Germany ‘A Laughing Stock’ After Minister’s Plane Grounded
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article in The Times.
This is the first paragraph.
Faulty wing flaps on an ageing Airbus have left officials red-faced after Germany’s foreign minister was forced to abandon the plane en route to Australasia.
Germany’s foreign minister is Annalena Baerbock, who is a Green Party politician.
A lot of the comments are asking, what was a Green Party politician doing flying all the way to Australia in a fuel-hungry four-engine Airbus A 340.
The article got me thinking.
Consider.
- Government ministers, diplomats and some business people, will always need to fly around the world for some important face-to-face meetings.
- Perhaps, this won’t happen as much as it did in the past with the development of better communications technology, but there will always be a need in some cases.
- There are over 20,000 business jets in service.
- Most business jets could be run on sustainable aviation fuel.
- Some business jets have a very long-rage.
I can see one of the manufacturers developing sustainable business aircraft to fit various segments.
Lightweight Zero-Carbon Business Aircraft
Aircraft like the Eviation Alice will dominate this field.
- The aircraft is battery-powered.
- It can carry nine passengers.
- It has a range of 440 nautical miles.
- It can operate as either a feeder airliner, business aircraft or small parcel carrier.
- It is planned to be in service in 2027.
The Alice already has a substantial order book.
There are several other aircraft in this segment under development.
Lightweight Hybrid-Electric Business Aircraft
Aircraft like the Faradair BEHA are under development.
- The aircraft is powered by a Honeywell turbo generator running on sustainable aviation fuel.
- It can carry eighteen passengers.
- It has a range of around a thousand miles.
- It is being developed at Duxford Airfield.
- The aircraft has a radical quick-change interior.
- Operational trials are planned to start in 2026.
Like the Alice the Faradair BEHA is different.
Lightweight Business Aircraft Running On Sustainable Aviation Fuel
I can see several of the smaller business aircraft being certified for sustainable aviation fuel.
Cessna sold 8,000 of their Citation jets in 2022 and have delivered around 7,500 according to Wikipedia.
Cessna won’t be giving up that market without a fight.
Certifying the aircraft to run on sustainable aviation fuel would be the interim solution until a hydrogen-powered business aircraft becomes available as it surely will.
The biggest problem will be to make enough sustainable aviation fuel.
Long-Range Business Aircraft Running On Sustainable Aviation Fuel
Long-range business jets like the Gulfstream G800 are true intercontinental transport.
- They can carry nineteen passengers and sleep ten.
- Range is 8,000 nautical miles.
- The jets are powered by Rolls-Royce Pearl 700 engines.
- This press release from Rolls-Royce is entitled Rolls-Royce Conducts First Tests Of 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel For Use In Business Jets.
I think it is right to assume that long-range business jets like the Gulfstream G800 will be able to fly intercontinental routes on a net-zero basis.
An Airbus A321 XLR Running On Sustainable Aviation Fuel
Airbus and to a certain extent Boeing are the elephants in the room.
Airbus have launched an A321 XLR for long routes.
- The aircraft can carry over 200 passengers.
- It can fly up to 5,400 miles.
- It is selling well.
- Air Canada are thinking of using the plane on transatlantic routes.
The engines are from either CFM or Pratt & Whitney and I would be very surprised if the aircraft couldn’t run on sustainable aviation fuel.
Conclusion
I can see a new pattern of flying developing.
To return to the case of Germany’s foreign minister, I could see her going to Australia in a long-range business jet like the Gulfstream G800 running on sustainable aviation fuel.
- She might take a flight from Berlin or perhaps a more convenient airport with a rail connection.
- The plane would refuel in the Middle East and possibly Singapore.
It would be interesting to see how her green supporters reacted.
I can also see Airbus A321 XLRs running on sustainable aviation fuel across the Atlantic, being marketed as the net-zero way to the USA.
After all, Lumo market themselves as the net-zero way to Scotland against the airlines.
Nestlé And Tesco Launch Double-Stacked Rail Freight Trial
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Logistics Manager.
This is the sub-heading.
Nestlé UK and Ireland has successfully completed its first delivery to supermarket chain Tesco using a ‘first-of-its-kind’ rail container, as part of a new rail freight trial.
These are the first three paragraphs.
The container features a roof-raising mechanism allowing products to be “double-stacked from floor to ceiling operating at full capacity before the roof is lowered for transit”. The appeal of this is its capability to store potentially twice as much freight in one journey, reducing costs and emissions.
