Manchester For The Weekend By Air?
For some weeks now, Manchester has been advertising itself as a weekend break on the giant advertising screen over Silicon Roundabout.
The adverts also seem to be backed by British Airways and are advertising flights from London City Airport.
Perhaps, these are in response to Avanti West Coast’s problems?
Moorgate And Luton Airport Parkway
This morning I went by train from Moorgate to Luton Airport Parkway to have a look at the Luton DART.
I used the following route.
- Elizabeth Line – Moorgate to Farringdon.
- Thameslink – Farringdon to Luton Airport Parkway.
I came back from Luton Airport Parkway on a Luton Airport Express.
I took these pictures on the route.
Note.
- The change at Farringdon station was very easy.
- You walk past toilets at the Farringdon change.
- There are two bridges, lots of escalators and lifts at Luton Airport Parkway station.
- I didn’t take the DART to the airport.
These are some detailed thoughts.
Luton Airport Parkway Station
It is a much improved station, but still has some work to do.
- There was a problem with one escalator.
- Some of the signage is not finalised.
- I had a problem with ticketing, as I was sold the wrong ticket.
- Staff probably need a bit more training.
But then the station has only been open three weeks.
Luton Airport Express
East Midland Railway’s St. Pancras and Corby service is now branded as Luton Airport Express.
- It has its own web site.
- Trains only stop at Luton Airport Parkway, Luton, Bedford, Wellingborough and Kettering.
- Trains take as little as twenty-two minutes between St. Pancras and Luton Airport Parkway.
- Class 360 trains are used.
- Trains run every thirty minutes.
As it serves the local area, I wonder how many airport employees, now use this train to get to work?
Is There Progress On The West London Orbital Railway?
This short news item is being shown on Railnews under a sub-heading of Overground Plan.
The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan is reported to have predicted that a new London Overground route in west London could be open by the early 2030s. The link had been proposed by the Mayor in his 2018 Transport Strategy. It would run from Hounslow to Acton Central and the new HS2 station at Old Oak Common. From there it would continue to Acton Wells Junction and then along the Dudding Hill line, which is presently used only for freight, via the existing stations on the Euston-Watford Overground route at Harlesden and the Jubilee Line station at Neasden. Trains would continue from Neasden along the Midland Main Line in both directions to West Hampstead Thameslink and Hendon. It is understood that engineering consultants are being chosen to develop a detailed design.
So is there progress at last on what I feel is a much-needed and affordable addition to London’s railway network?
The West London Orbital Railway
In TfL Advances Plans For DLR And Overground Extensions, I said the following about the West London Orbital Railway.
I have written extensively about this railway and you can see my posts here.
This map from the Mayor’s Transport Strategy shows the route.
I believe this railway could do the following.
- Level-up much of North-West London.
- Provide better access to Heathrow.
- Link West London to High Speed Two and the Elizabeth Line.
It would also provide better links to Brentford’s new stadium.
The New Civil Engineer says this about funding.
TfL now confirms that the West London Alliance has commissioned feasibility work for the scheme. Meanwhile, TfL is considering options for a Borough Community Infrastructure Levy to help pay for it and has been investigating development opportunities on the route that could unlock funds via Section 106 planning obligations and Carbon Offset funding.
Conclusion
It does appear there are ways and means to fund these schemes, without expecting the rest of the UK to fund London’s transport network.
The Construction Of The New Thanet Parkway Station Is Substantially Complete And It Will Open To Passengers On 31 July 2023
The title of this post, is the same as that of this page on the Network Rail web site.
The opening date is the most important information, but the rest of the page is worth a read, as it gives details of the work, that is still to do.
Much concerns sorting out the kevel crossings.
Cummins And Leclanché S.A. To Collaborate On Lower-Emissions Solutions For Use In Marine And Rail Applications
The title of this post, is the same as that of this press release from Cummins.
This is the introductory paragraph.
Today, global power and technology leader, Cummins Inc., and leading provider of energy storage solutions, Leclanché S.A, announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The collaboration represents a significant step forward in providing customers with a broader portfolio of integrated power solutions.
Effectively, this means that all customer requirements for integrated power solutions can be met by the two companies.
It appears to me, that if someone wanted Cummins to provide a system like the HybridFLEX train, I wrote about in Rolls-Royce And Porterbrook Launch First Hybrid Rail Project In The UK With MTU Hybrid PowerPacks, then Cummins and Leclanché have the technology between them to create a system.
In the UK, Cummins power these relatively-modern trains.
- Class 175 – 9 x two-car and 15 x three-car.
- Class 180 – 1 x four-car and 12 x five-car.
- Class 185 – 51 x three-car.
- Class 220 – 34 x four-car.
- Class 221 – 24 x four-car and 18 x five-car.
