The Rail Enthusiast thread

[Andy in Germany]

It wouldn't normally take 8 years, no, but at the same time, there is also the fact that they are wanting to get away from diesels and on an use battery, hydrogen, bi - mode, etc by... 2035 is it? 2040?

If these are to be Britain's first long distance battery electric trains, then it seems like a lot of that time might be taken up by testing, proof of concept, etc etc.

Up until now, battery trains have been confined to relatively short stretches of line, but these are to be long distance. BIG DIFFERENCE.

It also depends on when they will actually be needed from as well, these things are all planned, you don't just buy a new train like you would a car.

That sounds suspiciously like the old "Hey we can have trains on the cheap: if we have batteries we can have electric trains without having to pay for electric wires", Along with the mildly contradictory British idea of "Let's spend several years and millions of pounds developing a concept that already exists in Europe".

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

That sounds suspiciously like the old "Hey we can have trains on the cheap: if we have batteries we can have electric trains without having to pay for electric wires", Along with the mildly contradictory British idea of "Let's spend several years and millions of pounds developing a concept that already exists in Europe".

They are always a bit behind the times here though, so what's new?

 

[Andy in Germany]

They are always a bit behind the times here though, so what's new?

I've seen people saying the new Transport for Wales Tram-Trains are "silly" because they are mostly running on railway lines. When I pointed out that this happens here and has been proven to work very well in the Black Forest for ca. 20 years their response was "... well, it's still silly."

 

[Mike_P]

The testing also involves ensuring the trains electrics do not affect safety/ signalling systems.

York Mix is the independent off shoot of what was Minster FM before Bauer killed it and many other stations in favour of Greatest Hits Radio. The news editor refused to join GHR and has many years experience in York having also worked for Radio York. Suppose it depends what there targets audience is as to how dumbed down an article is.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

I've seen people saying the new Transport for Wales Tram-Trains are "silly" because they are mostly running on railway lines. When I pointed out that this happens here and has been proven to work very well in the Black Forest for ca. 20 years their response was "... well, it's still silly."

Pretty sure they already have used light rail vehicles on heavy rail in the past anyway.

Manchester Metrolink? Newcastle? 🤔

As usual with everything here, we invent something, then the world takes it, runs off with it and we are on the back foot forever more 🙄🤦‍♂️

 

[Andy in Germany]

Pretty sure they already have used light rail vehicles on heavy rail in the past anyway.

Manchester Metrolink? Newcastle? 🤔

As usual with everything here, we invent something, then the world takes it, runs off with it and we are on the back foot forever more 🙄🤦‍♂️

As far as I know Metro is, or at least started out as heavy rail, and Metrolink, like Sheffield, uses a couple of otherwise lightly used freight only lines. The Karlsruhe system is a bit more extensive:

Most of the lines outside the yellow area are tram-train systems running on normal lines, even sharing tracks with ICE trains and heavy freights. Inside the box are a mix of tram-train, exclusively tram lines on their own right of way, and street running.

Last month Reutlingen announced they will build a new tram system based on the same principle, and it looks like it will serve this village too. I'm a bit concerned because trams are smaller than trains, so I hope it doesn't reduce the bicycle carrying capacity. On the other hand, several lines in Reutlingen will be reopened, including one that used to be a rack railway to Engstingen, which will do the local community owned railway there a power of good.