This is part of Nestlé’s plans to increase freight capacity on trains as a means of reducing the negative impact that the company’s logistics operations have on the environment. It is hoped that the trial will allow the process to be refined over time, providing further opportunities for Nestlé to expand the volume of goods that can be transported via rail in a single shipment.
This focus is integral to Nestlé’s strategy to reduce its reliance on the consumption of diesel in its road transport network. According to a 2021 report from the Rail Delivery Group, rail freight produces, on average, 76% fewer emissions than road transport. This, it claims, equates to a reduction of around 1.4 million tonnes of CO₂ nationally each year.
Note.
- This article would appear to be a follow-on to Nestlé Unveils New Double-Stacking Rail Logistics Plan To Reduce Carbon Footprint, which I wrote in June 2022.
- In From 2025, Nestlé Waters France Will Use The First Hydrogen-Powered Freight Train Through An Innovative Solution Developed by Alstom and ENGIE, I talk about how Nestlé are experimenting with hydrogen-powered locomotives.
Nestlé certainly seem to be working on reducing the carbon dioxide produced by their logistic operations.
Extending The Elizabeth Line
It is generally accepted that the Elizabeth Line has been a success and suggestions are being put forward for the line’s improvement and extension.
This is an index of the various ideas.
- A Branch To The Isle Of Grain
- A Service Between Heathrow And Southend Airports
- An Extension To Southend Airport
- Connecting Great Eastern Main Line Services To The Central Tunnel
- Connecting Great Western Main Line Services To The Central Tunnel
- Connecting North Kent Line Services To The Central Tunnel At Abbey Wood
- Connecting West Anglia Main Line Services To The Central Tunnel
- Connection To Southeastern High Speed One Services
- Could Open Access Services Use The Elizabeth Line?
- High Speed Trains On The Elizabeth Line
- Improving The Northern City Line
- Improving The Route To Windsor & Eton Central Station
- Linking To The Chatham Main Line
- London Crosslink
- Piccadilly Line To Ealing Broadway
- Rebuilding Shenfield Station
- Serving South-East London
- Stratford To Walthamstow and Chingford
- Thoughts On The Maximum Frequency In The Central Tunnel
- Will There Be A Need For Long Distance Class 345 Train?
The City Of London’s Soldiers
I’ve travelled to many cities and countries all over the world and can’t remember seeing colourful bollards like those in the City of London.
Does any other city use something similar?
From Denmark Hill To London Victoria – 12th August 2023
I took these pictures this morning on a Southeastern Metro train from Denmark Hill to London Victoria.
Note.
- The evidence of trespass; graffiti is everywhere.
- Banksy it ain’t!
- The security doesn’t seem to be top class.
Surely, improvements to security are needed.
Southeastern Keen On Battery EMUs
The title of this post, is the same as that of a small section in the August 2023 Edition of Modern Railways.
This is said.
Southeastern is to seek pre-qualification interest from manufacturers and leasing companies for a replacement fleet for the Networker Class 465 and 466 inner-suburban stock, now over 30 years old. The company intends to compare the price of new and cascaded stock.
Southeastern MD Steve White told Modern Railways his preference is for a bi-mode EMU, capable of working off both the third rail supply and batteries. Battery EMUs were originally proposed for the Networker replacements so they could work through services to the unelectrified Isle of Grain branch, after Medway Council put forward plans to restore passenger services on the Hoo peninsular to serve new housing there.
Despite the extension of services to Sharnal Street on the Isle of Grain having since been put on hold by Medway Council on cost grounds (p13, May issue).
Southeastern is still pursuing battery EMUs, even though the company’s existing network is all electrified on the third rail system.
Merseyrail is already adopting battery EMU technology, with seven of the new fleet of 53×4-car Class 777 units being equipped with batteries to enable them to serve the unelectrified extension to Headbolt Lane (p82, July 2022 issue).
Mr. White says there are a number of reasons battery EMUs are attractive.
-
- Increasing levels of mental health issues in society have led to trespass being a major issue the railway: battery EMUs would make it feasible to keep trains moving at slow speed when the current supply has to be switched off to protect a trespasser.
- Battery EMUs would be able to keep moving on occasions when the third rail supply fails, due to technical failures or ice on the conductor rail. This would avoid the compounding of problems, as when delayed passengers got out on the track at Lewisham in March 2018 when the third rail iced up, forcing Network Rail to cut the electricity supply and making it more difficult to get trains moving again.
