Beeching Reversal – Reopening Stratford-upon-Avon And Honeybourne-Worcester/Oxford (SWO) Railway Line
This is one of the Beeching Reversal projects that the Government and Network Rail are proposing to reverse some of the Beeching cuts.
I covered this route in RSC Urges GWR To Provide Stratford Improvements and came to these conclusions.
There are three ways to improve rail access to Stratford-upon-Avon.
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- The relatively easy and quick, enhancement of the rail services in Warwickshire.
- Provide better one-change routes using Chiltern Railways.
- The more difficult re-connection of Stratford to the Cotswold Line at Honeybourne.
As the last project will take years to implement, I feel, it is important that services to Stratford from Birmingham, Coventry, Leamington Spa and the West Midlands are substantially increased.
I also believe that the responsibility of providing a local service between Leamigton Spa and Stratford should be given to West Midlands Trains.
The Case To Reconnect Stratford-on-Avon and Honeybourne Stations
In Where Is London Midland Going?, I wrote this section in July 2017.
The North Warwickshire Line
The North Warwickshire Line links Birmingham with Stratford-on-Avon and has an alternative name of the Shakespeare Line.
Plans exist to extend this line South to Honeybourne station on the Cotswold Line.
Under Possible Future Development in the Wikipedia entry for the Warwickshire Line, this is said.
The Shakespeare Line Promotion Group is promoting a scheme to reopen the 9 miles (14 km) of line south of Stratford to Honeybourne where it would link to the Cotswold Line. Called the “Avon Rail Link”, the scheme (supported as a freight diversionary route by DB Schenker) would make Stratford-upon-Avon station a through station once again with improved connections to the South, and would open up the possibility of direct services to Oxford and Worcester via Evesham. The scheme faces local opposition. However, there is a good business case for Stratford-Cotswolds link.
I think we’ll see something in the new franchise about developing this line, as there is a lot of potential for a train operator.
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- Direct services between Stratford-on-Avon and Oxford, where there is a connection to Bicester Village. Tourists would love that!
- Connection of the housing development at Long Marston to Birmingham.
- Could Stratford-on-Avon or Honeybourne become the terminus of a service from Leamington, Coventry and Nuneaton?
It would also give DB Schenker, their freight diversion.
But we didn’t see anything in the new franchise and the project has turned up in the list of Beeching Reversal projects.
The Route Into Stratford-Upon-Avon
This Google Map shows Stratford-upon-Avon station.
Note.
- The station is well-appointed with step-free access and three platforms.
- The bridge at the Southern end of the station to allow the railway to go South, appears to be intact.
This second Google Map shows the area of the town from the station to the racecourse.
Note.
- Stratford-upon-Avon station at the top of the map.
- Stratford Racecourse at the bottom of the map.
The road curving between the station and the racecourse is the track of the former Stratford to Honeybourne railway.
My first reaction, when I saw this was that those, who want to rebuild this railway can’t be serious.
- Would you want one of DB Schenker’s noisy, smelly and polluting Class 66 locomotives running past your house?
- Would you want the line to be electrified, so they could use electric locomotives on this short stretch of railway? If so would DB Schenker be happy to change locomotives twice?
I have looked at new railways entering towns and cities all over the UK and Europe and feel there is only two possible solutions for Southern access to Stratford-upon-Avon station.
- A single-track passenger-only railway run by battery electric trains.
- A tunnel, which would probably be single-bore for cost reasons.
South of Stratford, the route is easier and it can be picked out on Google Maps until it reaches the Cotswold Line to the East of Honeybourne station.
This Google Map shows Honeybourne station and the junction.
Note.
- The Cotswold Line running NW-SE across the map.
- The large triangular junction that connected the line to Stratford-upon-Avon station, which is to the North-East.
- Another track going South from the junction, can be picked out. This leads to the heritage Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway at Broadway station, with onward connections to Cheltenham Racecourse.
Honeybourne station could be an important rail hub.
Honeybourne Station And Battery Electric Trains
Consider.
- Hereford and Honeybourne stations are 48 miles apart.
- Didcot East Junction, where trains switch to and from the Great Western Main Line electrification and Honeybourne stations are 48 miles apart.
- Trains to Hereford pass through Great Malvern, Worcestershire Parkway and Worcester Foregate Street.
- Stratford-up-on-Avon and Honeybourne stations would be less than thirty miles apart, if the two stations were to be reconnected by rail.
- Hitachi’s proposed battery electric trains will have a range of 56 miles on battery power.
If the means to charge battery electric trains were provided in the Honeybourne area, the following services could be run by battery electric trains.
- London Paddington and Worcestershire Parkway, Worcester Foregate Street, Great Malvern and Hereford.
- Honeybourne and Stratford-upon-Avon
The charging could be performed, by a ten minute stop at Honeybourne station or a section of electrified line centred on the station.
The two stations either side of Honeybourne are Evesham and Moreton-in-Marsh.
- They are fifteen miles apart.
- Trains take eighteen minutes between the stations.
- This would be enough time to charge the batteries.
- Trains could pan-up and pan-down in the two stations.
I believe modern low-visibility overhead electrification could be used.
See Prototype Overhead Line Structure Revealed for more details on these gantries.
An Oxford And Stratford-upon-Avon Service
My estimates for the timings of the two sections of the route are as follows.
- Stratford-upon-Avon and Honeybourne – 20 minutes
- Honeybourne and Oxford – 46 minutes
Perhaps not the best for an efficient services, but I’m sure something could be arranged.
Conclusion
This will be a difficult project to get built.
If it is built, I suspect, it will be a passenger-only route using battery trains.
Dore And Totley Station – 13th July 2020
These pictures show Dore and Totley station.
These are my thoughts on the station and the tracks through it.
The Midland Main Line And High Speed Two
The two tracks, that are furthest away from the station platform are the Midland Main Line between Sheffield and Chesterfield, Derby and the South.
- These tracks will be taken over by High Speed Two.
- They will be electrified with 25 KVAC overhead electrification between Clay Cross North junction and Sheffield station.
- The trains on the Midland Main Line will continue to use the electrified tracks.
- East Midlands Railway have ordered bi-mode Class 810 trains, which will each be 120 metres long or 240 metres long, when running as a pair.
- CrossCountry’s Class 220 trains are 187 metres long running as a pair.
- I estimate that the faster trains were doing around 100 mph, as they passed Dore and Totley station. I shall measure it properly next time, I go to Sheffield on a train.
Note.
- High Speed Two’s trains will probably be going through at the same speed as East Midlands Railway’s Class 810 trains.
- High Speed Two will be running their 200 metre long classic-compatible trains to and from Sheffield, so except that there will be two more trains in every hour, there will be little difference.
- Both the High Speed Two and the East Midlands Railway trains will be running on electric power between Sheffield and Chesterfield stations.
