Hull Trains Eyes Worksop And Sheffield Launch
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Railway Gazette.
These are the two introductory paragraphs of the article.
Hull Trains’ proposed London King’s Cross – Worksop – Sheffield open access service would ‘give people more choice’, offer more flexibility in train fares and make the area better known, according to Labour Member of Parliament for Bassetlaw Jo White.
Speaking at the launch of FirstGroup’s Moving forward together: Why open access is essential for a better railway report on January 21, White said the service would increase opportunities for the growing population of Worksop, where new housing being built. Looking back at the history of open access, she said East Hull MP John Prescott had been a supporter of the original launch of Hull Trains.
I suspect that the ebullient John Prescott would have given full backing to Hull Trains proposed Sheffield service.
I have some thoughts about Hull Trains proposed service.
London Overground Syndrome
I am fairly certain, that this service will suffer from from London Overground Syndrome, which is defined like this.
This benign disease, which is probably a modern version of the Victorian railway mania, was first identified in East London in 2011, when it was found that the newly-refurbished East London Line and North London Line were inadequate due to high passenger satisfaction and much increased usage. It has now spread across other parts of the capital, despite various eradication programs.
It may be for slightly different reasons, but as Workshop station has good car parking and could have fast trains to London, it could attract passengers.
But I don’t think two trains per day will be enough.
Tram-Trains Between Sheffield And Retford Via Worksop
Consider.
- It’s under twenty-five miles between Sheffield and Retford, so this route would be possible using battery-electric tram trains, similar to those in South Wales.
- These tram-trains would also be suitable for the Robin Hood Line between Nottingham and Worksop via Mansfield.
- The speed limits are not fast and the distances are not great and I suspect battery-electric versions of Sheffield’s tram trains could handle all routes.
- By using temporal separation, Hull Trains services could be sneaked in early and late in the day.
As both cities of Nottingham and Sheffield have used or thought about using tram-trains, I’m sure Stadler could provide a suitable tram-train, that could work in the two cities and all the branch lines that used to serve the numerous coal mines.
It would be levelling up on a big way.
It could grow into a very comprehensive East Midlands Metro, that also served Derby, Doncaster and possibly Lincoln.
Stadler’s products can certainly be configured in many unusual ways.
The Odd Sugary Snack May Be Good For You (But Lay Off Sugary Drinks)
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article in The Tunes.
I shall be discussing this research with my cardiologist. My relationship with him is as doctor/patient, researcher/lab-rat and just friends. I am also coeliac and very much feel that I need to take the odd sugary snack to keep my energy levels up. I also had a serious stroke at 64, thirteen years ago, due to atrial fibrillation.
Sweden and coeliac disease could be another complicating factor here, as Sweden went the wrong way to try to eliminate coeliac disease after WW2 and just created a lot more.
I found about this Swedish research in a peer-reviewed paper entitled Coeliac Disease: Can We Avert The Impending Epidemic In India? in the Indian Journal of Research Medicine.
A History Of Sugary Snacks And Drinks And Me
Growing up in London, after World War 2, I didn’t get much sugar, as it was rationed.
But I did put it in tea and coffee.
I never ate many cakes, except for some chocolate ones.
My habit of not eating cakes and proper puddings really annoyed my mother-in-law.
I was a sickly child and I didn’t really get better until I was found to be coeliac at 50.
I am fairly certain, that my consumption of sugary snacks has got more, as I’ve got older.
But because American drinks, sweets and snacks could use sugar made from wheat, I don’t touch any American sweetened products.
But I haven’t put on any weight, since I was fifty.
Thanks to the likes of Leon, Marks and Spencer and the cafe at Worksop station for excellent sugary gluten-free snacks to keep me going!
‘UK-First’ Intercity Battery Trial Exceeds Expectations
The title of this post, is the same as that of this press release from Hitachi.
These three bullet points, act as sub-headings.
- Intercity battery train completes testing in the north of England, demonstrating superior performance and cost-effectiveness compared to diesel engines.
- Trial confirms single battery technology can reduce fuels costs between 35%-50% and enter and leave stations in zero-emission mode.
- Ahead of Railway 200 celebration, this new UK rail innovation is ready to reduce cost and emissions on the railways.