- Battery EMUs would make it feasible to remove third rail from depots, making them safer places in which to work. A train cleaner was electrocuted and died at West Marina depot in St. Leonards in May 2014, and the Office of Road and Rail has well-publicised concerns on safety grounds about any extensions to the third rail system.
- Battery EMUs would be able to cater for service extensions on unelectrified lines, such as the Isle of Grain.
Mt. White says the trespass issue is the major driver, and if the principle of battery EMUs becomes established it might prove feasible to remove the third rail from platform areas at inner-suburban stations with a persistent trespass problem. He points out this approach might unlock extension of third rail to routes such as the Uckfield line, allowing station areas to be left unelectrified. Replacement of DMUs by electric stock on the Uckfield branch would eliminate diesel working at London Bridge, with air-quality and carbon removal benefits for the capital.
There are a 5-star hotel and a major hospital close to the diesel-worked plstform at London Bridge.
I will now look at some of the issues in detail.
Range Of A Battery EMU
I discuss range of battery EMUs in these posts.
- Stadler FLIRT Akku Battery Train Demonstrates 185km Range
- New Merseyrail Train Runs 135km On Battery
Note.
- Both trains are built by Stadler.
- 135 km. is 84 miles.
- A Bombardier engineer told me eight years ago, that the prototype battery-electric Class 379 train had a range of sixty miles.
I feel it is reasonable to assume that a 100 mph battery-electric train, designed to replace Southeastern’s Networkers could have a range of at least sixty miles.
Distances Of Cannon Street Metro Services
These are distances of services from Cannon Street.
- Erith Loop via Greenwich, Woolwich Arsenal and Bexleyheath – 28.5 miles
- Gravesend – 24.5 miles
- Orpington – 12.6 miles
- Grove Park – 7.1 miles
- Slade Green – 14.5 miles
Note.
- The Erith Loop services start and finish at Cannon Street station.
- The Gravesend service terminates in an electrified bay platform.
- The Orpington service terminates in an electrified bay platform.
- Grove Park and Slade Green are depots.
If trains could be fully charged at Cannon Street station, all services out of the station could be worked by a battery EMU with a range of forty miles.
Charging At Cannon Street
Consider.
- All Cannon Street services arrive at the station via London Bridge station.
- All Cannon Street services leave the station via London Bridge station.
- Trains typically take 4-5 minutes between Cannon Street and London Bridge station.
- Trains typically wait at least 7 minutes in Cannon Street station before leaving.
- Typically, a battery EMU takes fifteen minutes to charge.
A train running from London Bridge to London Bridge would probably take a minimum of fifteen minutes, which should be enough to charge the train.
The track between London Bridge and Cannon Street would need a strong level of protection from trespassers.
I suspect that with some slight timetable adjustments, all Cannon Street services could be run using battery EMUs.
Distances Of Charing Cross Metro Services
These are distances of services from Charing Cross.
- Maidstone East – 38.9 miles
- Dartford – 17.1 miles
- Gravesend – 23.8 miles
- Hayes – 14.3 miles
- Sevenoaks – 22.2 miles
- Grove Park – 8 miles
Note.
- The Gravesend service terminates in an electrified bay platform, which could be used to charge the train before return.
- The Maidstone East service terminates in an electrified platform.
- Grove Park is a depot.
If trains could be fully charged at Charing Cross station, all services out of the station could be worked by a battery EMU with a range of fifty miles.
Charging At Charing Cross
Consider.
- All Charing Cross services arrive at the station via London Bridge station.
- All Charing Cross services leave the station via London Bridge station.
- Trains typically take 10 minutes between Charing Cross and London Bridge station.
- Trains typically wait at least 7 minutes in Charing Cross station before leaving.
- Typically, a battery EMU takes fifteen minutes to charge.
A train running from London Bridge to London Bridge would probably take a minimum of twenty minutes, which should be enough to charge the train.
The track between London Bridge and Charing Cross would need a strong level of protection from trespassers.
I suspect that with some slight timetable adjustments, all Charing Cross services could be run using battery EMUs.
Distances Of Victoria Metro Services
These are distances of services from Victoria.
- Gillingham – 37.2 miles
- Orpington – 14.7 miles
- Dartford – 18.9 miles
Note.
- The Orpington service terminates in an electrified bay platform.
- The Gillingham service terminates in an electrified bay platform.
- The Dartford service terminates in an electrified platform.
If trains could be fully charged at Victoria station, all services out of the station could be worked by a battery EMU with a range of fifty miles.
Charging At Victoria
Consider.