- It is likely that other services will use electric power on the Midland Main Line.
- There will be no platforms on the High Speed tracks at Dore and Totley station.
I would suspect that there will be little disruption to train services through the area, whilst the electrification is installed, judging by the disruption caused during electrification between Bedford and Corby.
Dore Junction
Dore Junction is a triangular junction, that connects the Hope Valley Line and the Midland Main Line to the South of Dore and Totley station.
This Google Map shows Dore Junction.
Note.
- Dore and Junction station is at the North of the Map.
- Dore West Junction is in the South West corner of the map and leads to the Hope Valley Line.
- Dore South Junction is in the South East corner of the map and leads to Chesterfield on the Midland Main Line.
This second Google Map shows Dore South Junction.
Could this junction be improved to increase capacity and efficiency?
- The Southern track of the triangular junction is only single track.
- It is a major route for stone trains between Derbyshire and London and the South.
If Network Rail have any ideas for Dore Junction, then surely, when the works in the area are being carried out, is the time for them to be performed.
Platform Length At Dore And Totley Station
I took these two pictures when I arrived at Dore and Totley station.
As the train was formed of two two-car Class 150 trains and the train fits the platform, it would appear that the platform is about eighty metres long.
An Extra Platform At Dore And Totley Station
There may be no plans to put platforms on the Midland Main Line, but plans exist for an extra track through the station, that will connect to the Hope Valley Line.
This Google Map shows Dore and Totley station and the Midland Main Line.
The second platform wouldn’t be the widest platform,. but I’m sure a second track and a safe platform could be squeezed in.
- A bridge with lifts would be needed.
- The current single platform at the station is around eighty metres long, but as I said in Beeching Reversal – Sheaf Valley Stations, the platforms must be long enough to take a pair of Class 185 trains or a five-car Class 802 train, which is probably around 140 metres.
I wonder if more space is needed, the Midland Main Line could be realigned to give more space and better performance.
A Turnback At Dore And Totley Station
In Beeching Reversal – Sheaf Valley Stations, I said this about a possible turnback at Dore and Totley station.
This Google Map shows Dore & Totley station and the area to the South.
Note.
- There would appear to be a lot of space between the Midland Main Line and the single track, that leads between Dore & Totley station and the Hope Valley Line.
Flying my helicopter, as low as I dare, it looks like the area is either a rubbish dump or very low grade businesses.
Crossrail has designed turnbacks at Abbey Wood and Paddington stations, that will handle twelve tph.
I believe that it would be possible to design a turnback at Dore & Totley station, that would handle eight trains per hour, if not twelve tph.It might even be possible to squeeze in some overnight stabling.
Whilst I was at Dore and Totley station, I met a couple, who were perhaps a few years older than me, who had grown up in the area.
He could remember local steam services between Sheffield and Dore and Totley stations, where there had been a turntable to the South of the station to reverse the locomotive.
Conclusion
After what I saw on my visit to Dore and Totley station, I would suspect that the station can be updated to the standard required to allow four tph between Manchester Piccadilly and Sheffield stations.
It could also be a station that will attract passengers.
Along The Hope Valley Line – 13th July 2020
These pictures show my return trip between Manchester Piccadilly and Dore & Totley stations.
There are an assorted set of stations.
- Some stations appear to have new platforms.
- Marple station has a impressive step-free bridge.
- Some stations may be Listed or should be.
- There are walking routes from some stations.
- Some stations need improvements to the access.
I also have some thoughts on the service.
The Class 150 Trains
The Class 150 trains have these characteristics.
- Installed Power – 426 kW
- Weight – 35.8 tonnes
- Operating Speed – 75 mph.
This compares with these for a Class 195 train.
- Installed Power – 780 kW
- Weight – 40 tonnes
- Operating Speed – 100 mph.
- Acceleration – 0.83 m/sec/sec
Unfortunately, I can’t find the acceleration for a Class 150 train, but I suspect that it’s not as good as the Class 195 train.
- I was in a Class 150 train, for both journeys.
- IThe train was on time both ways.
- The engine under my carriage wasn’t working that hard.
- The train was trundling around at around 60 mph.
- The operating speed of the line is 90 mph.
So I suspect, that a well-driven Class 195 train will shave a few minutes from the journey time.
Transport For The North’s Plan For Manchester And Sheffield
Transportbfor the North objective for Manchester Piccadilly and Sheffield stations can be summed up as follows.
Four tph in forty minutes.
As current trains take over anhour, it could be a tough ask!
The Timetable
The timetable isn’t very passenger-friendly with no easy-to-remember clock-face timetable.
This must be sorted.
Hopefully, it will increase the number of passengers riding on the route.
Battery Electric Trains
Consider.
- Sheffield station will be electrified for High Speed Two.
- It is likely that the route between Dore & Totley and Sheffield station will be electrified.
- There is electrification at the Manchester end of the route.
- The distance without electrification in the middle is probably about thirty-six miles.
- Fifty-sixty miles seems a typical range quoted for a battery electric train by train manufacturers.
As electric trains generally accelerate faster than their diesel equivalent, these could run the route reliably and save time on the journey.
Conclusion
I’m coming round to the opinion, that Transport for the North’s objectives for the route can be met without electrification.
Rail Solar Projects Pave The Way For Renewables
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Engineering and Technology.
This is the introductory sub-title.
Electric trains could provide a huge guaranteed market for renewables, but it will need some railway-specific power equipment.
The article then goes on to describe how Riding Sunbeams are developing and sourcing the equipment to connect both 750 VDC and 25 KVAC electrification directly to solar panels.
It is not as easy, as you might think!
Electrifying Wales
I would not be surprised to learn that Wales wants to decarbonise their railways.
At present, Wales only has the following electrified railways either in operation or under construction.
- The South Wales Main Line between the Severn Tunnel and Cardiff.
- The South Wales Metro based on local railways around Cardiff and Newport is being created and will be run by electric trains.
There is no more electrification planned in the future.
Hitachi’s Specification For Battery Electric Trains
Recently, Hitachi have released this infographic for their Regional Battery Train.
This gives all the information about the train and a definitive range of 90 km or 56 miles.
The Welsh Rail Network
If you look at the network of services that are run by Transport for Wales Rail Services, they connect a series of hub stations.
Major hubs include the following stations.
- Cardiff Central – Electrified
- Chester
- Hereford
- Shrewsbury
- Swansea
Smaller hubs and termini include the following stations.
- Aberystwyth
- Birmingham International – Electrified
- Birmingham New Street – Electrified
- Blaenau Ffestiniog
- Carmarthen
- Crewe – Electrified
- Fishguard Harbour
- Hereford
- Holyhead
- Llandudno Junction
- Manchester Airport – Electrified
- Manchester Piccadilly – Electrified
- Machynlleth
- Milford Haven
- Newport – Electrified
- Pembroke Dock
Running Welsh Routes With Electric Trains
These routes make up the Welsh rail network.
