Recent content by DW54

Back down in the sarf of the coontry, NR has shown ferocious reluctance to contemplate extending 3rd rail DC - preferring to leave "diesel islands" for now. In CP5, they will be undertaking a full analysis of replacement of the entire SE England 3rd rail network by 25kV AC. RSSB and others have...

I'm not sure where to come back into this thread, but there are some issues to be resolved: 1) As Virgin have pointed out, current design and budgeting for HS2 Classic Compatible services does not provide for tilting trains. Without tilting trains, any time savings made on the HS2 trackage is...

Perhaps we should initiate a sub-thread and discuss the ramifications of dropping HS2 per se, but still seeking to address the capacity constraints between the Midlands and London. I personally do think there are alternatives involving a lot less "greenfields" investment, and a staged...

I was comparing the hyper-power being used in Europe (as cited by HSTEd) with what was realistic. I've read of instances of Class 87 (6000hp) suffering wheelslip on Shap at 100mph. My point was, just as you state, that what freight locos need is as much adhesion as outright power. So putting...

Page 2 didn't come up on my several attempts about 9-10 hours ago. Now I see it. It is a show-stopper as far as I am concerned. GE had better go away and try again if they want to sell these batteries in 200+ ton 6-axle hybrids for the North Amercian market. Durathon has just slipped off the...

25kV AC is a reasonable deterrent to cable thieves.

(1) No mention of a 4500 cycle life in those specs. (2) Why should delivering 6000hp from an ARRAY of batteries managed by traction electronics be any different to the output of a 4.5MW transformer/rectifier? (3) Lower hp, more tractive mass helps with starting trains and putting power on the...

You've quoted some quite specific numbers for the NaMh battery. Can you provide a link to your source? I have had my doubts about GE's status on these. They've been launched twice now. And I haven't spotted a tech spec on their site. I'm particularly interested in the claim of a 4500 full cycles...

AC: doesn't really require a "neutral" or earth, just a suitable capacitor. However, this could be complemented in a belt-and-braces approach by an "earth strap" (think the sort of "static" strap folk used to attach to their cars). On the guideway section, the straps would align with studs or...

Light, compact, long service life batteries now in production (see http://www.genewscenter.com/Press-Releases/GE-Demonstrates-Battery-Dominant-Fuel-Cell-Bus-Using-New-Durathon-Battery-3d0f.aspx). Used in conjunction with some Lithium batteries or KERS inductive flywheel units or Supercaps for...

And the reason it hasn't is that the FoCs are effectively subsidised through NR to compete with road haulage. The latest draft report from the ORR (http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/pr13/PDF/pr13-draft-determination.pdf) clearly addresses that. Track access charges for bulk commodities not competing...

Good gracious, the "ftr" is retro if I ever saw "retro". Think 1930s streamlining gone berserk. Useless design unless you're providing a free shuttle. Certainly no route bus. At some point, driver interaction is needed - to assist the unfamiliar, the disabled, etc. Bad to design it out. Makes...

Crikey HSTed, you seem to be building a Manchester system when the subject was a Leeds system which primarily offered travellers reduced travel time. Seeing as that was the FIRST objective of NGT, I'm suggesting it's the first outcome they want to achieve. The second and third objectives are...

No way, José. I'm talking about electric buses that get their power via any of a number of methods, but in this particular case - to support the legal lunacy - I'm suggesting stringing wires in non-sensitive straight-ish line sections, and letting a combination of batteries, KERS and supercaps...

1) London is about 25% of the UK economy. Like it or not. The London Commuter area holds roughly the same % of Britain's population. HS1 and HS2 point towards London. And the issue is connecting HS1 and HS2. How daft to complain about the focus of discussion being on London. 2) The reason the...