Comments on: East West Rail chief hunts savings as next phase fast-tracked

By: Alistair Lenczner

Alistair Lenczner — Fri, 08 Mar 2024 14:48:10 +0000

Given Rishi Sunak’s decision to decimate HS2, some new thinking is needed on how the make the most of the part of HS2 that will actually be built, i.e. the Phase 1 London to Birmingham section.

Why not create a connection between HS2 and East-West Rail where they cross each other at Calvert Junction? A cross-interchange station should be built to allow passengers to change between HS2 and East West rail services. This would make journeys between Cambridge and Birmingham/the North much faster than today. Better still, a chord could be built to allow direct train services from the OxCam corridor to Birmigham and the North using classic compatible high-speed trains.

The DfT’s “silo mindset” approach to the planning of transport infrastructure in the UK, where each project is considered as a stand alone project rather than part of a national network, means that ideas such as connecting HS2 and East West Rail never even get considered even though they could offer significant benefits if planned in a joined-up way.

By: dsfletcher91@gmail.com.qsi

dsfletcher91@gmail.com.qsi — Fri, 08 Mar 2024 11:04:57 +0000

If the complete electrification of EWR is not considered economically justified and that battery power is to be used, then a length of 5 to 10 km in the middle of the route should be electrified to allow recharging and relief for the batteries whilst the train runs in full electric mode.

By: derek.stewartsmith2@btopenworld.com.qsi

derek.stewartsmith2@btopenworld.com.qsi — Fri, 08 Mar 2024 10:20:11 +0000

It would appear that battery power is only just capable of providing sufficient electricity to keep a Train running over the whole distance, presumably without any hold ups and the battery able to store and maintains a full charge.
Has hydrogen fuel cell technology been investigated? This is a long term project and diesel is soon to be phased out.
The roof of every coach on the train should be covered with solar panels to trickle charge the batteries
Wind turbines should be erected at each terminus to power electrolysis units to manufacture hydrogen supported by solar farms.It would then be the first railway to be totally green in use of energy.