Chiltern Railways Seeks Proposals For Low-Emission Multiple-Unit Fleet
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Railway Gazette.
These are the first three paragraphs.
Chiltern Railways is seeking proposals for the supply of between 20 and 70 new or converted ‘low-emission’ multiple units.
The operator has called for ‘established’ rolling stock manufacturers, owners and modifiers to propose vehicles which would provide a ’meaningful’ reduction in the emissions and external noise compared to its existing diesel multiple-units, particularly in urban areas.
The envisaged five-year framework agreement has an estimated value of up to £400m, including supply and maintenance of the fleet, refuelling infrastructure and any depot modifications.
I have my thoughts.
Chiltern’s Rolling Stock
Chiltern Railways have two different types of rolling stock; diesel multiple units and rakes of coaches haled by diesel locomotives.
Chiltern’s Diesel Multiple Units
Chiltern has these diesel multiple units.
- Class 165 diesel trains – 28 x two-cars – 56 cars
- Class 165 diesel trains – 11 x three-cars – 33 cars
- Class 168 diesel trains – 9 x two-cars – 18 cars
- Class 168 diesel trains – 9 x three-cars – 27 cars
- Class 168 diesel trains – 10 x four-cars – 40 cars
Note.
- The trains were built between 1990 and 2004.
- The Class 165 trains are 75 mph units, whereas the Class 168 trains are 100 mph units.
- These total to 67 trains and 174 cars.
- This is an average train length of 2.6 cars.
Could a fleet of three-car low-emission 100 mph trains fit Chiltern’s requirements?
- They could work in pairs for six-car units for Birmingham Moor Street and Oxford.
- There may be a need for some four-car units.
But how will they be powered?
- Pure diesel will surely give out too many emissions!
- Would an mtu Hybrid PowerPack lower emissions enough?
- Could hydrogen-power be used, either with fuel-cells or a hydrogen internal combustion engine?
In Alstom And Eversholt Rail Sign An Agreement For The UK’s First Ever Brand-New Hydrogen Train Fleet, I wrote about Alstom’s proposed Hydrogen Aventra.
A version of these trains could be ideal, if Children could source the fuel economically.
Chiltern’s Diesel-Hauled Rakes Of Coaches
Chiltern have four rakes of Mark 3 coaches hauled by Class 68 locomotives.
These could be replaced by pairs of three-car low-emission’ multiple units.
Conclusion
A fleet of seventy three-car ‘low-emission’ multiple units, powered by hydrogen could be an innovative solution to the trains to run Chiltern’s services.
Northern Trains Plans Framework Contract For 450 Multiple-Units
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Railway Gazette.
This is the first paragraph.
Northern Trains has invited expressions of interest in a framework contract covering the supply of up to 450 multiple-units to replace ‘significant quantities of its ageing fleet’.
These are other details.
- Firm orders would be placed in phases.
- The initial order would be for ‘multi-mode’ multiple-units.
- Battery-electric or electric-only trains would be included in subsequent orders.
- Trains would have a minimum design life of 35 years from acceptance.
- The ability for the multi-mode units to be converted to electric or battery-electric power as part of an ‘in-life decarbonisation’ programme.
These four paragraphs outline the framework agreement between Northern Trains, the train manufacturer and the owners, who will finance the trains.
The framework agreement would run for eight years, with Northern able to order rolling stock in multiple phases.
Each phase would include a train manufacturing and supply agreement and a technical support and spares supply agreement.
The supplier would provide tools and spare parts, and there would be options for the supply of mock-ups and a cab simulator. Northern is to run a separate procurement for an owning party which would purchase each fleet and lease it to the operator.
The owner would be party to each manufacturing and supply agreement, and there may be different owning parties for each order phase.
This is a well-thought out proposal, that would be worth around a billion pounds to the train manufacturer.
It would probably be based around a family of trains like Alstom’s Aventra, CAF’s Civity or Stadler’s FLIRT.
For a series of orders of such a value, I think we will see some excellent proposals.
The deal will transform rail travel in the North.
I have some thoughts.
Which Trains Will Be Replaced?
Northern Trains fleet includes these ageing trains.
