Sir Peter Parker was right about the 'crumbing edge of quality'.

He also wanted comprehensive electrification.

The RDS (Railway Development Society) wants to see more electrification in Scotland, especially Edinburgh-Glasgo to Aberdeen, and the busier route between Edinburgh and Glasgow via Falkirk.

George Matthews

Rightly so. Well, given the fact that not Scotland alone sees stagnation in railway electrification, I wonder whether or not our side needs to come up with a few more constructive ideas, to render electrification feasible again.

What is prohibitive is the first cost and an apparent generally ill-willing perception by decision-makers of "the wires" as adding to infrastruture unreliability and maintenance costs.

Whilst the latter may only be solved by experienced industry, not consultants alone, the first cost problem is maybe calling for general attention. We might recall from the past century that transit electricity consumption was regarded as a major customer or stable , predictable consumer by "Grid companies" / utilities (Am.). Ok, why not shift interface ownership, especially on "industrial frequency" 50 Hz electrification systems or projects ??

That is, shift away from substation to the pantograph pan. I.e., substation and catenary / o/h line structures be owned by a company majorized by utilities, and railroads as minority owners. Catenary o/h line equipment would merely be rendered a sales instrument for the blue juice. Nota bene: The utilities do have expertise to build, run and maintain such structures, more so than the p/w department of a generally diesel railway infrastruture.

To be honest, this is not without its problems. I diod propose this for the "Rübelandbahn" line hereabouts, not towards semi-post- socialist etetist DB AG, of course, but towards energy supplier EON / Avacon. They weren't amused, either ! To them, it was a far too novel idea. South African "ESKOM" were apparently shocked, as they had never given a thought to that (discussed it with them during EXPO in Hanover).

Seems the case needs a strategic business plan to be developed, incl. a detailed cost/benefit analysis, to help all these horses drink their water ...

The other instance of a hurdle ist the sole and most important feature of electric railways, namely regenerative braking. With modern inverter traction, this is industry standard - for railway practice. Less so for utilities, who want to sell the blue fuel rather than accept frequent, but erratic deliveries according to RR schedules over a downhill section of line. These problems are always concealed as "technical problems", "more (neverending) compatibility research needed", "safety case", "5th harmonic ripples" and the like, the ususal rubbish (see A.J.G.Gosling's "Railway Electricfication in the Republic of South Africa" (engl.), "Glasers Annalen" of June,1962, p.226 ff esp. on experience with DC-AC re-inverting grid-controlled ignitron "smart substations" of the 1938 Natal electrification) - or Gordian knot to be cut through.

This seems to be considered by some utilities on a similar level as "windmill electric power generation", which have a compulsory right to feed into the grid and be (over-)paid by utilities for it. Without regenerative braking and a certified meter (a reversible counter, in effect) on each loco's / emu's input/ouput busbar near the panto, an electric rail operation is stone-dead and no match for a more flexible modern diesel operation.

So, someone here with a proposal how to bring the two unwilling parties together for their mutual benefit ? I.e. utilities to take over substations and o/h line equipment, and Railways to accept that their pantos are taking juice from someone else's property, to pay for it by means of power meter readings. Like they do pay for their diesel fuel at the depot's fuelling point, somehow.

However, I'd wish some folks do brush aside once and for all these "political advisors'" argument that the "fuel cell is on our doorsteps rendering electrification obsolete within a decade's time", or the like. Apart from being just false, this is rather day-dreaming or "new speak" for unwillingness to invest in Railway- improvement by suitable decisions.

Kind regards, CTW, DE-Goslar

CTW, DE-Goslar

But it seems the general atmosphere is hostile at present. I hate travelling in a diesel under wires or over the third rail, as I expect to do tomorrow (Bournemouth to Reading).

We need another oil shock.

George Matthews

No. Just so if electrification proponents continue to rely on "politics", not on factors how to improve everyone's business in the rail and utilities' industries. Apparently, both partners are too complacent in their current situation, worldwide. Is "Rail" a "no-market" for power utilities ? This is the most hostile aspect of the case. Grid companies continue to receive coal by diesel-hauled mgr trains, and don't even think about selling electricity to feed their power station input process. Ever seen any cl.92 on a coal mgr train ?

> I hate travelling in a diesel under wires or over the third rail, as I expect to do tomorrow <

Condolences ) I also hate it.

> We need another oil shock.<

With all respect: NO ! 11 Sept.,2001 hasn't benefited rail investment in the US, either. What is needed is lots of good ideas and pragmatic innovation for electrification, not just in technical detail, but also in business concepts. Diesels are improving, anyway. What you merely have is regenerative braking, to return 20 - 50 % of your power, and at 4 trains per hour (including freight ??? IIRC, "trains" means all kinds of consists !), the line you mention is just near the economic borderline. Some will say, not sufficient business to put up wires, others will say, ok, with a "network aspect" and novel sales concepts, it might boost the whole idea, and pay off as a whole concept. But there must be a return of the particular investment, whatever you do. There may be no call for government subsidies this time, definitely.

Kind regards, CTW

CTW, DE-Goslar

--
Tim Hall
www.kalyr.com/railways

Happily withdrawing my allegation camouflaged as a rhethoric question previously ) Hope it has been a regular working ... and really towing the stuff all the way ...

Cheers, CTW

CTW, DE-Goslar