The New Leven Station On The Levenmouth Rail Link
The reinstated Levenmouth Rail Link, will have two stations; Leven and Cameron Bridge.
This Google Map shows the mouth the the River Leven.
The key point to note is the Sainsbury’s supermarket, which is to the North of the Riven Leven, close to the A955 bridge across the river.
This Map from this page on the Network Rail web site, shows the location of the new Leven station.
Note.
- Leven station has two platforms.
- There is a car park.
- There is space for a bus stop and turning area.
- There are two waiting shelters, both on the same platform
- The platforms look like they could be extended if needed.
It appears that passengers will cross the line by walking past the end of the line.
This map shows a close-up of the bridge over the River Leven.
It used to connect the railway to the coal-fired Methil power station.
Some of the track is still visible.
Is provision being made in the design of Leven station, so that the rail link can be extended across the River Leven to a second station near the Bayview stadium or to allow the development of housing or industrial sites along the Forth of Firth?
Conclusion
It looks to be a good scheme, which connects to the centre of the town and could be developed with bus and walking links for onward travel.
Related Posts
The New Cameron Bridge Station On The Levenmouth Rail Link
Service Provision On The Levenmouth Rail Link
Air Products, Cummins To Accelerate Hydrogen Integration In Fuel Cells Trucks
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on H2 View.
This is the first two paragraphs of the article.
Air Products and Cummins jointly announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding today (July 26) to work together to accelerate the integration of hydrogen fuel cell trucks around the world.
Cummins is expected to provide hydrogen fuel cell electric powertrains integrated into selected OEM partners’ heavy-duty trucks for Air Products, as the company begins the conversion of its global fleet of distribution vehicles to hydrogen.
Note.
- In 2020, Air Products had a turnover of nearly $9 billion.
- Air Products used to provide the liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen for the Space Shuttle.
- According to Wikipedia, Air Products have a good Environmental Record.
- In 2020, Cummins had a turnover of nearly $20 billion.
- Cummins have been reported to be testing hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engines.
Have two of the biggest beasts joined together to exploit they technology, by initially developing hydrogen-powered trucks for Air Products global distribution?
To my mind, this could be a deal to watch.
- Cummins have both the fuel cell development and manufacture. under their control.
- Air Products have the production of the hydrogen under their own control.
- Hydrogenics, who Cummins took over in 2019, are manufacturers of both fuel cells and electrolysers.
Wrapped round it all are two of America’s largest companies, who trade globally.
But what better way is there to demonstrate hydrogen-powered trucks is there, than to use them to distribute your own products?
ORR Authorises Merseyrail ‘777s’
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Rail Magazine.
This is the first paragraph.
Merseyrail’s 52 Class 777 trains have been authorised for passenger use by the Office of Rail and Road.
I can’t wait to get up to Liverpool to have a ride.
But it will be a few weeks yet!
On the other hand, these trains will be as valuable to Merseyside as Crossrail will be to London.
First Passenger Journey In The UK With mtu Hybrid PowerPack
The title of this post, is the same as that of this press release from Rolls-Royce.
This is the first paragraph.
The mtu Hybrid-PowerPack has passed another milestone successfully: In the UK, a train with mtu hybrid drive carried passengers for the first time as part of a special journey.
So how did mtu, a German manufacturer of large diesel engines for trains and ships, end up in bed with Rolls-Royce?
Wikipedia says this.
MTU Friedrichshafen remained a subsidiary of DaimlerChrysler until 2006 when it was sold off to the EQT IV private equity fund, becoming a part of the Tognum Corporation.
Rolls-Royce Holdings and Daimler AG acquired Tognum in 2011. In 2014, Tognum was renamed Rolls-Royce Power Systems, having become a 100 per cent subsidiary of Rolls-Royce Holdings.
A bit tortuous, to say the least!
This paragraph from the press release describes the journey.
The journey of the train – called HybridFLEX – was part of celebrations to mark the 25th anniversary of UK rail operator Chiltern Railways, which will use the train on its routes. It is a converted Turbostar DMU, which was previously equipped with a conventional mtu drive system.