- Class 150/0 diesel trains – 6 x three-car – 18 cars
- Class 150/1 diesel trains – 46 x two-car – 92 cars
- Class 150/2 diesel trains – 26 x two-car – 52 cars
- Class 155 diesel trains – 7 x two-car – 14 cars
- Class 156 diesel trains – 65 x two-car – 130 cars
- Class 158/0 diesel trains – 45 x two-car – 90 cars
- Class 158/9 diesel trains – 8 x three-car – 24 cars
- Class 319 electric trains – 12 x four-car – 48 cars
- Class 323 electric trains – 34 x three-car – 102 cars
- Class 333 electric trains – 16 x four-car – 64 cars
- Class 769 bi-mode trains – 8 x four-car – 32 cars
Note.
- These total to 273 trains and 661 cars.
- If the 16 Class 170 trains, which are of three-cars, were also to be replaced. that would bring the total trains to be replaced to 289 trains and 709 cars.
I would expect the difference between 273-289 current trains and 450 trains in the article, is explained by new services and increased services on certain routes.
Which Trains Could Be Retained?
Northern Trains fleet includes these new trains.
- Class 195 diesel trains – 25 x two-cars – 50 cars
- Class 195 diesel trains – 33 x three-cars – 99 cars
- Class 331 electric trains – 31 x three-cars – 93 cars
- Class 331 electric trains – 12 x four-cars – 48 cars
Note.
- These trains were all built by CAF in the last five years.
- These total to 101 trains and 290 cars.
But if they have an expected life of 35 years, the diesels will have to be converted to zero-carbon trains.
Will The CAF Trains Be Retained?
Consider.
- If all the ageing trains and those not built by CAF were to be replaced then that would be 289 trains and 709 cars.
- If the nearly-new CAF trains were also to be replaced that would be 390 trains and 999 cars.
- Add in a few more trains for expanded services and you’re got the figure of 450 trains given in this article.
- If the CAF trains were to be replaced, then Northern Trains would have an homogenous fleet of new trains from one manufacturer, with all the advantages in operation and maintenance.
On the other hand, I haven’t read any bad criticism of these CAF trains, so I will assume that there is no pressing reason to replace them.
And of course Northern Trains could have an homogenous fleet of new CAF trains.
This is said in the article.
The supplier would provide tools and spare parts, and there would be options for the supply of mock-ups and a cab simulator.
As this is specifically mentioned, do Northern lack a simulator for driver training?
What About The Manchester Bee Network And Other Local Networks?
Will these networks want to take control of their local trains?
If there is an homogenous fleet of new trains from one manufacturer, then surely, it would be easier to give control of some routes to the local transport interests.
Training and driver rostering could be retained in what was left of Northern Trains.
Tram-Trains
Tram trains would be an added complication, but as the South Wales Metro is showing, tram-trains are an interesting way of expanding a network.
Able Seaton Port
Able Seaton Port has been in the news several time recently. So I looked it up on Google Maps.
These four paragraphs on the Able Seaton Port website outline the capabilities of the port.
ABLE Seaton Port (ASP) is located in the centre of the UK on the North East Coast close to the mouth of the River Tees and covers 51 hectares (126 acres) including a 10 hectare (25 acre) dry dock (currently wet) – one of the world’s largest.
It is capable of handling all types of offshore construction vessels, has significant crane capacity and quays, which have been constructed particularly to suit the requirements of the heavy fabrication industry.
Quays 10 & 11 are some of the strongest in Europe at 306m long. They are dredged to -15m chart datum and are designed with a quay loading capacity of 40T/m² with a heavy load-out pad area capable of 60T/m².
Quay 6 is a new heavy-lift quay at the northern end of the wet dock. At 60T/m² this is one of the heaviest load out quays in Europe. It’s function is to service the Brent field decommissioning project which ABLE is undertaking with partners Shell and Allseas.
Note.
The four platforms with their helipads.
Is the platform at the Northern end of the dock concerned with the Brent field decommissioning project?
There seems to be lots of components around the dock ready to be assembled into assemblies like wind turbine foundations.
As Able say this is certainly a large facility.
This second Google Map is a 3D-visualisation of the Southern three platforms.
The view has all changed now according to this news item on the Able Seaton Port, which is entitled First Campaign To Install Turbines At World’s Largest Offshore Wind Farm Is Underway.
A new vessel called Voltaire will be used to install the turbines.
This page on the Dogger Bank Wind Farm web site, is entitled Largest Jack-Up Vessel Voltaire Arrives In The UK To Build Largest Wind Farm In The World.
These are the bullet points.
- Largest offshore jack-up vessel and first seaworthy ultra-low emission installation vessel Voltaire arrives in the UK for her very first assignment on Dogger Bank Wind Farm.
