MML electrification "paused"

[hicksy3]

Large diesel trains are effectively hybrids and have been since the 1950s when diesel locos saw widespread introduction. Diesel engine drives a generator, electric motors drive wheels. Better arrangement than mechanical transmission to drive 500 plus tonnes.

You just can't run them off wired electricity without massive alterations.

One company so far, Vivarail has produced a prototype diesel hybrid train for local stopping rather than Intercity services. It caught fire......

Decision is laughable in light of decision to electrify car fleet by 2040.

 

 

Posted from Sheffieldforum.co.uk App for Android

[Zarniwoop]

The new trains will be bi mode, i.e. can run on both electrified and non electrified lines

 

http://www.hitachi-rail.com/products/rolling_stock/bi_mode

Edited July 28, 2017 by Zarniwoop

[Phili Buster]

To be hoped they bit cleaner than these

 

[BHRemovals]

they got 14 billion for crossrail 2 though.

[1978]

they got 14 billion for crossrail 2 though.

 

They haven't got £14bn for Crossrail 2, not yet at least. It was the same sort of statement that means different things to different people like all the statements we've had about Midland mainline electrification and HS2. There are plenty of hurdles that project will need to overcome before it gets any go ahead for construction. I've no doubt the consultations and public inquiries will drag it out to give successive governments reasons to delay, reduce in scale, or cancel altogether.

 

It's still far from certain that HS2 will come to Sheffield. Once an HS2 train gets to Birmingham it can continue on existing electrified tracks to the Northwest and Glasgow. It won't be able to do that to Yorkshire, the Northeast and Edinburgh by that route.

[Zarniwoop]

It's still far from certain that HS2 will come to Sheffield. Once an HS2 train gets to Birmingham it can continue on existing electrified tracks to the Northwest and Glasgow. It won't be able to do that to Yorkshire, the Northeast and Edinburgh by that route.

 

Only the classic compatible trains will be able to run on existing tracks, the full size (captive) ones can only run on the newtrack as they are wider, higher and longer than existing trains.

 

Classic compatible is what will come to Sheffield

[1978]

I should have made clear, electric HS2 will get as far as Birmingham. Whether the next sections going to Manchester and Leeds get built as planned is less certain. We'll have a better idea when contracts are confirmed. In the meantime HS2 trains will have to be able to run on existing tracks which are electric to the west, but non-electric to the east.

 

I can see the eastern legs being constructed first once the true costs become clear, as there is no existing electric track to carry on further north. As electric services could operate from Birmingham to the North-West that side of HS2 could be delayed further. However, once the full costs of the Sheffield links are calculated that part may be delayed.

 

Further prevarication by the Treasury and DfT is almost inevitable as they get pressurised by politicians from all parties and parts of the country, plus lobby groups and the media.

 

I cite again the Spanish experince where the trains that run from Madrid to El Ferrol on the North-West coast are both bi-modal and bi-gauged. Electric and standard gauge to Santiago del Compostella then two changes to accomplish. Of course the Spanish have a lot more space to construct such things, but integrating various systems are challenges that can be overcome. (As long as signalling and train controls are kept up to date to prevent a crash like there was on that line four years go!)

Edited July 30, 2017 by 1978
Fact addition

[pss60]

they got 14 billion for crossrail 2 though.

Crossrail 2 will cost £31 billion.