These are the first two paragraphs.
Today, Angel Trains, Hitachi Rail and TransPennine Express are celebrating the successful completion of the UK’s first intercity battery trial in the North of England.
The powerful 700kw battery technology met, and in some cases even surpassed, the key objectives of the trial, including:
- Fuel costs savings between 35%-50%, surpassing previous predictions of up to 30%.
- Just one battery has managed to power the train to speeds greater than 75mph, clearly demonstrating this technology can enter, alight and exit stations solely in zero-emission battery-mode to improve air quality and reduce noise pollution.
- Able to achieve all journey times and performance requirements so can meet operators timetable requirements.
- The battery matches the weight of a diesel engine and is installed in the same undercarriage space, ensuring no risk of track degradation and no impact on the passenger environment.
Note.
- I would expect, that most of the fuel cost savings are due to the use of regenerative braking to the battery.
- 75 mph might seem slow, but Hull Trains average slower speeds than this on their diesel sections.
- Running in a non-polluting mode in stations and sensitive areas, is not going to be disliked by anyone.
- The most powerful diesel engines in Class 800 and Class 802 trains are rated at 700 kW. So with the same weight and power, it is not surprising that the performance is the same.
It looks to me, that Hitachi have designed an efficient battery-electric electric train, that can extend services from electrified main lines onto branch lines without electrification.
The One Battery Test Train And Hull Trains
Hull Trains currently run one service to Hull and Beverley and have applied for another service to serve Worksop, Woodhouse and Sheffield, where the trains would leave the East Coast Main Line at Retford.
Hitachi’s current test train has two diesel engines and one battery pack.
An Electric Service Between London and Hull/Beverley
Distances for the Hull and Beverley service are.
- ECML and Hull – 58.1 km. – 3 stops
- Hull and Beverley – 13.2 km or 26.4 km both ways. – 1 stop
Note.
- Trains will be fully-charged, when they leave the ECML.
- Trains could be fully-charged, when they leave Hull station, if the platform they use has a charging system.
- All Hull Trains call in Platform 7 at Hull station.
- The Hitachi press release said “During a trial run, the battery’s impressive power enabled the train to operate solely in battery mode for 70km.” A speed of 75 mph is indicated.
- I would assume the Hitachi train used regenerative braking to help recharge the batteries, at the intermediate stops.
- Trains average around 57 mph between the ECML and Hull and 38 mph between Hull and Beverley.
- Much of the track between the ECML and Hull has a speed limit of 75 mph.
- Much of the track between Beverley and Hull has a speed limit of 70 mph or less.
Because of these figures and what Hitachi have said of the train’s performance on batteries, I am convinced that Hull Trains will use an electrified Platform 7 at Hull station to charge the trains.
These pictures show a Hull Trains’s Class 802 train in Platform 7 at Hull station.
Note.
- The blue Hull Train is in Platform 7 in the pictures.
- Hull station has a classic Victorian cast-iron roof.
- Many other similar platforms have been electrified in the UK.
I believe that this platform can be electrified relatively easily with 25 KVAC overhead wires.
An Electric Service Between London and Worksop/Sheffield
Distances for the Worksop and Sheffield service are.
- ECML and Worksop – 12.2 km. – 1 stop
- Worksop and Sheffield- 25.3 km or 50.6 km both ways. – 1 stop
Note.
1. A train from London will leave Retford with a full battery.
2. Retford and Sheffield is only 37.5 km. So the round trip is only 75 km.
3. A full battery will power the train at 75 mph for 70 km – According to Hitachi.
4. Much of the track between Retford and Sheffield is only 60 mph. So going slower will give an energy saving.
5. Slowing at Worksop, Woodhouse and Sheffield will give the batteries a small charge.
6. There are no bridges in the Workshop station area, so a mile or so of electrification could be easy.
7. It’s an easy level route.
8. I’ve read somewhere that Hitachi have a full route simulator.
I calculate, that a two minute charge at Worksop would probably be all the train would need to travel the 75 km. on batteries.
We don’t know if Hitachi have licenced some of Vivarail’s FastCharge technology from FirstGroup. This could enable them to extract the maximum value from each stop at Worksop.
