Comments on: United Kingdom Commits to Further Rail Electrification

By: Drewski

Drewski — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 07:46:13 +0000

Funny–in “socialist” France and Spain, there is ongoing expansion of electrification, and many expressways are tolled to pay for their (roads’) construction. (Until Sarkozy was elected, French autoroute tolls helped pay for new TGV lines.) Not so in the UK, which is falling to the back of the pack for European transportation infrastructure. Delaying electrification of the GWML just perpetuates higher operating costs and lower speeds than would be achieveable on the same track with electrification, which was one of the arguments behind electrification of the WCML.

By: Max Wyss

Max Wyss — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 06:59:46 +0000

Suburban electrification does make sense, as you need high short-time performance for a suburban train (frequent acceleration and braking), and for that, diesel is simply not sufficient.

By: Nathanael

Nathanael — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 04:30:59 +0000

Interesting. Suburban electrification in preference to long-distance electrification on the Great Western Main Line.

Hopefully the Marlow, Henley, and Windsor branch lines will be electrified while they’re at it; it makes no sense to leave random suburban diesel branches.

By: John W

John W — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 21:06:57 +0000

Today the government announced £8 billion worth of projects, largely the railcar purchases and electrification as mentioned above but with some things put back a couple of years, and electrification of the line to Wales put off indefinitely. BBC News has a good round-up of the proposals.

By: Ocean Railroader

Ocean Railroader — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 02:19:43 +0000

The GO Transit was the first place I had ever been on a moving paasanger train in my life strangely on a trip to Ontario

I hope they do build the giant eletric system for GO it would be great in that it would provid a logical end for a catenary line leaving the NEC out of New York City.

By: Matt Fisher

Matt Fisher — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 21:53:10 +0000

A correction is that this is the new link to the electrification plan linked earlier. I just want to bring it up.

By: Matt Fisher

Matt Fisher — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 19:05:52 +0000

Uh, Ocean Railroader, that’s in Ontario. And it’s GO Transit (the “GO” standing for “Government of Ontario”, since here in Ontario, where I live – and I’m from Ottawa instead of Toronto – the government ownws GO).

By: Matt Fisher

Matt Fisher — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 18:40:17 +0000

There are other lines I see that have been left out but should be electrified. Some electrifications in other parts of England, as well as in Scotland (especially in the north), are missing from the plan. I don’t see this being all “67% electrified by 2017″. It appears to be more like 40%.

By: UK Airport Person

UK Airport Person — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 11:25:26 +0000

Has this plan changed since the new Government and in light of the emergency budget this week? I have seen reports of plans to sell off HS1 and question marks on HS2, but nothing on this.

By: Blackpool Theatre

Blackpool Theatre — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 18:34:09 +0000

I wonder what is going to happen after the election. I am guessingteh electrification budget will disapear after the election who ever wins. It will be a great shame. I think Blackpool was really hoping for electrification as soon as possible to try and help the tourism market in the town, plus they were hoping for a University which has just had the funding pulled.
Fingers crossed they find teh funding for the electrification schemes as they will help the local economies and provide jobs in the conversion. I wonder if we could have some laws that protect british companies so they get the contracts?