SWR 158 / 159 replacements?

[whole diary]

[Surrey 455]

This popped up in my Google News feed.

From Rail Magazine

South Western Railway intends to replace its Class 158 and ‘159’ diesel multiple unit (DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit)) fleets by 2030 with an “innovative self-power solution” such as battery (which could include lineside rapid recharging points) or hydrogen.

Outlining plans to achieve ‘net zero’ by 2040, SWR^» (South Western Railway - about) observed that its current DMU fleet, comprising 110 vehicles, is 30 years old and will need “significant investment” in the next five to ten years.

The operator said that reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2040 is dependent on a range of external factors, including: government funding; policy commitments to decarbonise the National Grid and electrify the rail network; investment and innovation in rolling stock technology; and action from the wider value chain.

[Clan Line]

I hope "net zero" doesn't apply to the legroom again !

[eightonedee]

South Western Railway intends to replace its Class 158 and ‘159’ diesel multiple unit (DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit)▸ ) fleets by 2030 with an “innovative self-power solution” such as battery (which could include lineside rapid recharging points) or hydrogen.

Hmmm....it will be interested to see what such "solution" turns out to be. Will the new GBR^▸ (Great British Railways) be able (capable?) of procuring a reliable standard product from one or more of the suppliers of rolling stock, suitable for operating to cover gaps in either third rail or OHL^▸ (Over-Head Line) electric networks throughout the country? This seems the only realistic way of meeting this aspiration.

The current state of public finances does not look promising for pushing ahead with the optimum solution of electrification of all the mainline and secondary rail network, sadly.

[broadgage]

I suspect that any new trains to replace the existing fleet will be some hugely expensive and unreliable TRI-mode units with batteries, diesel engines, and third rail capability.

"Flexible train length" which is rail speak for shorter.
"comparable" leg room, which is rail speak for slightly worse.

And of course catering similar to that provided at present, i.e. none.

When half of the new trains fail to work, provide a connecting service via Basingstoke, as a "temporary" measure.

Must be worse than IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train - the now official name for the replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan)), this is called progress.