The One Battery Test Train And Lumo
Hitachi’s current test train has two diesel engines and one battery pack.
It is likely that a train with this configuration could be used on Lumo’s new service to Rochdale.
As London Euston and Manchester Victoria is fully electrified, the only unelectrified section is the 16.7 km. between Manchester Victoria and Rochdale. This would mean, that to complete the trip, Lumo’s train would need the ability to do 33.4 km on battery power.
As Hitachi’s test train can do 70 km on a full charge, Lumo could use trains with the standard two diesel engine and one battery pack configuration. The battery would be charged on the electrified sections of the route, between London Euston and Manchester Victoria stations.
It looks to me, to be a superb demonstration of the capabilities of a battery-electric InterCity train with two diesel engines and one battery pack.
The One Battery Test Train And LNER
Hitachi’s current test train has two diesel engines and one battery pack.
It is likely that a train with this configuration could be used on several LNER services from King’s Cross.
- Bradford Forster Square – 21.9 km. from Leeds
- Cleethorpes – 102.5 km. from Newark
- Grimsby Town – 97.9 km. from Newark
- Harrogate – 29.4 km from Leeds
- Lincoln – 26.9 km. from Newark
- Middlesbrough – 35.2 km. from ECML
- Cleethorpes – 102.5 km. from ECML
- Scarborough – 67.8 km. from York
Note.
- Some services like those to Bradford Forster Square, Harrogate and Lincoln could be run by only charging on the East Coast Main Line.
- Some services like those to Middlesbrough and Scarborough could be run by charging at the destination.
- Other services would need more batteries and/or charging at the destination.
I haven’t put in the Scottish services as running them may be more complicated.
Running Longer Distances On Battery Power
This paragraph is from the original Hitachi press release.
This success demonstrates that Hitachi Rail is ready to deliver the next stage of a full intercity battery-electric train. Based on real-world data, such a train would have a range between 100-150km. These ranges can cover significant sections of non-electrified routes, eliminating the need for wires in tunnels or stations, and potentially saving hundreds of millions of pounds on electrification projects.
Note.
- I would assume that as many diesel engines as possible would be replaced with battery packs.
- On a typical three-battery Class 800 train, 802 train or Class 805 train, this could be up to three batteries.
- But on a four-battery Class 810 train, this could be up to four batteries.
A strategy would need to be developed for all routes and trains would be configured and allocated to the routes accordingly.
An Excursion To Retford And Worksop
Today’s excursion was designed to be simple.
- Take an LNER train or a Hull Train to Retford station.
- Travel to Worksop station, have a look and take a few pictures.
- Travel back to Retford and take the first train back to London.
- In one if my two visits to Retford, have a look and take a few pictures.
- Talk to passengers and railway staff about what they felt about FirstGroup’s Proposed Sheffield Service, that I wrote about in FirstGroup Applies To Run New London To Sheffield Rail Service.
These were my thoughts and observations.
LNER’s Improved Ticketing
These pictures show the tickets that I bought.
Note.
- I bought my ticket to Retford from the Ticket Office at King’s Cross station.
- The ticket seller gave me a well-designed folder for the tickets.
- I was also able to buy my return ticket between Retford and Worksop on the LNER train to Retford. I’ve tried doing that before and it wasn’t allowed.
Making ticketing easier must be a good thing for passengers, staff and LNER.
£24.75 With A Railcard From King’s Cross to Retford
- The second picture shows my ticket to Retford.
- It cost me just £24,75 with my Senior Railcard.
- I also bought it about half-an-hour before the train left.
- I bought the ticket in the Ticket Office.
- I got a forward-facing window seat with an unrestricted view.
How much would the 145 mile and nearly three-hour journey have cost in a car?
I Missed My Connection At Retford Station
These pictures show my train to Worksop station in Platform 3 at Retford station, as I approached from the South.
Note.
The Northern Trains’s Class 195 train arriving on Platform 3 on the Sheffield and Lincoln Line.
- I arrived in Platform 2 at Retford station at 12:50
- There were three lifts or sets of stairs to negotiate between Platform 2 and Platform 3.
- It must take at least five minutes between the two platforms.
- One of the lifts was out of order and was being serviced by an engineer.
- There was no way, I could have caught the connection, which left at 12:51.
