harlesden to Lionel Road.
- Victoria – 2 Changes – Go to Oxford Circus – Take Bakerloo Line with a change at Harlesden to Lionel Road.
- Waterloo – Direct – Direct train to Kew Bridge.
- Waterloo – 1 Change – Take Bakerloo Line with a change at Harlesden to Lionel Road
Note.
- It does appear that the connections in stations like Brent Cross West, Harlesden and Old Oak Common Lane, will make a lot of difficult cross-London journeys easier.
- But not many journeys to the GTech Community Stadium, finish at Kew Bridge station.
- Most journeys pick up the West London Orbital at Brent Cross West, Harlesden or Old Oak Common Lane, which probably means these three stations should be step-free.
- As I’ve been writing this, I do wonder if now is the time to create a pedestrian connection between City Thameslink and St. Paul’s stations, that I wrote about in A Pedestrian Connection Between City Thameslink Station And St. Paul’s Tube Station.
I do believe though that there are places on the Central Line, where small projects can give a high return on expenditure.
Conclusion
Surprisingly, this is a lot more than just a station for a Premier League football club.
Rail Agreement Signed ‘Subject To Value For Money’
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the BBC.
This is the sub heading.
An agreement to reopen a regional rail line has been signed by the transport secretary, subject to the assurance that it delivers good value for money.
These three paragraphs add detail to the story.
Further development work on the Leamside Line, which runs from Pelaw in Gateshead to Tursdale in County Durham, is set to progress as part of the Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) initiative.
Regional politicians said the line could provide train links for 100,000 people in the north-east of England, after it closed to passengers in the 1960s.
The document stated the government would ensure resources were available for the Leamside Line reopening “subject to agreement of that business case and assurance that this delivers good value for money”.
Note.
- There is an excellent map in the BBC article.
- It looks like there will be at least five new or refurbished stations at Ferryhill, Sincliffe, Belmont, West Rainton and Penshaw.
- Belmont appears to have an alternative name of Durham Parkway, so will it be a Park-and-Ride for the area?
- There will be an alternative path for freight trains between Newcastle and York.
- In New Direct Rail Link To Seaham: How This Picturesque Seaside Town Will Connect To London Starting December 2025, I described Seaham’s new link to London, courtesy of Grand Central Trains.
- In Arriva Group Invests In New Battery Hybrid Train Fleet In Boost To UK Rail Industry, I talked about Grand Central’s new trains, which should be in service by 2028 to Seaham and Sunderland.
- It was in June 2020, that I wrote about Boris Johnson making a speech about the Leamside Line in Boris Johnson Backs Station Opening Which Could See Metro Link To County Durham.
This important link has been a long time coming.
Will The Rail Improvements Between London and The North East Create More Tourism?
Consider.
- The digital signalling will create more paths for trains between London and the North East.
- Journey times will come down to generally below three hours.
- There is a lot of excellent walking in the area.
- The North-East doesn’t just host top-class football and athletics.
- A trip could be combined with a day-trip to Edinburgh, Glasgow or the Scottish Borders.
- I have met Americans, who’ve started their holiday in Europe, in Edinburgh and worked their way down via York and London to Paris by train, and then flown back non-stop to the United States.
As I’ve spent a couple of enjoyable weekends in Newcastle and Sunderland, I don’t see why the area can’t attract tourists.
Should The East Coast Main Line Be Renamed?
Consider.
- It is one of the oldest long-distance main lines in the world.
- It links two of the UK’s capitals.
- It is 331 miles long, which is covered in four and a half hours.
- There are some of the world’s best hotels at either end.
- There is good shopping at either end.
- There is no Trump hotel in London or Edinburgh.
Perhaps, it should be called High Speed East Coast?
John Baxendale’s Thermometer
Over the years, I’ve been involved with lots of innovative ideas.
When I worked at ICI Mond Division in Runcorn, one of the guys, that I worked with was John Baxendale, who was a fairly local lad, with unusually for the late 1960s, a very keen interest in surfing. John would often drive up to the North of Scotland in his green Morris Minor Traveller for a few day’s surfing.
Workwise, I remember John most for an electronic thermometer he built, that measured the temperature of a body by its black-body radiation, which is described in this Wikipedia entry.
He developed the thermometer to measure the temperature of remote objects and used to calibrate it on a handy ear, which is a very convenient black-body at 36.9 degrees C.
Major Revamp Of Wales’ Busiest Station Gets Go-Ahead
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the BBC.
This is the sub-heading.
Plans for a major revamp of Wales’ busiest railway station have received final approval.
These three paragraphs add more details.
The £140m upgrades to Cardiff Central – including a new brick arch rear entrance, larger concourse and improved waiting areas – aim to support passenger growth and reduce overcrowding.
Better accessibility for people with reduced mobility and additional retail and cycle facilities are also among the changes.
Work is due to start in the middle of next year with the aim of completing most of it within three years.
Note.
- The new entrance on the south side of the station, was opened in September 2015.
- A new Platform 8 was added in 2017, which allows sixteen local trains per hour to run between Cardiff Central and Cardiff Queen Street stations, to serve the twenty railway stations in the city.
- All platforms are bi-directional, which surely improves the flexibility of the rail network in Cardiff City centre.
- Access from the station to the Principality Stadium has improved greatly in recent years.
- The station will remain open during the works.
Cardiff’s railways are a comprehensive mix of local and inter-city trains.
I have some thoughts on Cardiff Station.
The Cardiff & Valleys Day Ranger
This very useful ticket, is the ideal way to explore the Cardiff and Valleys area and I’ve used it several times.
- I usually buy it from one of the two ticket offices in Cardiff Central station, but in one case, I did buy it in Paddington to save time.
- According to Transport for Wales, you can buy it on a local train from the conductor.
- It costs about £16 for an adult, but railcard apply.
I actually find taking a train up the valleys, is a good way to clean out my lungs.
Sights To See On The Cardiff & Valleys Lines
Google AI makes these suggestions.
The Cardiff & Valleys Lines offer historic castles (Cardiff, Caerphilly, Castell Coch), world-class museums (St Fagans, National Museum Cardiff, Big Pit), industrial heritage (Rhondda Heritage Park, Royal Mint Experience), and stunning nature in Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, with scenic railway journeys connecting these sites for history, culture, and outdoor adventure.
Hopefully, when the new Stadler trains and tram-trains are fully operational on the Cardiff & Valleys Lines, someone will write a full guide.
Is Formula One Likely To Go To Hydrogen Fuel?
Formula One has a long term aim of decarbonising or at least going net-zero.
I’ve never been to an electric-car race, but it must be more boring to many to have motor-racing without the smells and the noise.
I asked Google AI, the question in the title of this post and received this answer.
Formula One is unlikely to switch to hydrogen fuel in the immediate future, as its current strategy is focused on using 100% sustainable “e-fuels” from the 2026 season. However, F1 leadership has stated that hydrogen is a potential long-term solution for the 2030s and beyond.
This article on the BBC is entitled Formula 1 boss Ross Brawn Says Hydrogen Could Be Future Fuel.
But I do believe, that the trucks, vans and transporters that accompany Formula One will be decarbonised earlier and hydrogen could play a major part, due to its proven longer range.
Hydrogen coaches are being developed and could be launches next year and are likely to have a 1,000 km. range, so expect to see some of these vehicles in the fleet of vehicles following Formula One.
The Anonymous Widower 