Chester And Crewe
Consider.
- The route between Chester and Crewe is without electrification.
- Crewe and Chester are 21 miles apart.
I believe that if a battery-electric train, with a range of 56 miles, can leave Chester and Crewe with full batteries, that it will be possible to run between Chester and Crewe stations.
Chester And Holyhead via Llandudno Junction
Consider.
- All services between Llandudno Junction and England call at Chester.
- All services running to and from Holyhead call at Llandudno Junction.
- The route between Chester and Holyhead is without electrification.
- Chester and Llandudno Junction are 54 miles apart.
- Llandudno Junction and Holyhead are 40 miles apart.
I believe that if a battery-electric train with a range of 56 miles can leave Chester, Llandudno Junction and Holyhead with full batteries, that it will be possible to run between Chester and Holyhead stations.
Chester And Liverpool Lime Street
Consider.
- The route between Runcorn and Liverpool Lime Street is electrified.
- The route between Chester and Runcorn is without electrification.
- Chester and Runcorn are 14 miles apart.
I believe that if a battery-electric train, with a range of 56 miles, can leave Chester and Runcorn with full batteries, that it will be possible to run between Chester and Liverpool Lime Street stations.
Chester And Manchester Airport
Consider.
- The route between Warrington Bank Quay and Manchester Airport is electrified.
- The route between Chester and Warrington Bank Quay is without electrification.
- Chester and Warrington Bank Quay are 18 miles apart.
I believe that if a battery-electric train, with a range of 56 miles, can leave Chester and Warrington Bank Quay with full batteries, that it will be possible to run between Chester and Manchester Airport stations.
Chester And Shrewsbury
Consider.
- The route between Chester and Shrewsbury is without electrification.
- Chester and Shrewsbury are 42 miles apart.
I believe that if a battery-electric train with a range of 56 miles, can leave Shrewsbury and Chester with full batteries, that it will be possible to run between Chester and Shrewsbury stations.
Llandudno And Blaenau Ffestiniog
Consider.
- The route between Llandudno and Blaenau Ffestiniog is without electrification.
- Llandudno and Blaenau Ffestiniog are 31 miles apart.
I believe that if a battery-electric train with a range of 56 miles, can leave Llandudno and Blaenau Ffestiniog with full batteries, that it will be possible to run between Llandudno and Blaenau Ffestiniog stations.
Machynlleth And Aberystwyth
Consider.
- The route between Machynlleth and Aberystwyth is without electrification.
- Machynlleth and Aberystwyth are 21 miles apart.
I believe that if a battery-electric train with a range of 56 miles, can leave Machynlleth and Aberystwyth with full batteries, that it will be possible to run between Machynlleth and Aberystwyth stations.
Machynlleth And Pwllheli
Consider.
- The route between Machynlleth and Pwllheli is without electrification.
- Machynlleth and Pwllheli are 58 miles apart.
I believe that if a battery-electric train with a range of upwards of 58 miles, can leave Machynlleth and Pwllheli with full batteries, that it will be possible to run between Machynlleth and Pwllheli stations.
Machynlleth And Shrewsbury
Consider.
- The route between Machynlleth and Shrewsbury is without electrification.
- Machynlleth and Shrewsbury are 61 miles apart.
I believe that if a battery-electric train with a range of upwards of 61 miles, can leave Machynlleth and Shrewsbury with full batteries, that it will be possible to run between Machynlleth and Shrewsbury stations.
Shrewsbury and Birmingham International
Consider.
- The route between Birmingham International and Wolverhampton is electrified.
- The route between Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton is without electrification.
- Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton are 30 miles apart.
I believe that if a battery-electric train, with a range of 56 miles, can leave Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton with full batteries, that it will be possible to run between Shrewsbury and Birmingham International stations.
Shrewsbury And Cardiff Central via Hereford
Consider.
- All services between Cardiff Central and Shrewsbury call at Hereford.
- The route between Cardiff Central and Newport is electrified.
- The route between Newport and Shrewsbury is without electrification.
- Shrewsbury and Hereford are 51 miles apart.
- Hereford and Newport are 44 miles apart.
I believe that if a battery-electric train, with a range of 56 miles, can leave Shrewsbury, Hereford and Newport with full batteries, that it will be possible to run between Shrewsbury and Cardiff Central stations.
Shrewsbury And Crewe
- The route between Shrewsbury and Crewe is without electrification.
- Shrewsbury and Crewe are 33 miles apart.
I believe that if a battery-electric train with a range of upwards of 61 miles, can leave Shrewsbury and Crewe with full batteries, that it will be possible to run between Shrewsbury and Crewe stations.
Shrewsbury and Swansea
Consider.
- The Heart of Wales Line between Shrewsbury and Swansea is without electrification.
- Shrewsbury and Swansea are 122 miles apart.
- Trains cross at Llandrindod and wait for up to eleven minutes, so there could be time for a charge.
- Shrewsbury and Llandrindod are 52 miles apart.
- Swansea and Llandrindod are 70 miles apart.
It appears that another charging station between Swansea and Llandrindod is needed
I believe that if a battery-electric train, with a range of 56 miles, can leave Shrewsbury, Swansea and the other charging station, with full batteries, that it will be possible to run between Shrewsbury and Swansea stations.
Swansea And Cardiff Central
Consider.
- The route between Swansea and Cardiff Central is without electrification.
- Swansea and Cardiff Central are 46 miles apart.
I believe that if a battery-electric train, with a range of 56 miles, can leave Swansea and Cardiff Central with full batteries, that it will be possible to run between Swansea and Cardiff Central stations.
Swansea And Carmarthen
Consider.
- The route between Swansea and Carmarthen is without electrification.
- Swansea and Carmarthen are 31 miles apart.
I believe that if a battery-electric train, with a range of 56 miles, can leave Swansea and Carmarthen with full batteries, that it will be possible to run between Swansea and Carmarthen stations.
Swansea And Fishguard Harbour
Consider.
- The route between Swansea and Fishguard Harbour is without electrification.
- Swansea and Fishguard Harbour are 73 miles apart.
- Tramins could top up the batteries during the reverse at Carmathen.
- Swansea and Carmarthen are 31 miles apart.
- Carmarthen and Fishguard Harbour are 42 miles apart.
I believe that if a battery-electric train, with a range of 56 miles, can leave Swansea, Carmathen and Fishguard Harbour with full batteries, that it will be possible to run between Swansea and Fishguard Harbour stations.
Swansea And Milford Haven
Consider.
- The route between Swansea and Milford Haven is without electrification.
- Swansea and Milford Haven are 72 miles apart.