- At least one other passenger, had to wait the one hour and fifteen minutes I waited for the next train, which arrived at 14:03.
I feel that there needs to be a timetable adjustment here, so that as many passengers as possible avoid the long wait.
Retford Station
At least the long wait allowed me to take a lot of pictures and have a cup of coffee in the Costa Coffee on Platform 1.
Note.
- The toilets were immaculate.
- The Costa Coffee had friendly and professional staff, but only rudimentary gluten-free options.
- The station is fully step-free with four lifts.
- Platforms 1 and 2 on the East Coast Main Line can take a pair of five-car Class 802 trains, as Hull Train demonstrated.
- The Hull Train in Platform 2 was using the electrification.
- The station is in very good condition.
- The station is Grade II Listed.
This Google Map shows the station.
Note.
- The red arrow in the South-East corner are the low-level Platforms 3 and 4.
- The red arrow in the middle marks the low-level Platforms 1 and 2.
- Network Rail’s yellow Mobile Maintenance Train is visible in the siding opposite Platform 2.
- There is space around the platforms.
The station may have development possibilities. Especially, as there are signs of To Let over some of the buildings.
Ambitious Renewable Energy
Retford and Worksop are only eleven minutes away but there were a large wind farm and solar farms between the two stations.
Note.
- I was a bit slow on the uptake and missed the large wind farm.
- The strong sun was reflecting on the windows.
- They weren’t the best of photographs.
I had intended to take more and better pictures on the way back, but circumstances intervened.
This Google Map shows the wind and solar farms.
Note.
- The Sheffield and Lincoln Line going across the map.
- There are solar panels North and South of the railway.
- This is the Walkers Wood Solar Farm, which has a nameplate capacity of 27 MW.
- H M Prison Ranby is at the top of the map.
- The scars of the wind turbines are to the West of Babworth and the crematorium.
- At the moment, I can’t find any reference to the wind farm.
These wind and solar farms are probably a classic place to position a battery.
Prisons And Recycling
Worksop Station
I took these pictures during the time I spent at Worksop station.
Note.
- The station is not step-free, although you can cross the tracks using the level-crossing.
- The station has a pub and a cafe.
- There are train services to Leeds, Lincoln, Nottingham and Sheffield.
- The station is in very good condition.
- The station is Grade II Listed.
- The platforms are long enough to handle a Class 802 train without any modification.
- Hull Trains could run their Sheffield service to Worksop station without any new infrastructure.
- Lidl are developing a site on the other side of the level crossing.
- There are 100 car parking spaces.
The station may have development possibilities.
Worksop Station Cafe
These pictures show the Worksop station cafe.
Note.
- It is run by two ladies; Jo and Lyndsey.
- As one is coeliac, there were lots of gluten-free cakes.
- It was cosy and warm on a cold day.
This is definitely one of the better station cafes.
A Double Incident
My journey back to the capital was I suspect untypical.
- I’d arrived at Worksop at 14:14 and finally left at 16:38 on a train for Retford and Lincoln.
- The delay was because someone had been hit by a train between Barnsley and Sheffield, which resulted in cancelled trains.
- When I arrived at Retford at 16:49, there was an LNER train in the platform.
- It was the 15:15 from Leeds and I was told by LNER staff to catch it and get my ticket on the train.
- The train finally left Retford for London 69 minutes late at 17:07.
- We arrived in Peterborough at 19:27, where the train was now 170 minutes late.
- The delay was because someone had been hit by a train at Newark, which results in delays everywhere.
- LNER decided to give up on the train and all passengers were put on other trains.
- I got on the 14:30 from Edinburgh, which arrived in King’s Cross at 20:22, which was 96 minutes late.
Worse things happen at sea.
I am adding this a day after my trip to the North.
This article on the BBC is entitled ‘Major Disruption’ After Person Hit By A Train.
These are the first three paragraphs.
Train services on the East Coast Main Line have been seriously disrupted after a person was hit by a train in North Yorkshire.
Network Rail said the incident happened just before 07:00 GMT between York and Thirsk, with emergency services attending the scene shortly afterwards.
The line was blocked, resulting in delays and cancellations.
Three in two days us three too many.
The Anonymous Widower 