Network Rail decarbonisation policy

[whole diary]

[grahame]

However see attached image from this month?s Railway Magazine!

I think only Melksham has been achieved - we need more Grahames!

I also see that Railway Magazine's sub editor is more familiar with the works of Noel Coward than the towns of the Northumberland coast........

But I though Melksham Station reopened in 1985.  That article was in 2000 before the services were cut in 2006?

You are correct ... reopened in 1985; a couple of shortlived experiments, but in 2000 the service was very slim indeed.  Wessex Trains brought in extras - up to 5 each way per day in 2001 but the Greater Western franchise adding in Thames Trains and Wessex Trains areas into the First Great Western reduced that - SRA^» (Strategic Rail Authority - about) / DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) at that point only called for a much reduced service from that level, as it did on many other lines.

[Western Pathfinder]

This just released from NR^» (Network Rail - home page)
https://www.networkrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/New-parkway-stations-guidance.pdf.

[grahame]

From the Transport Committee

Transport Committee: To hit its own decarbonisation deadline, Government must set out clear strategy for rail network

A 30 year rolling programme of electrification should be set out

As a matter of priority, the Government should publish a long-term strategy that sets out its vision for electrification and for the use of battery and hydrogen technology that is underpinned by appropriate costings, a credible delivery plan and enabling targets and milestones.

As part of its strategy, the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) should commit to a 30-year rolling programme of electrification projects. If the Government is to meet the legally binding target of net zero carbon emissions by 2050, and a former Minister’s pledge to remove all diesel trains from tracks by 2040, the current Government must take the first steps and start the electrification programme as soon as possible rather than waiting for the start of the next control period in 2024.

Full report (as a series of .html pages not a single .pdf document!) via https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5801/cmselect/cmtrans/876/87602.htm

[stuving]

Full report (as a series of .html pages not a single .pdf document!) via https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5801/cmselect/cmtrans/876/87602.htm

... and the PDF here.

[TonyK]

From the Transport Committee

Transport Committee: To hit its own decarbonisation deadline, Government must set out clear strategy for rail network

A 30 year rolling programme of electrification should be set out

A 30 year rolling programme would see through six governments, as a minimum. The previous Theresa May government (I think it was her's) set out plans to stop building fossil fuel cars more quickly than that, and the current regime is abolishing gas boilers in new houses almost tomorrow. The electric car commitment isn't backed up by increased generation of electricity, and it remains to be seen how that time-scale will look in a few years' time. I would have thought that a plan to electrify the two thirds of the railway that doesn't have wires right now within 30 years was far more achievable, notwithstanding the Great Western debacle. It would tick a box, and give successive governments a clear target. And if it is announced, but not met, I'm sure a scapegoat can be found.

[stuving]

No doubt this could go on several threads, but here looks a good start. A public-spirited soul - JacobWrenn on railforums - has used FoI to get a copy of Network Rail's "Southern Region Decarbonisation Strategy" (dated August 2022). He's made it available to read on line here, but you can download the PDF from there too.

It contains loads of gems about the North Downs Line, Reading-Basingstoke, and the WoEL. Here's a comedy item to start with - a "Key Fact" about the North Downs Line:

Rolling stock (Dec-19):
* GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway): Class 16X with phased introduction of Class 769s underway.

[grahame]

No doubt this could go on several threads, but here looks a good start. A public-spirited soul - JacobWrenn on railforums - has used FoI to get a copy of Network Rail's "Southern Region Decarbonisation Strategy" (dated August 2022). He's made it available to read on line here, but you can download the PDF from there too.

I have echoed it here on our mirror too.   Sadly the document is locked so it's not searchable.

[stuving]

I have echoed it here on our mirror too.   Sadly the document is locked so it's not searchable.

I'm not sure about locked - it claims content copying is allowed, but I got that to work on the phoito credits and on nothing else. I presume that the content was prepared as images and there is no text embedded at all, hence nothing to copy or search.

[grahame]

I have echoed it here on our mirror too.   Sadly the document is locked so it's not searchable.

I'm not sure about locked - it claims content copying is allowed, but I got that to work on the phoito credits and on nothing else. I presume that the content was prepared as images and there is no text embedded at all, hence nothing to copy or search.

I have got some text out with screen captures and OCR software ... how sad am I?

[stuving]

I have echoed it here on our mirror too.   Sadly the document is locked so it's not searchable.

I'm not sure about locked - it claims content copying is allowed, but I got that to work on the phoito credits and on nothing else. I presume that the content was prepared as images and there is no text embedded at all, hence nothing to copy or search.

I have got some text out with screen captures and OCR software ... how sad am I?

I can't work out if it's a proper report in the format of a presentation, or a presentation, or meant to serve as both. But it's only got pictures, short summaries, and lists of things, so I was thinking it would be easier to just retype anything useful. But feel free to save me the effort ...

[stuving]

Here's a point is about Reading-Basingstoke. When this came up before, it was worth doing mainly as part of the "electric spine", so continuing the 25 kV AC to Southampton. At that time the WoE was not proposed for electrification at all.

Now, the relevant maps show WoE electrified in all their three options, and it's a question of what else to do if the wires get down to Basingstoke. That could be (1) nothing, leave the triangle of lines as DC^▸ (Direct Current), (2) convert Basingstoke-Salisbury-Southampton to 25 kV but not Basinstoke-Southampton, or (3) convert all three.

[paul7575]

Although outside our main area of interest, I see that after all the debate in recent years they are seemingly sticking with 3rd rail to Uckfield.

Paul

[stuving]

Although outside our main area of interest, I see that after all the debate in recent years they are seemingly sticking with 3rd rail to Uckfield.

Paul

Yes, in one of their references to the SOBC they say "AC electrification found to be grossly disproportionate in cost compared to the safety benefits gained..." Is this the start of a campaign by NR^» (Network Rail - home page)?

The SOBC is the Strategic Outline business Case; AIUI^▸ (as I understand it) it's the official begging letter from NR to DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) to please put some money into their end of the pipeline.

[paul7575]

Although outside our main area of interest, I see that after all the debate in recent years they are seemingly sticking with 3rd rail to Uckfield.

Paul

Yes, in one of their references to the SOBC they say "AC electrification found to be grossly disproportionate in cost compared to the safety benefits gained..." Is this the start of a campaign by NR^» (Network Rail - home page)?

The SOBC is the Strategic Outline business Case; AIUI^▸ (as I understand it) it's the official begging letter from NR to DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) to please put some money into their end of the pipeline.

I’ve always thought with the Uckfield branch being right in the middle of the wider “Southern Region” the safety aspects are exaggerated. I suggest a lot of normal members of the public will just assume everywhere in the area is third rail already…

[eightonedee]

I’ve always thought with the Uckfield branch being right in the middle of the wider “Southern Region” the safety aspects are exaggerated. I suggest a lot of normal members of the public will just assume everywhere in the area is third rail already…

Agreed, and in fact the same comment could be made about infilling the North Downs with third rail too. Overall, the increased safety risk for such modest schemes must be immaterial in the light of the current extensive third rail network on the old Southern Region.