University Of Alberta Partners With City of Edmonton And Diesel Tech Industries To Pilot Hydrogen-Diesel Bus Retrofits
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Pulse 2.0.
These two paragraphs introduce what is a comprehensive practical approach to decarbonising a fleet of diesel buses.
The University of Alberta is partnering with the City of Edmonton and Diesel Tech Industries to cut carbon emissions from Edmonton’s fleet of diesel-powered buses by integrating hydrogen fuel into existing combustion engines.
The initiative focuses on developing a practical retrofit approach to help transit agencies and other vehicle operators reduce emissions quickly without waiting for full fleet replacement. Project leaders say that if the pilot succeeds, the work could translate into a deployable solution for operators across Canada seeking near-term carbon reductions while maintaining current diesel assets.
Note.
- The City of Edmonton has around a thousand buses.
- Many of Edmonton’s buses have Cummins engines.
- Cummins are decarbonising the company and have developed hydrogen-conversions for some of their diesel engines.
- I am sure that this technique could be used to convert London’s thousand new Routemaster buses, with their Cummins engines.
This project seems to have a lot of possibilities to get very much larger.
West Ealing Station – 1st February 2026
Because of the confusion of WordPress yesterday, I had to go back to West Ealing station to take more pictures today.
These are the pictures that I took.
These are some of my thoughts.
The High-Density Transport-Hub Cluster
This seems to be coming on with several blocks now visible and the Waitrose site to be developed.
There also seems to be some useful shops, which include a pleasant Italian cafe on the North side of the rail lines.
The Fast-Charge System Contacts
Note.
- These are shown in Pictures 16-17!
- There are two contacts, which are in yellow for safety reasons.
- I wonder how many can be installed?
- Is it one per battery and one battery per car?
I suspect by duplicating cables and putting them underneath and between the tracks, the Fast-Charge system could handle a train like a Class 800 train.
Will Other High-Density Transport-Hub Clusters Be Developed Along The Elizabeth Line?
This is one for the nimbys, planners, politicians and residents, but I don’t see why some councils will try.
I Have Just Been WordPressed
My method of using WordPress is to use the Classic editor because, that was how I started and many of the original posts were created with it.
I also do some actions with galleries, which now the program seems to have banned.
Rule one of writing software is never to go back on your original design and change things that they habitually do.
Some big software manufacturers do it all the time and I’m sure it does them harm.
As an example, who remembers the company; Wordstar, but loads of people remember and use Control-C, Control-V, Control-X, Control-Z etc.
The solution is to get the design right first time.
WordPress are driving me nuts, by my not being able to edit my post ; The Ultimate Recycled Electric Local Train.
I particularly want to get the gallery in the post into order. If I try to move the last picture into position zero, I can do it and it even stays there when I update the gallery. But if I go back to do another move, the picture is back to the old place.
That looks like a Grade A Bug to me! Fix It!
The Ultimate Recycled Electric Local Train
This morning, I took a ride across London to ride in the first Class 230 train in public service in London.
I took these pictures of the new block of flats going up at West Ealing station, the charging system for the train and the train.
Note.
- The train is three-cars with a toilet to suit everybody, except possibly Donald Trump, who’d want it in gold.
- The single train is shuttling between West Ealing and Greenford stations.
- Each journey 2.5 mile journey takes eleven minutes.
I was surprised at the number of tables and the quality of the seats.
These are some extra thoughts.
The Blocks Of Flats
Google AI gave me this.
Several new developments around West Ealing station feature tall blocks, with major proposals ranging from 4 to 26 storeys. Key projects include a 26-storey tower, proposed 19–22 storey towers on Manor Road/Waitrose site, and 7–21 storey student accommodation blocks. These, along with other 9-storey developments, are transforming the area into a high-density “transport hub” cluster.
I think the 26-storey West 55 Tower is shown in the first two pictures.
Google AI also says some of the natives are not happy about all the towers.
But I like the “high density” transport hub.
Integrating The Railway And The Housing
Note.
- This would appear to be a good example of integrating the railway and the housing.
- The second picture appears to show a walkway between the station and Tower 55.