- All Victoria services arrive at the station via Shepherds Lane junction.
- All Victoria services leave the station via Shepherds Lane junction.
- Trains typically take five minutes between Victoria and Shepherds Lane junction.
- Trains typically wait at least 7 minutes in Victoria station before leaving.
- Typically, a battery EMU takes fifteen minutes to charge.
A train running from Shepherds Lane junction to Shepherds Lane junction would probably take a minimum of seventeen minutes, which should be enough to charge the train.
The track between Shepherds Lane junction and Victoria would need a strong level of protection from trespassers.
Conclusion
It certainly appears that if the Networker Class 465 and Class 466 trains were replaced by new trains with the following specification.
- 100 mph operating speed.
- Range of fifty miles on battery power.
- Ability to charge batteries in fifteen minutes.
- Third-rail operation
- It might be an idea to add a pantograph, so the trains could use 25 KVAC overhead wires where necessary and charge batteries on a short length of overhead electrification.
Then a substantial part of the Southeastern Metro network could be made safer, by selective removal of third rail at trespassing hot spots.
Beyoncé Funds Metro Service
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Railway Gazette.
This is the first paragraph.
Singer Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour funded an extra hour of operation of the Washington metro at a cost of $100 000, ensuring that fans could get home after bad weather delayed the start of her concert at the FedEx Field stadium.
Reading the whole article, it looks like everyone was a winner and it is to be hoped that it sets a precedent and under similar circumstances, other promoters take similar actions.
I remember a few years ago, Ipswich and Charlton in the League Cup overran badly one evening and we all got back to Ipswich station well after the last train had gone.
But Greater Anglia made sure that everybody got home, even sending a fleet of taxis to Sudbury.
Portway Park & Ride Station – 10th August 2023
Portway Park & Ride station, opened on the first of this month, so I went to visit today.
Note.
- The Portway Park & Ride is served by both buses and trains.
- Buses serve the City Centre and rugby and football at Ashton Gate stadium.
- Trains serve Avonmouth, Bristol Temple Meads, Severn Beach, Weston-super-Mare and a large number of other Bristol stations.
The M5 crosses over the railway to the West of the station.
This Google Map shows the M5 and the Portway Park & Ride.
Note.
- The M5 goes diagonally SW-NE across the map.
- The wide river is the Avon.
- Portway Park & Ride with its station is in the middle of the bottom of the map.
- Avonmouth station is in the North-West corner of the map.
The Portway Park & Ride seems to be an extremely well-connected Park & Ride.
These are my thoughts.
Are There Any Other Park & Ride Sites, Where A Station Could Be Added?
Consider.
- I wrote about a possible new station at Leicester Forest East in A Station At Leicester Forest East.
- In A Look At New Station Projects, several possible Park & Ride stations are mentioned.
Has Portway Park & Ride been developed to see if sites served by buses and trains are a good idea?
Is Portway Park & Ride The Solution To Big Matches At Ashton Gate?
Consider.
- Ashton Gate Stadium has a capacity of 27,000.
- Wikipedia says that buses from Portway Park & Ride are used to bring supporters to games.
- The platform at Portway Park & Ride might be able to take a five-car Class 802 train for a big match.
I wouldn’t be surprised that Portway Park & Ride has been designed for large crowds at big matches at Ashton Gate.
T-Pylons To The West Of Yatton Station
I talked about National Grid’s first T-pylons in National Grid Energise World’s First T-Pylons.
Today, I went and had a look for them and found where they cross the Bristol-Exeter Line between Yatton and Worle stations.
I took these pictures.
Note.
- The first nine pictures were taken going West between Yatton and Worle and the last eleven were taken going East.
- Some of the mature trees seem to hide the pylons, as the train passes.
T-pylons are deliberately smaller than traditional pylons, as these pictures show.
It is certainly a good attempt at producing a less noticeable electricity transmission line.
Northumberland Line Station Contracts Are Signed
The title of this post, is the same as that of this news item from Nexus.
These are the first three paragraphs.
The signs are good for the new Northumberland rail line after the green light was given for construction to get underway on three new stations.
Contracts have been exchanged for principal contractor Morgan Sindall Infrastructure to formally start work on Bedlington, Blyth Bebside and Seaton Delaval stations.
Main construction works are progressing at pace, with station works well underway at Newsham and works approaching completion in Ashington, and 21km of new track is already installed.
It certainly looks like it’s all systems go.
I hope Network Rail have the next reopening ready to go!
The Anonymous Widower 