- Class 222 – 23 x five-car and 4 x seven-car.
Note.
- They are capable of 100 mph or 125 mph.
- Condition of the interiors is generally good.
- There are 9 x two-car, 66 x three-car, 59 x four-car, 53 five-car and 4 x seven-car.
- In Grand Central DMU To Be Used For Dual-Fuel Trial, I described innovative fuel trails in a Class 180 train.
- There could be other similar trains in Europe and around the world.
How many of these trains could be converted to hybrid operation, if Cummins and Leclanché were to create their version of the mtu Hybrid PowerPack?
Conclusion
Have Cummins and Leclanché decided that if a hybrid approach is good enough for Rolls-Royce mtu, then it’s good enough for them?
Hoerbiger And HD Hyundai Infracore Cooperate On Hydrogen-Powered Combustion Engine
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Hydrogen Central.
These two paragraphs outline the story.
This year’s ConExpo in Las Vegas was full of surprises and amazing news. Among the stars of the exhibition was the hydrogen-powered internal combustion engine (ICE) from HD Hyundai Infracore equipped with H2PFI injectors made by HOERBIGER.
This hydrogen-powered ICE can produce a power output of 300 kW (402 HP) and will see mass production in 2025. It will be installed on buses, trucks and construction equipment. While meeting Zero CO2 and Zero Impact Emission requirements it is also 25-30% more economical than battery packs or fuel cells when vehicle price and maintenance costs are considered. One fueling of 10 minutes allows the vehicle to drive for a distance of up to 500 km (310.6 miles).
The more of these stories I read about hydrogen internal combustion engines, the more they convince me, that this is the way to go.
These advantages keep repeating themselves.
- Large range.
- Quick refuelling times.
- Understandable technology.
- Suitable for heavy applications.
- Similar manufacturing to current diesel and petrol engines.
- Less exotic rare earths and metals.
- Lower environmental footprint.
- Can be converted from existing diesels.
The one thing they all need is different lean-burn fuel injection. Hence Hyundai’s tie-up with HOERBIGER.
The Ultimate Bi-Mode
This picture shows, what could be an experiment by Freightliner at Shenfield.
Unfortunately, I didn’t have a chance to ask the driver, if the Class 66 locomotive was running dead-in-train or helping the Class 90 locomotive with a very heavy load.
The picture shows, that the electric and diesel locomotives can work together, at the front of a train.
Note.
- The Class 66 locomotive has a power of 1,850 kW and the Class 90 locomotive has 3,730 kW.
- Did the Class 66 locomotive pull the train out of Felixstowe?
Since I took this picture, I’ve never seen a similar pairing again.
Could The Bombardier Voyagers Be Converted To Hydrogen Power?
Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry and East Midlands Trains all run versions of Bombardier Voyager trains.
- There are 103 sets in service.
- Lengths are four, five and seven cars.
- They are 125 mph trains.
- They are powered by one Cummins QSK19 diesel engine in each car.
Given Cummins’s enthusiasm for hydrogen could these diesel engines be converted to hydrogen power, so the trains could run long distance routes on zero-carbon power?
If there is no need for them in the UK, there are probably lots of places in the world that would like them!
Northern Unveils ‘Supersonic’ Leaf Busting Tech
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Rail Technology Magazine.
These two paragraphs outline the project.
A collaborative effort between Northern and The University of Sheffield has resulted in the development of an innovative piece of technology, small enough to be fitted onto passenger trains, that clears leaves from the line.
A recent demonstration at the Wensleydale Railway has highlighted the effectiveness of this tech, meaning that the disruptions from fallen leaves to rail operations could soon be a thing of the past.
The process is described in this paragraph.
The new cleaning system, developed by researchers from the University’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, works via firing dry ice pellets in a stream of air at supersonic speed at the railhead, resulting the freezing of the leaves stuck on the line, which are subsequently blasted away as the dry ice pellets turn back into a gas. The dry ice pellets themselves are provided from waste carbon dioxide from other industries.
I suppose the only problem, is that it releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
More Details
This page on the Sheffield University web site, which is entitled End Of The Line For Rail Delays Caused By Autumn Leaf Fall, gives more derails.
NI Green Hydrogen Projects Win Government Grants
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the BBC.
This is the sub-heading.
Two green hydrogen projects in Northern Ireland have won government grants in the first round of the UK Net Zero Hydrogen Fund.
These three paragraphs outline the projects.
Green hydrogen is made by using renewable electricity to separate water into oxygen and hydrogen – a process called electrolysis.
The grants will be used to help fund the construction of electrolysers.
One will be at the Mannok cement plant in Fermanagh, the other at Wrightbus in Ballymena.
I talked about the Wrightbus project in Ballymena: Wrightbus To Develop Hydrogen Production Facility.
The Anonymous Widower 