- I met a property developer on a train once and he told me, that housing on top of stations without car parking, had better numbers all round, with more flats, less cost and good profit.
- I wonder, if Tower 55, is one of his? He was certainly enthusiastic about the concept.
- Would a Fast-Charge system be easier and very much safer to squeeze in than traditional overhead wiring?
If the flats all don’t have garages, there must be space for other uses.
The Charger At Work
Note.
- The third to the sixth pictures, show the train coming into the station and charging ready for a trip to Greenford.
- The train acts as a heavy safety guard during the process.
- Anything electrical or dangerous is underneath the train.
I would expect that a health and safety expert, would rate the train no more dangerous than a normal train.
There Seems To Have Been A Lot Of Innovative Recycling On The Train
This certainly seems to apply to the seats, which in some cases are the originals remodeled.
A Stylish And Well-Built Train
This phrase would sum up my overall view of the train.
I have a Korean son-in-law and I know a bit, how Koreans think about design.
I would think, that he would like this as it is a stylish and practical train, so it wouldn’t embarrass you or your Korean boss, if you told him to use this train in the UK, to get to your offices.
Using my Korean example, I suspect, that this train could be one that endears itself to its passengers, with its quirky and practical feel, just like the original Mini did.
Adrian Shooter Would Be Pleased
Most Certainly!
I wish all the team well, as I believe this technology and a few trains like 230001 will make their mark on the world.
A Practical Hundred Mile Battery-Electric Route
The Sheffield and Scunthorpe Line is a Parliamentary Service.
- It is 71.6 miles over 1 hour and 48 minutes, through seven stations of the Lincolnshire countryside, at an average speed of 40 mph.
- Currently, it runs once per day, which is not very ideal for a job, education, training, shopping or visiting grandchildren.
- A two-car version of 230001 could be ideal to perhaps do four round or five trips a day and level-up some of the poorer parts of the UK, that don’t even have a decent bus service.
- A similar two-car train could also serve the 45-mile round-trip Cleethorpes and Barton-on-Humber service.
I am sure that this train could start the right sort of rural or urban revolution.
Treasures Found On HS2 Route Stored In Secret Warehouse
The title of this post is the same as that of this article on the BBC.
This is the sub-heading.
Treasures unearthed by hundreds of archaeologists during the ongoing construction of the controversial HS2 train line have been shown exclusively to the BBC.
These three paragraphs add detail to the story.
The 450,000 objects, which are being held in a secret warehouse, include a possible Roman gladiator’s tag, a hand axe that may be more than 40,000 years old and 19th Century gold dentures.
It is an “unprecedented” amount and array of items, which will yield new insights into Britain’s past, says the Centre for British Archaeology.
Major building developments in the UK need land to be assessed by archaeologists as part of the planning process, to protect heritage sites.
Crossrail also collected a lot of artefacts in an archaeology programme, that I wrote about in Bison to Bedlam or How To Make Friends.
Typing “TransPennine Route Archaeology” into Google AI gave this answer.
AI Overview
Archaeological investigations for the Trans-Pennine upgrades are split into two major, parallel projects: the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine road project and the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) rail project. Both have revealed significant historical, archaeological, and industrial remains.
A66 Northern Trans-Pennine Upgrade (Road)
As part of the A66 upgrade between Penrith and Scotch Corner, Oxford Cotswold Archaeology (OCA) is conducting extensive excavations.
Key Finds: Archaeologists have identified prehistoric settlements, Neolithic stone axes, and evidence of a 60-meter-wide posthole structure.
Roman Discovery: A major Roman vicus (settlement) and the original Roman road have been uncovered, revealing a “grid of Roman field systems and ditches” near Brough.
Locations: Key sites include Brougham, Brough, Kirkby Thore, and Crackenthorpe.
Significance: These findings illustrate the area’s long-distance connection, trade, and culture from prehistoric through Roman times.
Transpennine Route Upgrade (Rail)
This project, involving Network Rail and ASWYAS (Archaeological Services WYAS), is upgrading the railway between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds, and York.
172-Year-Old Railway Siding: A mid-19th-century railway siding was uncovered at Hillhouse Sidings in Huddersfield, revealing two turntables and brick-built engine sheds.