It doesn’t sound very special, but it’s the equivalent of taking your BMW, Jaguar or Mercedes from twenty years ago and converting it to a full hybrid car with batteries, to assist the diesel engine.
Fuel and emission savings of 25 per cent are claimed, with the additional benefit that the train will not use the diesel engines in stations or sensitive areas.
In HybridFLEX Battery-Diesel Train Continues Programme Of Testing, I said this.
In the UK, the following diesel multiple units are fitted with modern MTU engines and could be candidates from a replacement power pack.
-
- Class 168 train – 19 trains – 82 diesel engines
- Class 170 train – 136 trains – 350 diesel engines
- Class 171 train – 20 trains – 56 diesel engines
- Class 172 train – 39 trains – 93 diesel engines
- Class 195 train – 58 trains – 149 diesel engines
- Class 196 train – 26 trains – 80 diesel engines
- Class 197 train – 77 trains – 180 diesel engines
That is a total of 990 diesel engines.
As some of the Class 196 and Class 197 trains have yet to be delivered, I do wonder, if it would be sensible to deliver them as diesel-battery hybrid trains.
That is a lot of diesel engines, that could be replaced by MTU Hybrid Power Packs.
Conversions of other trains are also ongoing in Germany and Ireland.
This article from Rolls-Royce, is entitled Hybrid Train Trials and gives a lot more details.
This is a quote from the article on fuel savings.
A fuel saving of 15 per cent is a
fantastic result and means that under
optimum conditions, 20 to 25
per cent should be possible.
The savings certainly fit with Chiltern’s findings.
I have a few questions.
Can Locomotive Size PowerPacks Be Built?
As an engineer, I don’t see why not!
And there is certainly a need for them to cut diesel usage and carbon emissions with locomotives.
Conclusion
These conversions could be a very good interim solution.
Liverpool Stripped Of Unesco World Heritage Status
The title of this post, the same as that of this article on the BBC.
This is the first paragraph under the picture.
Liverpool has been stripped of its World Heritage status after a UN committee found developments threatened the value of the city’s waterfront.
Liverpool politicians seem united against the action.
I wonder, if the UNESCO committee are a load of snobs, as you should judge Liverpool not as one but a vast string of waterfront sites and buildings.
This picture was taken from a Birkenhead ferry.
It is a very ordinary picture, as it doesn’t show the two cathedrals on the hills behind.
Since, I left Liverpool University in the 1960s, there have been several developments at the Pier Head.
The Albert Dock complex with the Tate Liverpool has been created.
- The Leeds and Liverpool Canal has been extended in front of The Three Graces to reach the Albert Dock.
- The Liverpool One Shopping Centre has been built on the behind the Three Graces as an extension to Liverpool’s main Shopping Centre.
- Liverpool City Museum has been built between the Albert Dock complex and The Three Graces.
- There are statues everywhere including to the Beatles and Billy Fury. I saw both in performance.
- There is the Memorial to the Battle of the Atlantic.
- The Pier Head and Ferry Terminal has been completely rebuilt.
- There is a Cruise Terminal capable of taking the largest cruise ships.
- The new Everton Stadium will be built a couple of hundred metres to the left of the distinctive Liver Building.
To me, the most unusual is the Leeds and Liverpool Canal extended in front of The Three Graces. But that allowed narrow boats to sail between Leeds and the Albert Dock.
Conclusion
It is a site, where most people can spend a couple of days.
Should Liverpool Be A World Heritage Site?
Go spend two days there and then decide.
Zhengzhou Henan: Chest-High Flooding Hits China Trains And Roads
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the the BBC.
This is the first two paragraphs.
Roads and subway stations have been submerged across China’s Henan province as heavy rain has brought severe floods.
One region in Henan has recorded 40cm (15 inches) of rainfall. In Zhengzhou, the city’s entire subway system was forced to close.
I feel sorry for those that died and their friends and families, not only for their loses, but also because they will have probably no say in the stopping of building of hundreds of coal-fired power station, which are certainly one of the factors in all the extreme weather around the world.