- The vessel will install turbines for all three Dogger Bank Wind Farm phases, a total of 277 units of GE Renewable Energy Haliade-X offshore wind turbines.
These three paragraphs describe the assembly of the wind farm.
The largest offshore jack-up installation vessel ever built, Voltaire, has just arrived in the UK port of Able Seaton ahead of its first campaign on Dogger Bank Wind Farm.
Voltaire of Jan De Nul Group was delivered in late 2022. Since then she has been undertaking final preparations for her very first assignment, the construction of the Dogger Bank Wind Farm phases A, B and C.
In total, the vessel will be responsible for installing 277 GE Renewable Energy Haliade-X turbines. Voltaire will sail out in early July to begin installation
As in an earlier life I was writing project management software for North Sea oil and gas, I can obviously say history is repeating itself. In the 1970s offshore work got easier as cranes got bigger and now fifty years later, it looks like larger lifting capacity, is enabling the installation of larger turbines.
Battery Train Deployment Report Commissioned
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Railway Gazette.
This is the first paragraph.
The Rail Safety & Standards Board has commissioned consultancy WSP to produce evidence-based recommendations for optimising and standardising the adoption of battery-powered trains.
Note.
- The train shown in the picture in the article is a Stadler FLIRT Akku.
- WSP are a well-respected Canadian engineering consultancy.
To commission a development report sounds to be a sensible act.
Progress In Front Of Moorgate Station – 7th August 2023
The pedestrian area in front of the Elizabeth Line entrance at Moorgate station is progressing and I took these pictures this morning.
Note.
- The tree-like sculpture is Manifold (Major Third) 5:4, is by Conrad Shawcross, which I showed being installed in An Art Installation In Front Of Moorgate Station.
- The pedestrian area will be protected by the City of London’s distinctive bollards.
- Only two of the bollards have been painted in their final colours.
- In No Budget; Employ Students, I talked about how the City of London has form in using art students to do decorative paintwork.
The UK is certainly going for appropriately-sized pedestrian areas in front of stations to allow travellers to get easily clear at busy times.
A Funny Turn On Friday
Thursday, 3rd August
I’d slept with the window open, as I often do and woke up to a very damp bedroom. I suspect, that I’d had a similar incident to the one in My Strange Skin.
I measured my INR at 0800 and it was 2.4.
I had my usual bath and breakfast in Leon on Moorgate.
Afterwards, I just went home and added to this blog.
One thing I noticed was that my left leg was going dead, as I sat on the chair typing. but then that happens regularly. It was similarly to the incident in Saved By A Beer?.
Later I had a tremendous itch in my left foot which I treated with copious amounts of the Body Shop’s Hemp Foot Protector.
Friday, 4th August
I had intended to go to the section of the city wall, that has been put on display at City Wall At Vine Street.
But as I was bumping into people and street furniture, I thought there might be something wrong, so I diverted to the A & E at the Royal London Hospital. I was also dropping my brief-case, when I held it in my left hand.
After various tests, including a CT-Scan, I finally left at 21:30, after they’d found nothing serious.
They measured by INR and they said it was 1.9. As I’d not eaten or drunk, large amounts of food and drink, that would drop my INR, how did it drop by 0.5 in 24 hours?
I went home on the Overground and a bus.
Saturday, 5th August
I wasn’t feeling unwell at all.
I was in all day watching the sport.
I was drinking a lot. Perhaps it was 4-5 mugs of tea and a 500 ml. bottle of Adnams 0.5 % Ghost Ship.
Sunday, 6th August
Very much like Saturday, except that I had lunch with my granddaughter.
I had two bottles of 0.5 % beer.
Monday, 7th August
I measured my INR at 0800 and it was 2.8.
Lord Bamford: We’re Too Mesmerised By Musk — Here’s Why I’m Building A Hydrogen JCB
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article in the Sunday Times.
This is the sub-heading.
JCB’s Lord Bamford has spent £100m on a hydrogen engine. Tesla’s tech won’t suit everyone, he tells Jim Armitage
These are my thoughts.
The Need For Zero-Carbon Construction Equipment
Construction sites can be dangerous places and in addition to the obvious dangers, there are hidden pollutants in the atmosphere on sites.
Health and Safety will surely demand an improvement in air quality on construction sites for the protection of the workforce and nearby residents.
If JCB can produce zero-carbon construction equipment, then whether it is electric or hydrogen, this will be to their advantage.