- Tramins could top up the batteries during the reverse at Carmathen.
- Swansea and Carmarthen are 31 miles apart.
- Carmarthen and Milford Haven are 41 miles apart.
I believe that if a battery-electric train, with a range of 56 miles, can leave Swansea, Carmathen and Milford Haven with full batteries, that it will be possible to run between Swansea and Milford Haven stations.
Swansea And Pembroke Dock
Consider.
- The route between Swansea and Pembroke Dock is without electrification.
- Swansea and Pembroke Dock are 73 miles apart.
- Tramins could top up the batteries during the reverse at Carmathen.
- Swansea and Carmarthen are 31 miles apart.
- Carmarthen and Pembroke Dock are 42 miles apart.
I believe that if a battery-electric train, with a range of 56 miles, can leave Swansea, Carmathen and Pembroke Dock with full batteries, that it will be possible to run between Swansea and Pembroke Dock stations.
Other Routes
I have not covered these routes.
- Borderlands Line
- Cardiff Valley Lines, that will be part of the South Wales Metro
- Routes on the electrified South Wales Main Line, that are to the East of Cardiff.
The first will run between Chester and the electrified Merseyrail system and the others will be electrified, except for short stretches.
Stations Where Trains Would Be Charged
These stations will need charging facilities.
Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth station only has a single terminal platform.
I’ve not been to the station, but looking at pictures on the Internet, I suspect that fitting a charging facility into the station, wouldn’t be the most difficult of engineering problems.
Birmingham International
Birmingham International station is fully-electrified and ready for battery-electric trains.
Blaenau Fflestiniog
Blaenau Ffestiniog station has a single terminal platform.
My comments would be similar to what, I said for Aberystwyth station. I would hope a standard solution can be developed.
Cardiff
Cardiff station is fully-electrified and ready for battery-electric trains.
Chester
Chester station has two through platforms and one bay platform, that are used by Trains for Wales.
- The through platforms are bi-directional.
- The bay platform is used by services from Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester Airport and Piccadilly.
- The station is a terminus for Merseyrail’s electric trains, which use 750 VDC third-rail electrification.
- Some through services stop for up to seven minutes in the station.
This Google Map shows the station.
There is plenty of space.
The simplest way to charge trains at Chester would be to electrify the two through platforms 3 and 4 and the bay platform 1.
I would use 750 VDC third-rail, rather than 25 KVAC overhead electrification.
- I’m an engineer, who deals in scientifically-correct solutions, not politically-correct ones, devised by jobsworths.
- Maintenance staff at the station will be familiar with the technology.
- Station staff and passengers will know about the dangers of third-rail electrification.
- Trains connect and disconnect automatically to third-rail electrification.
- Trains don’t have to stop to connect and disconnect, so passing trains can be topped-up.
- Hitachi with the Class 395 train and Alstom with the Class 373 train, have shown even trains capable of 140 mph can be fitted with third-rail shoes to work safely at slower speeds on lines electrified using third-rail.
- Modern control systems can control the electricity to the third-rail, so it is only switched on, when the train completes the circuit.
I have a vague recollection, that there is an avoiding line at Chester station, so trains can go straight through. Perhaps that should be electrified too.
Carmarthen
Carmarthen station is a two platform station, with a rather unusual layout, that I wrote about in Changing Trains At Carmarthen Station.
I took these pictures when I passed through in 2016.
Note the unusual step-free crossing of the tracks.
This Google Map shows the layout at the station.
I believe it is another station, where third-rail electrification could be the solution.
- Most trains seem to reverse at the station, which gives time for a full charge.
- Others terminate here.
but would they still allow passengers to cross the line as they do now, whilst trains are being charged?
Crewe
Crewe station is fully-electrified.
- Trains for Wales seem to use Platform 6 for through trains and the bay Platform 9 for terminating trains.
- Both platforms appear to be electrified.
- Terminating trains appear to wait at least 9-11 minutes before leaving.
It does appear that Crewe station is ready for battery-electric trains.
Fishguard Harbour
Fishguard Harbour station only has a single terminal platform.
My comments would be similar to what, I said for Aberystwyth station. I would hope a standard solution can be developed.
Hereford
Hereford station has four through platforms.
This Google Map shows the station.
There is plenty of space.
As with Chester, I would electrify this station with 750 VDC third-rail equipment.
But the electrification wouldn’t be just for train services in Wales.
- West Midlands Trains, run an hourly service to Birmingham New Street and there is only a forty-one mile gap in the electrification between Hereford and Bromsgrove.
- Great Western Railway’s service to London, has a massive ninety-six mile run to the electrification at Didcot Junction, which could be bridged by installing charging facilities at Worcestershire Parkway and/or Honeybourne stations.
Both services have generous turnround times at Hereford, so would be able to leave fully-charged.
Distances from Hereford station are as follows.
- Abergavenny – 24 miles
- Bromsgrove – 41 miles
- Great Malvern – 21 miles
- Honeybourne – 48 miles
- Ludlow – 13 miles
- Newport – 44 miles
- Shrewsbury – 51 miles
- Worcester Parkway – 33 miles
Hereford station could be a serious battery-electric train hub.
Holyhead
Holyhead station has three terminals platforms.
My comments would be similar to what, I said for Aberystwyth station. I would hope a standard solution can be developed.
Liverpool Lime Street
Liverpool Lime Street station is fully-electrified and ready for battery-electric trains.
Llandrindod
Llandrindod station has two through platforms.
I took these pictures at the station as I passed through in 2016.
The Heart of Wales Line is certainly a route, that would benefit from larger trains. Zero-carbon battery-electric trains would surely fit well in the area.
This Google Map shows the station.
It would appear that, it is another station, that could be fitted with third-rail electrification to charge the trains.
Distances from Llandrindod station are as follows.
- Shrewsbury – 52 miles
- Llandovery – 27 miles
- Llanelli – 59 miles
- Swansea – 70 miles
It would appear that a second station with charging facilities or bigger batteries are needed.
Llandudno Junction
Llandudno Junction station has four platforms.
This Google Map shows the station.
There is plenty of space.
As at Chester, the simple solution would be to electrify the platforms used by trains, that will need charging.
Butb there may also be a wider plan.
Llandudno Junction station is at the Western end of a string of five closely-spaced stations with Prestatyn station in the East.
- Llandudno Junction and Prestatyn are eight miles apart.
- Trains take twenty-three minutes to pass through this section.
- Some trains do a detour to Llandudno station before continuing.
- For part of the route, the railway lies between the dual-carriageway A55 road and the sea.
So why not electrify this section of railway between Llandudno Junction and Prestatyn stations?
- Either 750 VDC this-rail or 25 KVAC overhead electrification could be used.
- Prestatyn and Chester are 46 miles apart.