Roman Settlement (Ravensthorpe): Excavations at Ravensthorpe (for a new station) uncovered a large, hexagonal-shaped feature thought to be an Iron Age or Roman-British enclosure, featuring ceramics, glass, and animal bones.
Mirfield Viaduct: An investigation of the Grade II-listed Mirfield Viaduct (built 1836-1839) was conducted to record its structure before upgrade works.It could be a very large exhibition in the North, if High Speed Two and the two Transpennine Route Upgrades were combined in a single exhibition.
I asked Google AI, what is the largest exhibition centre in Yorkshire and received this answer.
The largest exhibition sites in Yorkshire are concentrated in Harrogate, anchored by the Great Yorkshire Event Centre and the Harrogate Convention Centre. These venues offer a combined total of over 10,000 square meters of exhibition space, accommodating major national events, conferences, and large-scale outdoor exhibitions.
I suspect Leeds, Manchester and Sheffield could have other ideas.
Offshore Wind Farms Owned By CIP, JERA Nex BP Enter Lease With Crown Estate
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on offshoreWIND.biz.
This is the sub-heading.
The 1.5 GW Mona offshore wind farm, owned by JERA Nex BP, and the 480 MW Morecambe, owned by Copehnagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), have entered into lease with the Crown Estate.
It looks like the 1.5 GW Mona and the 480 MW Morecambe wind farms, which were both given development consent in 2025, will be going ahead, but the 1.5 GW Morgan wind farm is to be discontinued, despite having development consent.
Mona and Morecambe would appear to be planned to be commissioned around 2030.
So if all goes well, that would appear to be 2 GW in the oven.
In CIP’s UK Offshore Wind Project Granted Development Consent, there is a comprehensive map of all the wind farms in Morecambe Bay.
Observations On A Trip To Doncaster And Sheffield
My objectives were.
- Buy a walk-up ticket from a machine at King’s Cross for Doncaster station and then use it.
- Use local trains, tram-trains and trams to get to as quick as possible to Sheffield station.
- Buy a walk-up ticket from a machine at Sheffield station for St. Pancras and then use it.
This is the story of my day.
A Ticket From King’s Cross for Doncaster
This happened at King’s Cross
- I got charged £38.65, but I didn’t get any tickets.
- So I complained in the Booking Office.
- But they didn’t believe me.
- Then I showed them the debit on my credit card account.
- Then a lady came and checked the machine, but couldn’t find any tickets.
- They then issued me with a new ticket for Doncaster.
- But they were these design crimes of flimsy tickets.
- I now have two debits on my credit card account.
They said one will be refunded.
King’s Cross To Doncaster
I took these pictures of the trucks along the nearby A1 to the North of Newark.
This map shows how the A1 curves round the town.
Note.
- The A1 Road curving around the right of the town.
- The red arrow marking Newark Northgate station.
- There is a notorious flat crossing, that needs to be replaced to the North of the station.
I believe as a Control Engineer, that digital signalling might solve the problem of the crossing and I wrote about it in Could ERTMS And ETCS Solve The Newark Crossing Problem?.
But there was no problems on the journey
- The train was ten coaches.
- It was going to Edinburgh.
- It left on time.
- It didn’t appear to be very full.
- It was four minutes late at Doncaster and arrived at 14:47.
These pictures show Doncaster station.
Note.
There are nine platforms and eleven tracks.
The nine platforms are arranged in three island platforms.
Trump May Have Alzheimer’s, Says Niece
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article in The Times.
This is the sub-heading.
Mary Trump said the president appeared to have developed a ‘deer-in-the-headlights look’ that reminded her of his late father, Fred Trump.
These three paragraphs add detail to the story.
President Trump’s niece has suggested her uncle could be suffering from Alzheimer’s based on a “deer-in-the-headlights” expression that reminds her of the president’s father.
Mary Trump, a longtime critic of her uncle, said she saw flashes in him of Fred Trump, her grandfather, who she witnessed struggle with the degenerative disease before his death aged 93 in 1999.
“Sometimes it does not seem like he’s oriented to time and place,” Mary Trump, 60, told New York Magazine of her uncle. “And on occasion, I do see that deer-in-the-headlights look.”