High Speed Two And Low-Carbon Construction
High Speed Two is the UK’s biggest construction project and these posts on this blog, talk about low-carbon construction.
- HS2 Reveals Dramatic Carbon Saving With Ambitious Modular Design For Thame Valley Viaduct
- HS2 Smashes Carbon Target
- HS2 To Trial New Building Method Which Could Provide Carbon-Free Energy
- New HS2 Pilot Project Swaps Steel For Retired Wind Turbine Blades To Reinforce Concrete
- World First As HS2 Trials Dual-Fuel Piling Rig On London Site
If High Speed Two are thinking this way, how many other projects will be built in a similar way?
Decarbonising Cargo Handling
It should be noted that JCB are involved in Freeport East at Felixstowe/Harwich.
Ports will be the sort of workplaces, where all vehicles should be zero-carbon, to protect the workforce. Some of the container handling machines are large and would be ideal for hydrogen.
Decarbonising Agriculture
JCB also make tractors, like the Fastrac and other equipment for agriculture. As they often work around people, hydrogen could be much better.
New Markets
Zero-carbon engines will result in new products for new markets.
Lord Bamford is on track to create valuable new markets for his diggers and other equipment.
Hydrogen-Powered Land Speed Record
JCB already hold the land speed record with the JCB Dieselmax, at over 350 mph.
This paragraph from Wikipedia describes the powerplant.
The car is powered by two specially-tuned versions of the production JCB444 powerplant, developing up to 750 brake horsepower (560 kW) each (over five times the power output of the production version with 90 psi (6 bar) of boost) and featuring four cylinders and 5 litres of displacement, accompanied by two stage turbochargers, intercooler and aftercooler.
I believe that getting that amount of power out of a production diesel engine, shows that JCB’s combustion engineers could do the same for a hydrogen-powered vehicle.
Crown Estate Supports Four Nature-Positive Offshore Wind Research Projects
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on offshoreWIND.biz.
This is the sub-heading.
The Crown Estate has revealed that it is partnering with a range of UK-wide expert bodies to launch four research projects to support nature recovery and the coexistence of offshore wind farms with marine life.
The four projects are described in these paragraphs.
The first of four projects is called Prevalence of Seabird Species and Collision Events in OWF (PrediCtOr), led by the Carbon Trust under the Offshore Renewables Joint Industry Programme (ORJIP).
It aims to develop a coordinated approach for reducing uncertainty surrounding bird collision risk and influencing factors, and therefore reducing consenting risk, at offshore wind farms.
The second project is Procellariiform Behaviour & Demographics (ProcBe), led by JNCC, which seeks to fill evidence gaps around how seabird species, such as storm petrels and Manx shearwater might interact with offshore wind farms and improve the demographic rate and population modelling approaches.
Reducing Seabird Collisions Using Evidence (ReSCUE) project, led by Natural England, is a three-and-a-half project that could improve the industry’s knowledge of seabird flight heights and collision risk with offshore wind turbines in UK waters.
And the last project, named Strategic Compensations Pilots for Offshore Wind, is led by OWIC.
Research like this will surely increase the acceptance of offshore wind power amongst conservationists.
Air-Purifying Totems Trial At Birmingham New Street Station
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Railway Gazette.
These two paragraphs outline the trial.
The use of air-purifying totems to reduce the impact of diesel train exhaust fumes on air quality is to be tested at Birmingham New Street station.
The Pluvo Column devices take in air at the bottom of the totem and pass it through a series of filters before releasing it at head height.
Note.
- This is the Pluvo web site.
- The company has an impressive list of backers including Innovate UK and Land Securities.
- Land Securities Group plc is the largest commercial property development and investment company in the United Kingdom.
- From my experience of Birmingham New Street station, the station could be an interesting application of the technology.
I believe this technology can be developed for a large number of applications.
It’s T-time! All T-Pylons Now Erected On Hinkley Connection Project
The title of this post, is the same as that as this press release from National Grid.
These are the three bullet points.
- All 116 world-first T-structures now complete as part of the Hinkley Connection Project
- Last of 232 diamond ‘earrings’ lifted onto a T-pylon between Yatton and Kenn in North Somerset
- 36 of the new T-pylons between Woolavington and Loxton were energised in March
This is the first paragraph.
National Grid’s Hinkley Connection Project reached another milestone with the completion of all 116 of its iconic new T-pylons, which will connect six million homes and businesses in the South West to home grown, low-carbon energy.
There is a video in the press release, which is well worth a view.
The Anonymous Widower 