First Phase Of ‘Transformational’ Darlington Rail Station Upgrade Approved
The title of this post is the same as that of this article on the North East Times.
This upgrade is on the Eastern side of the current station and will include a new entrance, station building, concourse and three new platforms.
This design should allow the following.
- LNER, High Speed Two and other expresses not stopping at the Darlington station to pass through at speeds of up to 125 mph or more.
- Expresses stopping in the station will slow and accelerate in less time than they do now.
- It will probably allow more local trains to Bishops Auckland, Middlesbrough and Saltburn
A seventy-five percent increase in platforms probably offers other advantages.
Results For HS2’s Trial For Alternative Fuels Set To Cut Carbon Released
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Rail Technology Magazine.
This paragraph sums up the results.
Although the results demonstrated partial air quality benefits, when compared to red diesel, the trial showed possible carbon reduction opportunities via the sustainable sourcing of alternative fuels.
It looks like, there will be benefits from swapping from red diesel.
The FAA Has Begun To Recognize Electric Propulsion During Certification
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Simple Flying.
The article also has this sub title.
The FAA has set out its Part 33 certification requirements for MagniX’s electric propulsion units, providing high hopes for the future of electric aircraft
Reading the whole article , indicates that the FAA is taking electric aircraft seriously.
These are my random thoughts on electric flying in the UK and Ireland.
- The UK and Ireland could be one of the heaviest users of electric aircraft.
- There will be electric routes between the UK and Ireland.
- One of the first electric routes will be between London and New quay.
- Smaller cities and towns will develop electric airfields.
Without doubt here in the UK and Ireland, where the two largest of many islands can fit within a five hundred mile circle, electric aviation will be seriously developed for island hopping, longer mainland flights and short flights to the Continent.
RMT Calls New Strike Ballot On ScotRail
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on RailNews.
This is the first paragraph.
The RMT has served notice of an industrial action ballot on ScotRail as the latest development in its long-running pay dispute. The union said that the schedule for the ballot would permit action to take place during COP26 if, as expected, its members voted yes. Over two thousand RMT members will be polled. A few days earlier nine out of 10 ScotRail ticket examiners had confirmed their backing for continued strikes. The law required another vote, because industrial action began six months ago.
Does the date of the strike, illustrate the RMT’s views on climate change and COP26.
Property Buyers Want Train To Take The Strain, Says Rightmove
The title of this post is the same as that of this article in today’s Times.
Aooarently people are buying houses within an hour’s commute to London, with Chelmsford, Crewe and Sittingbourne being especially popular.
Note.
- Chelmsford will soon be served by a new train fleet.
- Sittingbourne is served by Southeastern’s HighSpeed trains.
- Crewe is served by fast services and will be on High Speed Two, earlier than many places.
Liverpool and Birmingham City Centres are also popular according to the article.
Bio-Coal Trials Show Promise
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Rail Engineer.
These were the first two paragraphs.
Norfolk’s Bure Valley Railway (BVR) has held an extensive trial of bio-coal as the heritage rail sector looks towards a carbon-free future.
The event, which took place in June, was the result of cooperation between members of the Advanced Steam Traction Trust (ASTT), Bure and the Heritage Railway Association.
It probably makes sense to experiment with steam locomotives and fuels that create less carbon dioxide emissions.
Network Rail And Vivarail Bring The Next-Generation Battery Train To COP26
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Network Rail.
These are the first two paragraphs.
Network Rail and Vivarail today announced that Vivarail’s next-generation battery train will be launched at COP26 and will run daily services throughout the international climate change conference.
This zero-emission train uses new batteries, developed by Vivarail, to combine maximum range with the ability to recharge quickly. The result is a train that can travel for up to 80 miles on battery power and recharge in only 10 minutes using Vivarail’s patented Fast Charge system.
That is an excellent range coupled with a fast turnround time.
How will other companies like CAF, Hitachi and Stadler respond?
If all battery-electric trains can reach this range, I don’t think we’ll need hydrogen for multiple units, but we will probably need it for freight and other locomotives.
UK’s Tevva Uses Submarine Tech To Power Electric Trucks
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on The Times of Israel.
The article is from April 2017 and starts with this paragraph.
Startup founded by Asher Bennett, brother of Israel’s education minister, aims to provide digital, emission-free vehicles.
This paragraph gives details of the man behind the company and their first sales.
Meanwhile, one UK company — Tevva Motors — has already got its first orders for repowering the trucks of delivery giants UPS, DHL and Switzerland’s Kuehne+Nagel with its components, including the batteries and motor, according to Tevva’s 48-year-old Israeli founder Asher Bennett. Bennett is the older brother of former entrepreneur turned right-wing politician Naftali Bennett, who is Israel’s education minister.
Since the article was written, Naftali Bennett has become Israel’s Prime Minister.
This paragraph explains how the trucks work.
The trucks Tevva repowers as well as those the company is planning to build from scratch next year at its new facility in Chelmsford are fully digital. “Every piece of information on our trucks is on the cloud,” Bennett said. The software and algorithms developed by the company automatically calculate the most efficient use of the battery and instruct the range extender when to kick in, without any input from the driver.
We’re already starting to see trains using similar techniques.
But as a time-expired Control Engineer, I would go a similar route.
It is a fascinating article, that deserves a full read.
Tevva Presents 7.5 Tonne Truck With Range Extender
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Electrive.
This is the first paragraph.
The English company Tevva has presented a 7.5-tonne truck that is supposed to have a range of up to 250 kilometres in electric drive mode and a range of up to 500 kilometres with the FC range extender activated. Production of the Tevva truck is scheduled to start in July 2022.
I like the concept, as it appears to give a reasonable range.
- The design team behind the truck have a good pedigree.
- The trucks are of a size to handle a useful load.
- Larger trucks will be produced later.
- The trucks will be built in a factory in the London Freeport.
I think we’ll see a lot more larger battery-electric vehicles with hydrogen range extenders.
Bank Station Upgrade – 28th September 2021
I walked past the works to upgrade Bank station this morning and took these pictures.
The first two pictures were taken on King William Street and the others were taken as I walked up Cannon Street to Cannon Street station.
This 3D Google Map shows the new section of the station from the South.
The construction site is surrounded by two roads and a lane.
- Cannon Street runs East-West in front of the construction site.
- King William Street is on the Eastern side of the construction site.
- Abchurch Lane runs Northward between the church of St. Mary Abchurch and the construction site.
There will be a lot more construction on top of the station.
This TfL image shows how it will look in 2022.
The Anonymous Widower 