- Llandudno Junction and Holyhead are 40 miles apart.
If third-rail electrification were to be used, it might be advantageous to electrify to Llandudno station.
- It would be less intrusive.
- It would be quieter in an urban area.
- It would give the trains to Blaenau Ffestiniog trains a good charge.
But above all third-rail electrification might cost a bit less and cause less disruption to install.
Machynlleth
Machynlleth station is where the Aberystwyth and Pwllheli services split and join.
This Google Map shows the station.
Consider.
- There is a train depot by the station.
- Will there be a good power supply at the station to charge the trains?
- Machnylleth and Pwllhelli are 58 miles apart.
- Machynlleth and Shrewsbury are 61 miles apart.
I think that Machynlleth might be pushing things too far, without extra stations with charging facilities.
One solution might be to develop the Riding Sunbeams concept and electrify the route between Newtown and Dovey Junction via Machynlleth, using third-rail technology powered-by solar or wind power.
Another solution would be batteries with a larger capacity.
Manchester Airport
Manchester Airport station is fully-electrified and ready for battery-electric trains.
Manchester Piccadilly
Manchester Piccadilly station is fully-electrified and ready for battery-electric trains.
Milford Haven
Milford Haven station only has a single terminal platform.
My comments would be similar to what, I said for Aberystwyth station. I would hope a standard solution can be developed.
Pembroke Dock
Pembroke Dock station only has a single terminal platform.
My comments would be similar to what, I said for Aberystwyth station. I would hope a standard solution can be developed.
Pwllheli
Pwhelli station is a only has a single terminal platform.
This Google Map shows the location of the station.
The stsation is at the North West corner of the bay.
My first reaction, when I saw this was that I have to go.
So I took a closer look at the station instead.
I suspect that fitting a charging facility into the station, wouldn’t be the most difficult of engineering problems. Although, there might be a problem getting a good enough connection to the National Grid.
Shewsbury
Shrewsbury station is a five-platform station.
This Google Map shows the station’s unusual location over the River Severn.
It must be one of few stations in the world, where trains enter the station from three different directions.
- From Crewe and Chester to the North.
- From Hereford and Wales to the South.
- From Birmingham and Wolverhampton in the East.
Adding electrification to all or selected platforms should allow trains to recharge and be on their way.
- Under current timetables, dwell times in Shrewsbury are up to eight minutes.
- I would suspect the train times could be adjusted, so that trains left the station with full batteries.
With battery-electric services to Aberystwyth, Birmingham International, Birmingham New Street, Cardiff Central, Chester, Crewe, Hereford, Holyhead, London Euston, Manchester, Pwllheli and Swansea, it will be a very important station.
Swansea
Swansea station has four terminal platforms.
A charging facility could be added to an appropriate number of platforms.
Or perhaps, the last few miles of track into the station should be electrified, so trains could charge on the way in, charge in the station and charge on the way out.
Third Rail Electrification
I have suggested in this post, that 750 VDC third-rail electrification could be used in several places.
I will repeat what I said earlier, when discussing Chester station.
- I’m an engineer, who deals in scientifically-correct solutions, not politically-correct ones, devised by jobsworths.
- Maintenance staff at the station will be familiar with the technology.
- Station staff and passengers will know about the dangers of third-rail electrification.
- Trains connect and disconnect automatically to third-rail electrification.
- Trains don’t have to stop to connect and disconnect, so passing trains can be topped-up.
- Hitachi with the Class 395 train and Alstom with the Class 373 train, have shown even trains capable of 140 mph can be fitted with third-rail shoes to work safely at slower speeds on lines electrified using third-rail.
- Modern control systems can control the electricity to the third-rail, so it is only switched on, when the train completes the circuit.
Third-rail electrification should be seriously considered.
A Standardised Terminal Solution
In this post, I mentioned that the following stations could be powered by a scandalised solution, as they are all one platform, terminal stations.
- Aberystwyth
- Blaenau Ffestiniog
- Fishguard Harbour
- Holyhead
- Milford Haven
- Pembroke Dock
- Pwllheli
The system might also be applicable at Carmarthen and Swansea.
My view is that Vivarail’s Fast Track charging based on third-rail technology would be ideal. I discussed this technology in Vivarail Unveils Fast Charging System For Class 230 Battery Trains.
Conclusion
With a bit of ingenuity, all train services run by Transport for Wales, can be run with battery-electric trains.
Beeching Reversal – South Yorkshire Joint Railway
This is one of the Beeching Reversal projects that the Government and Network Rail are proposing to reverse some of the Beeching cuts.
This railway seems to have been forgotten, as even Wikipedia only has a rather thin entry for the South Yorkshire Joint Railway.
The best description of the railway, that I’ve found is from this article in the Doncaster Free Press, which is entitled South Yorkshire Railway Line, Which Last Carried Passengers 100 Years Ago Could Be Reopened.
This is said.
The line remains intact, and recently maintained, runs from Worksop through to Doncaster, via North and South Anston, Laughton Common/Dinnington and Maltby.
I jave got my helicopter out and navigating with the help of Wikipedia, I have traced the route of the South Yorkshire Joint Railway (SYJR) between Worksop and Doncaster.
Shireoaks Station
This Google Map shows the Southern end of the SYJR on the Sheffield and Gainsborough Central Line between Shireoaks and Kiveton Park stations.
Note.
- Shireoaks station is in the East.
- Kiveton Park station is in the West.
- The SYJR starts at the triangular junction in the middle of the map.
- Lindrick Golf Club, where GB & NI, won the Ryder Cup in 1957 is shown by a green arrow to the North of Shireoaks station.
- The original passenger service on the SYJR, which closed in the 1920s, appears to have terminated at Shireoaks station.
The line immediately turns West and then appears to run between the villages of North and South Anston.
Anston Station
This Google Map shows the location of Anston station.
Note that the SYJR goes between the two villages and runs along the North side of the wood, that is to the North of Worksop Road.
Dinnington & Laughton Station
This Google Map shows the location of the former Dinnington & Laughton station.
Note that the SYJR goes to the west side of both villages, so it would have been quite a walk to the train.
Maltby Station
This Google Map shows the location of the former Maltby station.
Note.
- The SYJR goes around the South side of the village.
- The remains of the massive Maltby Main Colliery, which closed several years ago.
I wonder if they fill the shafts of old mines like this. if they don’t and just cap them, they could be used by Gravitricity to store energy. In Explaining Gravitricity, I do a rough calculation of the energy storage with a practical thousand tonne weight. Maltby Main’s two shafts were 984 and 991 metres deep. They would store 2.68 and 2.70 MWh respectively.
It should be noted that Gravitricity are serious about 5.000 tonnes weights.
Tickhill & Wadworth Station
This Google Map shows the location of the former Tickhill & Wadworth station.
