Night Riviera - merged posts, ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[BBM]

I've read elsewhere that's it's used by some south-western MP^▸ (Member of Parliament)'s?

ISTR^▸ (I seem to recall/remember) seeing the Bishop of Truro using it on a TV programme a few years ago.

[stuving]

Appreciating the difficulty of fitting batteries of any size within the design of a locomotive, is there any potential to have a 'battery pack' vehicle separate to the locomotive in the future.  I'm thinking of a similar vehicle to the power pack vehicles inserted into the Stadler Flirt bi-mode's (which is of course for diesel purposes, not batteries) but on a similar principle.  It could be semi-permanently coupled to the locomotive and be charged from it (or on depot).

A future possibility, or a no-hoper?

Roger Ford's e-zine for February has a section on hybrids, which covers a number of the things being tried out here. And then there's Wabtec's FLXrive:

FLXdrive is Wabtec’s newest development a battery electric freight locomotive.  Leveraging decades of application expertise, coupled with industry leading performance optimization, the hybrid consist that is being demonstrated has the capability of saving fuel and reducing emissions.

Wabtec’s FLXdrive battery electric locomotive pilot is part of a grant project with the Calfornia Air Resource Board (CARB), BNSF and the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District.  Wabtec and BNSF will begin proof-of-concept and performance testing in late 2020.  BEL is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide program that puts billions of cap-and-trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy and improving public health and the environment— particularly in disadvantaged communities.

The specification given is confusing, but together with what's in the e-zine you get:
2400 kWh capacity
30-40 minutes discharge time - implying a power of about 4 MW
Charging only by regeneration or shore supply - but it is only a pilot
Intended to operate with two 4400 HP locomotives - this is the USA, after all
Weight (max) 430000 lb (192 t)
Powered axles 4 (out of 6)

I had assumed that the class 93 uses a lithium titanate oxide battery for its high charge/discharge rate, and it does seem that they are used in some bigger hybrid cars and in buses for that reason. Of course the separate vehicle allows a much bigger battery, allowing for a higher output power over a time Li-ion can manage.

But I did think British operators would not accept an add-on of a different kind, and even if the components were redistributed into two identical ones they would dislike running them routinely in pairs. So I can see why it's being tried in the USA - especially if there's grants to be had!

[Sleepy]

Is the number of sleeping cars returning to normal in April or are GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) going to wait until May 17th ?

[TaplowGreen]

Absolutely shocking performance;

23:45 London Paddington to Penzance due 08:00

21/04/21 23:45 London Paddington to Penzance due 08:00 has been delayed at London Paddington and is now 1 minute late.
This is due to congestion.

[rower40]

Absolutely shocking performance;

23:45 London Paddington to Penzance due 08:00

21/04/21 23:45 London Paddington to Penzance due 08:00 has been delayed at London Paddington and is now 1 minute late.
This is due to congestion.

Computers, don'ch'a just luv'em?
The train was 1 min late at Royal Oak Junction (pass 2347hrs), and 1 min late at Lostwithiel (dep 0641); therefore these facts must have the same cause.  Let's ignore the fact that the train was 11 mins early into Plymouth...

[Sleepy]

So the Sleeper will have full formation again from 17th May. Of course the booking system hasn't been updated so it thinks trains are full on busy nights ! Try booking any accommodation May half term - virtually nothing left. Thought the railway needs every penny it can get ?

[Sleepy]

  Update : Sleeper coach G  has now been opened for reservations so if any fully booked nights you need get in there quick !

[Sleepy]

Sleeper lounges facilities at Penzance, Truro and Paddington are available to use again.

[Jamsdad]

I travelled PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains)- PNZ last week, and was most impressed with the  staff service, cleanliness and all precautions.

[Timmer]

Sleeper lounges facilities at Penzance, Truro and Paddington are available to use again.

Is the First Class lounge at Paddington open again?

[Sleepy]

Sleeper lounges facilities at Penzance, Truro and Paddington are available to use again.

Is the First Class lounge at Paddington open again?

It is open

[grahame]

21:45 Penzance to London Paddington due 05:03
21:45 Penzance to London Paddington due 05:03 will be terminated at Reading.
It will no longer call at London Paddington.
This is due to a shortage of trains because of extra safety inspections.

? Class 57 issue / extra checks ?

[broadgage]

Closure by stealth ?
A connecting service via Reading is a good DISincentive to use.
Presumably passengers are expected to disembark promptly on arrival at Reading ? rather than remain in bed until a sensible hour at Paddington.

[broadgage]

Now terminating at Swindon, even better than Reading.

[grahame]

Now terminating at Swindon, even better than Reading.

Arrived in Swindon at 03:18 versus a schedule of 02:58.  Left at 05:38 for Reading, currently passing Goring and Streatley. Passengers will have gone forward on the 05:28 to Paddington which is passing Hayes and Harlington as I write.

This service was cancelled between Swindon and London Paddington due to a problem with the traction equipment (MC).