Who powers the LU/NR network in/around london?

[heart-of-wessex]

Hello all,

Just a question really, which power station supplies the LU and NR suburbs? I read that Greenwich supplies the LU network but only as a backup, the rest I assume is from some other central location?

Also is Paddington powered by Didcot or London? I assume if this GWML OHLE project goes ahead Didcot will just have to power the whole thing (including London?). Should Didcot ever power the GWML wires, how much more coal trains would be need between Avonmouth and Didcot, a lot more!

Unless of course, there is another plan to power the GWML?


Cheers,

James.

 

[gordonthemoron]

would it make sense to put solar panels on the roof of electric trains?

 

[Old Timer]

Years gone by London TRansport had their own generating station at Lots road which provided the core supply for their traction current. During low demand periods, Lots Road fed into the National Grid, and during peak periods could draw current from the National Grid.

Nationally, traction current supplies are drawn from the National Grid rather than being allocated from an individual power station.

Payment for electricity however is slightly different as an user can Contract with a particular supplier, say in Scotlad. How it works is that each supplier feeds into the National Grid and the money is divided up between them on the basis of the allocation of power consumed.

As far as I know LUL do not operate their own power stations, but draw from the National Grid.

I am sure one of the LUL guys will be able to say more authoratively.

 

[Dstock7080]

There are various bulk feeder points around the LU system that supply from the National Grid.

 

[A60K]

Also is Paddington powered by Didcot or London? I assume if this GWML OHLE project goes ahead Didcot will just have to power the whole thing (including London?). Should Didcot ever power the GWML wires, how much more coal trains would be need between Avonmouth and Didcot, a lot more!

Power stations don't directly power OLE on Network Rail - feeds are taken from the National Grid network (see Wikipedia) at points appropriately spaced intervals to ensure an adequate supply voltage for the traffic using the lines.

The fact that at Didcot there is a power station is academic when considering feeds. So long as there is a National Grid supply line feeding points will be located in the most operationally advantageous points for the railway.

Didcot Power Station wouldn't necessarily need to generate a single Watt extra for GW electrification, as the electricity doesn't need to be generated at the point of use.



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would it make sense to put solar panels on the roof of electric trains?

Almost certainly not as a first option, because they'll be moving around and often not facing the right way to get the best strength for power generation or will be obstructed by cuttings or trees.

Much better to start by sticking solar panels on fixed assets (station buildings, signalboxes, footbridges, canopies etc) where the height avoids light being obstructed by other objects and where the path of the sun will ensure maximum exposure during the course of the day.

 

[Daniel]

LUL has a supply contract with EDF Powerlink.

They draw power from 4 different points on the grid.

They also have a facility in Greenwich to generate electricity through gas turbine engines - however these cannot generate energy to be used on LU, they can only feed directly into the grid, (a useful moneymaker during times of high demand).


To the question of solar panels, don't think they'd work underground

 

[Bighat]

Hello all,

Just a question really, which power station supplies the LU and NR suburbs? I read that Greenwich supplies the LU network but only as a backup, the rest I assume is from some other central location?

Also is Paddington powered by Didcot or London? I assume if this GWML OHLE project goes ahead Didcot will just have to power the whole thing (including London?). Should Didcot ever power the GWML wires, how much more coal trains would be need between Avonmouth and Didcot, a lot more!

Unless of course, there is another plan to power the GWML?


Cheers,

James.

Lots Road Power Station in Chelsea was constructed to serve London Transport power requirements, fot trains, trolleybuses and trams.

The Greenwich station was primarily for the tram network in south east London, and a back up to Lots Road.

Some years ago, London Transport decided to buy it electricity commercially, and Lots Road was run down as a supply source.

 

[90019]

Almost certainly not as a first option, because they'll be moving around and often not facing the right way to get the best strength for power generation or will be obstructed by cuttings or trees.

And they're currently pretty ineffiecient, so it wouldn't really be worth it anyway.