Note.
- Tickhill is in the South and Wadworth is in the North.
- Both villages are to the West of the A1 (M)
- The SYJR runs in a North-Easterly direction between the villages.
The station appears to have been, where the minor road and the railway cross.
Doncaster iPort
The SYJR then passes through Doncaster iPort.
Note.
- The iPort seems to be doing a lot of work for Amazon.
- The motorway junction is Junction 3 on the M18.
- The SYJR runs North-South on the Western side of the centre block of warehouses.
This is Wikipedia’s introductory description of the iPort.
Doncaster iPort or Doncaster Inland Port is an intermodal rail terminal; a Strategic Rail Freight Interchange, under construction in Rossington, Doncaster at junction 3 of the M18 motorway in England. It is to be connected to the rail network via the line of the former South Yorkshire Joint Railway, and from an extension of the former Rossington Colliery branch from the East Coast Main Line.
The development includes a 171-hectare (420-acre) intermodal rail terminal to be built on green belt land, of which over 50 hectares (120 acres) was to be developed into warehousing, making it the largest rail terminal in Yorkshire; the development also included over 150 hectares (370 acres) of countryside, the majority of which was to remain in agricultural use, with other parts used for landscaping, and habitat creation as part of environment mitigation measures.
It ;looks like the SYJR will be integrated with the warehouses, so goods can be handled by rail.
Onward To Doncaster
After the iPort, the trains can take a variety of routes, some of which go through Doncaster station.
I have some thoughts on the South Yorkshire Joint Railway (SYJR).
Should The Line Be Electrified?
This is always a tricky one, but as there could be a string of freight trains running between Doncaster iPort and Felixstowe, something should be done to cut the carbon emissions and pollution of large diesel locomotives.
Obviously, one way to sort out Felixstowe’s problem, would be to fill in the gaps of East Anglian electrification and to electrify the Great Northern and Great Eastern Joint Line between Peterborough and Doncaster via Lincoln. But I suspect Lincolnshire might object to up to fifteen freight trains per hour rushing through. Even, if they were electric!
I am coming round to the believe that Steamology Motion may have a technology, that could haul a freight train for a couple of hours.
These proposed locomotives, which are fuelled by hydrogen and oxygen, will have an electric transmission and could benefit from sections of electrification, which could power the locomotives directly.
So sections of electrification along the route, might enable the freight trains to go between Felixstowe and Doncaster iPort without using diesel.
It should be said, that Steamology Motion is the only technology, that I’ve seen, that has a chance of converting a 3-4 MW diesel locomotive to zero carbon emissions.
Many think it is so far-fetched, that they’ll never make it work!
Electrification of the line would also enable the service between Doncaster and Worksop to be run by Class 399 tram-trains, which are pencilled in to be used to the nearby Doncaster Sheffield Airport.
What Rolling Stock Should Be Used?
As I said in the previous section, I feel that Class 399 tram-trains would be ideal, if the line were to be electrified.
Also, if the line between Shireoaks and Kiveton Park stations were to be electrified to Sheffield, this would connect the South Yorkshire Joint Line to Sheffield’s Supertram network.
Surely, one compatible tram-train type across South Yorkshire, would speed up development of a quality public transport system.
A service could also be run using Vivarail’s Pop-up Metro concept, with fast charging at one or two, of any number of the stations.
Conclusion
This seems to be a worthwhile scheme, but I would like to see more thought on electrification of the important routes from Felixstowe and a unified and very extensive tram-train network around Sheffield.
Reinstatement Of The Ivanhoe Line
This is one of the successful bids in the First Round of the Restoring Your Railway Fund.
The Ivanhoe Line, is a half-completed project left over from the days of British Rail.
- The main objective appears to be to extend the current line between Lincoln and Leicester via Nottingham, East Midlands Parkway and Loughborough stations to Burton-upon-Trent along the freight-only Leicester-Burton-upon-Trent Line.
- Some new stations will be added.
In January 2020, I wrote Silent Hydrogen Trains On The Cards For New Line Linking Burton And Leicester, after reading an article on Derbyshire Live.
I finished that article by listing the possibilities.
There are a lot of possibilities to extend the Ivanhoe Line to Burton and even beyond using the South Staffordshire Line.
- Battery or hydrogen trains can be used.
- Stations can be added as required.
- The route will connect to East Midlands Airport.
- A solution for Knighton Junction can surely be devised.
Amazon are reported to be interested in the project, as they have a big depot at Coalville.
It now looks like it’s all going to be turned into a plan for reality.
I do have some questions.
What Will Be The Solution To The Knighton Junction Problem?
Sadly, when the route was closed to passengers in 1964, British Rail simplified Knighton Junction at the Leicester end of the line. Wikipedia says this.
At the Leicester end of the line, Knighton North Junction has been dismantled and the former course of the line to the junction has been sold and turned into an industrial estate. The line’s remaining connection with the Midland Main Line is Knighton South Junction, which faces southwards, away from Leicester station. Trains between Leicester and the line therefore have to reverse direction at the junction.
This Google Map shows, what’s left of the junction.
Note.
- Leicester is to the North
- Burton is to the North-West.
- Melton Mowbray and London are to the South.
It looks to me, that someone at British Rail made it absolutely certain, that the rail line could not be reopened to provide a passenger service between Leicester and Burton.
For a train to go between Leicester and Burton, it would either need to reverse as Wikipedia indicated, or the curve would have to be very tight.
It looks like the preferred solution, will be to build a new station to the South of Knighton Junction.
- The station would only need a single platform.
- It could be easily fitted in alongside the Midland Main Line.
Trains will reverse to get around the tight corner.
Will There Be A Station At Leicester City Stadium
This Google Map shows the stadium.
Note the rail line passing to the South of the station.
It would appear that building a new station would not be the most difficult of projects.
But after the experience of Coventry City, who were relegated twice after Coventry Arena station opened, would Leicester City want a station?
Could The Ivanhoe Line Be Connected To High Speed Two At Ashby-de-la-Zouch?
I heard an MP on the radio, who was very much against High Speed Two and that led me to write Could High Speed Two Have A Station At Ashby-de-la-Zouch?.
I think this is a serious possibility in the future.
Could East Midlands Railway Use The Route To Run A London And Burton-on-Trent Service?
Consider.
- East Midlands Railway‘s Class 810 trains could be fitted with a battery, that would give the trains a battery range of between 55 and 65 miles.
- The trains would have a charge time of perhaps 10 minutes.
- The distance between Knighton Junction and Burton-on-Trent is around 35 miles.
- The distance between Knighton Junction and the Northern limit of the electrification at Market Harborough station is fifteen miles.
- The distance between Market Harborough and Burton-on-Trent stations is 50 miles.
I think it would be possible for a battery-electric Class 810 train to run between London and Burton-on-Trent.