Fifteen years ago, my consultant at Addenbrooke’s said I should go on Warfarin (rat poison) to thin my blood. But my GP said I should stick to a small aspirin every day.
The result was that I had a serious stroke on holiday in Hong Kong.
Luckily, I made a remarkable recovery and I am now testing a Warfarin replacement drug, which is two pills a day and no testing, except by the doctors every three months.
My current cardiologist has even used the GP’s actions in a lecture to students on how not to behave.
Trump is playing with fire!
Surely he should at least be taking Warfarin and being tested frequently.
If any cardiologists are reading this, they should note, that I am coeliac and for the last twenty-eight years, I have been having regular B12 injections.
As B12 injections are used in Trumpland to help stroke patients recover, but not in the UK, from observations of my own recovery, by several doctors, I am tempted to believe that B12 injections may help stroke recovery.
Any sensible offer to help in research will be considered.
From my own experience, an affordable drug, like B12 injections could have a place in stroke recovery.
To get a second opinion, I asked Google AI, this question. – “Do Vitamin B12 Injections Help With Stroke Recovery?”
I received this answer.
Vitamin B12 injections may aid stroke recovery, particularly for individuals with a deficiency, by supporting nerve function, reducing homocysteine levels, and enhancing neurological rehabilitation. Research indicates that adequate B12 levels are crucial for protecting the brain after an ischemic stroke.Key findings regarding Vitamin B12 and stroke recovery:
- Neuroprotection: Vitamin B12 aids in maintaining myelin sheaths, which are essential for nerve repair and protecting the central nervous system after a stroke.
- Reduced Damage: Studies suggest that B12 can help reduce cerebral injury and improve long-term neurobehavioral function.
- Correcting Deficiency: People with B12 deficiencies often have worse stroke outcomes, making correction via injections crucial.
- Homocysteine Control: B12 helps lower homocysteine, a risk factor for vascular damage and recurrent stroke.
- Efficiency of Injection: For those with absorption issues (e.g., older adults or those with GI issues), injections bypass the digestive system to ensure maximum absorption.
The NHS will face a lot of resistance, if they want to take away my B12 injections.
Does Miserable Weather Deplete Your B12?
Consider.
I have been feeling down this winter and especially in the last few weeks.
- My three-monthly B12 injection is now due.
- But I can’t get one until the second of February.
- But on miserable days like this, I do feel bad.
- So I have asked for the injection to be moved forward?
In answer to my question in the title of this post, Google AI gave this answer.
Yes, cold, dark, and “miserable” winter weather can contribute to lower Vitamin B12 levels, or at least worsen an existing deficiency.
While miserable weather does not directly “burn” B12 out of your body, the associated lifestyle changes and reduced sunlight can cause levels to drop.
Here is how winter weather affects B12:
Reduced Sun Exposure:
While Vitamin D is directly linked to sunlight, the general reduction in sunlight during winter can affect energy levels and mood.
Low Vitamin B12 can also cause similar symptoms, making it harder to distinguish between a vitamin deficiency and “winter blues”.
Dietary Changes:
In winter, people may consume less of the fresh, nutrient-dense foods (like animal products) that are high in B12, or they may feel less motivated to maintain a balanced diet, leading to lower intake.
Increased Stress and Fatigue:
Cold, dark weather can induce stress.
Chronic stress and fatigue are known to deplete B vitamin reserves, including B12.
Increased Sensitivity to Cold: Ironically, if you are already slightly deficient in B12, you may feel much colder, more tired, and more lethargic than others, exacerbating the feeling of “miserable” weather.
Key Takeaways:
Check Levels: If you experience extreme fatigue, low mood, or numbness in your hands and feet during winter, it might be worth checking your B12 levels.
Supplementation: In many cases, people, especially vegetarians or vegans, find that B12 supplements or injections help manage symptoms of low energy and poor mood during colder months.
Diet: Ensure you are getting enough B12-rich foods like meat, fish, dairy, and fortified foods.
If you are feeling significantly lower energy or mood during winter, it is always best to consult a healthcare professional.Conclusion:
The Anonymous Widower 