Let’s hope at COP26, if the Chinese turn up, other nations make the point that their pro-global warming policies are killing their own people.
VolkerFitzpatrick To Construct Bletchley High Level Station
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Rail Technology Magazine.
Three visualisations and the words confirm a lot of the features of the station.
- Six low-level platforms on the West Coast Main Line and two high-level platforms on the East-West Railway.
- Full step-free access.
- The two new high-level platforms will be numbered 7 and 8 and be connected by an underpass.
- A new entrance on the Eastern side of the station.
From the visualisations, it doesn’t look to be a cheap and nasty design.
Is This One Of The Most Significant Pages On The Internet?
The page is Rolls-Royce’s List Of Press Releases.
On July 8th, 2021, the company issued this press release, which is entitled Rolls-Royce Welcomes All-Electric Ground Support From Jaguar Land Rover For All-Electric Flight Speed World Record Attempt.
This is the opening paragraph.
Rolls-Royce’s all-electric aircraft the ‘Spirit of Innovation’ will take to the skies for the first time in the coming weeks as we work towards a world-record attempt with a target speed of 300+ MPH (480+ KMH). This exciting project will be carbon neutral and to support this ground-breaking innovation Jaguar Land Rover is loaning all-electric zero emission Jaguar I-PACE cars as towing and support vehicles.
This picture shows Spirit of Innovation and one the Jaguar I-PACE cars together in this Rolls-Royce picture
They make an interesting pair.
There is a full analysis of the plane in this article on CleanTechnica, which is entitled Rolls-Royce Attempting 100% Electric Aircraft Speed Record, Jaguar I-PACE Offering Ground Support.
The Jaguar can even tow the plane.
Unusual.
Also on On July 8th, 2021, the company issued this press release, which is entitled Rolls-Royce And Cavendish Nuclear Sign Delivery And Manufacturing Partnership Agreement For SMR Programme.
Another world-class company has joined the small modular nuclear reactor programme.
I have feelings, that this could be the start of something small and incredibly powerful!
Conclusion
I suspect Rolls-Royce have lots of useful research sitting in their archives. We should all follow, what they doing.
Why Can’t I Get The British Grand Prix On Sky?
I can watch all other channels on Sky except for 406 for the British Grand Prix.
It says there is no satellite signal.
Perhaps related is that the locals are complaining of no wi-fi signal.
Is some clever dick rebroadcasting the action on wi-fi?
Down Into The Depths At Moorgate Station
This visualisation shows Moorgate station and mas of tunnels that will connect Crossrail to The Northern Line, the sub-surface lines and the Northern City Line.
Note.
- The Circle, Hammersmith and City and Metropolitan Lines are shown in yellow.
- The Northern City Line is shown in purple.
- The Northern Line is shown in black and the two platforms are underneath the two platforms of the Northern City Line
- Older parts of the existing station are shown in white.
- New Crossrail infrastructure is shown in green.
There is a new pedestrian tunnel that links the far ends of the Northern and Northern City Lines to the main Crossrail station.
The tunnel is in the top left of image and has a right-angle bend in the middle.
This picture shows the lift between the Northern Line platforms and the tunnel.
Note.
- It is a standard Transport for London lift lobby.
- There is signage for the Circle, Hammersmith and City and Metropolitan Lines and the Elizabeth Line above the lift doors.
- The lift appears to be showing floor -8, which is the floor where the lift is currently parked.
I know Moorgate station is deep, but are there eight underground levels?
- The escalator to the Northern City Line is probably about three floors and it starts in the current original booking hall, which is one floor below street level.
- So that would make the Northern City Line at level -4.
- As the Northern Line is one level below the Northern City Line, it must be at level -5.
This picture shows the stairs that go between the Northern Line and the pedestrian tunnel to Crossrail.
It really is a long way down.
For those, who can use escalators, there is still the rat-up-the-drainpipe route I described in Up From The Depths At Moorgate Station.
The Anonymous Widower 