- The batteries would need to be charged at Burton-on-Trent.
- Perhaps, the easiest way to provide charging facilities would be to electrify the last ten miles between Ashby-de-la-Zouch and Burton-on-Trent stations
- The service could call at all or selected stations between Knighton Junction and Burton-on-Trent.
I think this could be a very useful service, even if it only ran a couple of times every day.
Could Battery-Electric Trains Run The Whole Ivanhoe Line Between Lincoln And Burton-on-Trent?
The problem is not the trains, but the lack of electrification between Market Harborough and Clay Cross North Junction.
Leicester station is an important station on the MML.
But it would be a difficult station to electrify because of a bridge with limited clearance.
In Discontinuous Electrification Through Leicester Station, I discussed how the following.
- Discontinuous electrification through Leicester station.
- Electrification between Leicester and Derby stations.
- Electrifying the High Speed Two route between Clay Cross Junction and Sheffield.
Would allow Hitachi Class 810 trains, equipped with batteries to run between London and Sheffield on electric power alone.
Consider.
- As I have said East Midland Railway’s new Class 810 trains could be fitted with batteries with a range of 55 to 65 miles.
- The gap between Leicester station and the end of the electrification at Market Harborough is sixteen miles.
- Knighton Junction is less than two miles South of Leicester station.
- Burton-on-Trent is around forty miles from Leicester station.
- All passenger trains passing through Leicester station, stop in the station to set down and pick up passengers.
It would thus appear that the following would be possible.
- A Northbound battery-electric train from St. Pancras to Leicester or further North could reach Leicester on battery power from Market Harborough.
- A Northbound battery-electric train from Burton-on-Trent to Leicester or further North could reach Leicester on battery power from Burton-on-Trent.
- A Southbound train from Leicester or further North to St. Pancras could reach Market Harborough on battery power from Leicester.
- A Southbound train from Leicester or further North to Burton-on-Trent could reach Burton-on-Trent on battery power from Leicester.
Trains leaving Leicester would need to be fully charged.
So how would this be arranged?
I think the simplest method would be to electrify the section of the Midland Main Line between Leicester and Derby stations.
- The route is probably not the most difficult to electrify.
- East Midlands Parkway has good electrical connections, as it is next to Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station.
- Nottingham is just nine miles from East Midlands Parkway.
- Derby is thirty miles from East Midlands Parkway.
- Clay Cross North Junction, where the joint electrified section with High Speed Two commences is twenty-one miles from Derby.
- Lincoln is forty-two miles from East Midlands Parkway.
- Battery-electric trains could use this electrification for both traction power and to charge their batteries.
- As the trains would use battery power between Derby and Clay Cross North Junction, the sensitive issue of electrifying through the World Heritage Site of the Derwent Valley Mills, will have been avoided.
All East Midlands Railway’s InterCity services would be totally carbon-free.
It should also be noted, that as Lincoln is only forty-two miles from East Midlands Parkway, provided there was the ability to recharge the trains at Lincoln, the whole Ivinghoe route between Lincoln and Burton-on-Trent could be run by a suitable battery-electric train.
Could Hydrogen Trains Run The Whole Ivanhoe Line Between Lincoln And Burton-on-Trent?
If the route can be run by a battery-electric train, I can see no reason, why a hydrogen-powered train couldn’t do a good job on the route.
I suspect that the Alstom Breeze and any future trains, that are designed for hydrogen power, will also be able to use electrification, where it exists.
So, if any more electrification was erected on the Midland Main Line, the hydrogen trains would take advantage.
The hydrogen trains would need to be refuelled, but because of their long range, this would probably only be a twice a day operation at most.
There is probably space for a refuelling point, at either end of the route.
Conclusion
This is a good scheme, that should have been completed decades ago.
Rail Solar Project Seen As Stepping Stone For Renewables
The title of this post is the same as that of this article on Engineering & Technology.
This is the introductory paragraph.
A British solar power company is working on technology that could enable railways all over the world to be powered by renewable energy, with South Wales seen as a likely testbed for the equipment.
Riding Sunbeams is developing its technology to see if it can be part of the electrification of the South Wales Metro.
Some relevant points from the article.
- Their test installation at Aldershot, which is rated at 37 kW, is quite small.
- The Aldershot system is already delivering power to trains.
- The Welsh Government are aiming for the South Wales Metro to be powered by renewable energy, of which 50 % is generated in Wales.
- There could be export possibilities for the technology.
Note that the article gives an interesting insight into the various equipment needed to power railway electrification.
Highview Power And Railway Electrification
In Encore Joins Highview To Co-Develop Liquid Air Energy Storage System In Vermont, I gave brief notes about a proposed Highview Power CRYOBattery in Vermont.
- The system will supply 50 MW for eight hours.
- The total capacity will be 400 MWh.
Other articles have suggested, that the system could be built on the site of a demolished coal-fired power station, which still has a good connection to the electricity grid.
In other words, I believe that a CRYOBattery can be considered to be a small 50 MW power station.
- It could be charged by local excess renewable energy during the day.
- It could be charged by excess renewal energy from the electricity grid during the night, when there can be large amounts of wind energy, that needs a home.
- Intelligent control systems, would balance the output of the CRYOBattery to the needs of the electricity grid.
It would be used in very much the same way as gas-turbine power-stations are used in electricity grids all over the world.
The Braybrooke Feeder Station
The National Grid is providing a feeder station at Braybrooke to support the Midland Main Line electrification.
This page on the Harbough Rail Users site is entitled Electrification Substation Plan for Braybrooke.
It gives this description of the sub-station.
Electrification of part of the Midland Main Line has moved a tentative step closer with the plans being prepared by National Grid for a feeder substation at Braybrooke, just outside Market Harborough. The location is where a high-voltage National Grid power-line crosses over the railway and the plan is for a substation and associated equipment plus an access road from the A6. The substation is due to be completed by October 2020 and is intended to feed the power supply for the Corby line pending electrification of the main line through Market Harborough.
This Google Map shows the rough area, where it will be located.
Note.
- The A6 crossing the Midland Main Line.
- The solar farm in the South-facing field, which has a 3MW capacity, according to the Eckland Lodge Business Park web site.
- Various planning documents say the transformers on the substation will be 400/25 kV units.
- This means that the power-line in the area must be a 400 kV.
Unfortunately, I can’t pick out the line of 400 kV pylons marching across the countryside. But they are rather large.
The pictures show a group of 400 kV pylons near Barking.
- The Midland Main Line at Braybrooke certainly seems to be getting a solid supply of electricity.
- It was originally planned, that the electrification would go all the way, but it was cut back to Kettering and Corby a couple of years ago.
- But to power, the electrification to Corby, it is being extended all the way to Braybrooke, so that the electrification can act as a giant extension lead for the Corby Branch Line.
The page on the Harborough Rail Users Site says this.
The Braybrooke substation is still planned, however, and the DfT has advised that the bi-mode trains will be able to switch power mode at speed. They would therefore be able to continue running electrically north from Kettering as far as Braybrooke before ‘pan down’
It would appear, that the end of the electrification will be at Braybrooke, but the sub-station seems to have enough power to extend the electrification further North if that is ever planned.
I also think, that is rather an efficient and affordable solution, with very little modification required to the existing electricity network.
But not all electricity feeds to railway electrification have a convenient 400 kV line at a handy site for installing all the needed transformers and other electrical gubbins.
How Much Power Will Needed To Be Supplied At Braybrooke?
This can probably be dismissed as the roughest or rough calculations, but the answer shows the order of magnitude of the power involved.
Consider.
- Braybrooke must be sized for full electrification of the Midland Main Line.
- Braybrooke will have to power trains North of Bedford.
- If there is full electrification of the Midland Main Line, it will probably have to power trains as far North as East Midlands Parkway station, where there is a massive power station.
- Trains between Bedford and Market Harborough take thirty minutes.
- Trains between Bedford and Corby take around thirty minutes.
- Four trains per hour (tph) run between Bedford and Market Harborough in both directions.
- The system must be sized to handle two tph between Bedford and Corby in both directions.
- The power output of each Class 360 train, that will be used on the Corby route is 1,550 kW, so a twelve-car set will need 4.65 MW.
- I can’t find the power output of a Class 810 train, but an InterCity 125 with similar performance has 3.4 MW.
- A Class 88 bi-mode locomotive has a power output of 4 MW when using the electrification.
I estimate that Braybrooke could have to support at least a dozen trains at busy times, each of which could need 4 MW.
Until someone gives me the correct figure, I reckon that Braybrooke has a capacity to supply 50 MW for trains on the Midland Main Line.
A Highview Power system as proposed for Vermont, would have enough power, but would need a lot more storage or perhaps local wind or solar farms, to give it a regular charging.
Riding Sunbeams
Riding Sunbeams are a company, who use solar power to provide the electricity for railway electrification.
I’ll let their video explain what they do.
It’s a company with an idea, that ticks a lot of boxes, but would it be able to provide enough power for a busy electrified main line? And what happens on a series of rainy or just plain dull days?
Highview Power
Could a Highview Power energy storage system be used?
- To store electricity from local or grid electrical sources.
- To power the local electrification.
If required, it could be topped up by affordable overnight electricity, that is generated by wind power.
The Highview Power system could also be sized to support the local electricity grid and local solar and wind farms.
Conclusion
I think that Riding Sunbeams and Highview Power should be talking to each other.
Steventon Listed Railway Bridge Saved From Demolition
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the BBC.
On the face of it it looks like victory for the Nimbys, who have saved a rather ordinary and possibly decrepit bridge from demolition.
But I believe there is more to this story than meets the eye.
The Bridge
The bridge at the centre of the argument may be Grade 2 Listed, but there are lots of similar bridges on UK railways in better condition with similar heritage, that don’t have a listing.
Type “steventon bridge electrification” into a search engine and you’ll find lots of images of the bridge.
- One picture shows, the bridge with the railway flooded, which puts an interesting slant on the debate. What are the foundations like?
- Notice, that the bridge seemed to suffer a rather botched repair at the hands of British Rail’s finest engineers.
- Having read a lot about this story, I suspect that the locals’ main reason for objecting, is that they don’t want the disruption, whilst it is rebuilt.
- Incidentally, I suspect Great Western Railway don’t want the bridge rebuilt either, as closure will be a long disruption to all services.
I have been involved in the refurbishment of several buildings of around the same age or even older than the bridge. This is the sort of construction, that will have to be replaced at some time. If it’s not replaced, some of the novel techniques that are now available to Network Rail will have to be applied.
Network Rail
The article says this about Network Rail’s solution to the problem.
But following what the company described as ‘extensive and breakthrough testing’ using computer simulations it found a speed reduction to 110mph through the village meant wires could pass underneath the existing bridge.
I do think, that 110 mph is rather convenient. if you look at the maximum operating speeds of trains and locomotives that will pass through.
- Class 801 train with digital signalling -140 mph
- Class 801 with conventional signalling – 125 mph
- Class 800/802 train on diesel power – 100 mph
- Class 80x train on battery power – 100 mph
- Class 387 train – 110 mph
- Class 90 locomotive – 110 mph
- Class 91 locomotive – 125 mph
- Class 93 locomotive – 110 mph
- High Speed Train – 125 mph
Very few trains will have to slow down.
Any train that used onboard power, like a High Speed Train or a Class 80x with batteries, could theoretically go through at the maximum speed, track, signalling and train taken together would allow.
Hitachi
In Issue 898 of Rail Magazine, there is an article, which is entitled Sparking A Revolution, which describes Hitachi’s work and plans on battery-powered trains. This is an extract.
Battery power can be used as part of electrification schemes, allowing trains to bridge the gaps in overhead wires where the costs of altering the infrastructure are high – in tunnels or bridges, for example. This would also have the immediate benefit of reducing noise and emissions in stations or built-up areas.
Elsewhere in the article, it is said that Hitachi trains will be able to do 100 mph on battery power for up to 60 miles.
But would they be able to do 125 mph on battery power for perhaps five miles? I can’t see why not!
The Google Map shows the track through Steventon.
Note.
- The bridge in question is at the East.
- There are also a couple of level crossings in this stretch of track, where the height of wires is also regulated.
Perhaps, the pantograph should be dropped before going through section and raised afterwards, with power in the section taken from a battery.
Avoiding obstacles like this, may be an economic alternative, but it does require that all electric trains using the section are able to use battery power.
I have a feeling, I’ve read somewhere that a Class 88 locomotive can do a similar trick using the onboard diesel engine.
As a Control Engineer, who trained in the 1960s, I would expect that all pantographs can now be raised or lowered with all the precision and repeatability of an Olympic gold-medal gymnast!
I do wonder, if the Great Western Electrification Project had been designed around discontinuous electrification and battery-electric trains, the project would have gone better.
For instance, the Severn Tunnel is 7,000 metres long and trains take under four minutes to pass through. The Wikipedia entry for the tunnel has a section on Electrification, which details the complicated design and the trouble that there has been with corrosion.
Given that battery-electric trains have other advantages, design by hindsight, says that a tunnel without electrification and battery trains may have been a better solution.
Conclusion
Network Rail and Hitachi will get the speed of trains through Steventon up to 125 or even 140 mph, possibly by using battery power.
But whatever happens, I’m certain that the bridge will have to be rebuilt! It has the air of a derelict house, that will suck up all your money.
The Anonymous Widower 