Could Refurbished, Lightweight and repurposed Trains lead to reopenings?

[Jorge Da Silva]

What are your thoughts on this? Could it lead to some more lines reopened, DfT seems to think so.

The use of lightweight, refreshed and re-purposed vehicles could strengthen the case for reopening disused lines, according to the Department for Transport.

In its Rolling Stock Perspective Fourth Edition, published on October 25, the DfT highlights the hydrogen-powered Class 321s from Alstom, Vivarail’s hybrid Class 230s, and Angel Trains’ Class 165 HyDrive trains (RAIL 862).

“These vehicles…offered to the market at competitive rates, could strengthen the case for the reopening of disused lines,” it says.

“As the demand for housing and business premises that are well-connected to the main line increases, the reopening of these old alignments would invigorate local services.”

The DfT has also called for measures to be put in place to reduce pollution at source, suggesting auto engine stop-start software, electric launch systems and station shore supplies could all be used during long dwell periods.

DfT adds: “We expect train owners and manufacturers to further develop proposals to convert their existing or future diesel trains to bi-mode or use an alternative energy source to diesel.”

The taskforce created to investigate the decarbonisation of the railways by 2040 (RAIL 847) will follow up its initial findings next year, with a final report incorporating an economic appraisal and route map to deliver its recommendations.

 

[Bletchleyite]

They've got to get the things running on non-reopened lines first!

 

[swt_passenger]

deleted

 

[squizzler]

We couldn't possibly meet the demand for new connectivity with new trains running on new lines could we?

Aside from the certain poetic symmetry of them being used on "refreshed an repurposed" old alignments, I don't know why such trains should be exclusively for "re-openings". On the contrary, "lightweight, refreshed and repurposed" are suitable for launching any new secondary services, whether its right-of-way has in the past been a railway or whether it is a brand new alignment.

 

[JayDee]

The Revolution VLR is supposed to do this as well with a sub million pound price tag and very light weight design.

Also see "HS2" and the endless NIMBY whinging as to why pushing an old alignment is usually the path of least resistance.

 

[Halifaxlad]

I think this might be a precursor to a few projects the DFT is working on.

Especially Skipton to Colne, that unless it is electrified then services will most likely have to terminate at Skipton, instead of putting in a loop to allow freight services from Grassington to pass I suspect they might just offer to put the junction back in up the line and run trains to Embsay.

 

[30907]

Especially Skipton to Colne, that unless it is electrified then services will most likely have to terminate at Skipton, instead of putting in a loop to allow freight services from Grassington to pass I suspect they might just offer to put the junction back in up the line and run trains to Embsay.

Nice for the YDR to have, but I can't see any point in NR running to Embsay. Easier to use the Down Loop at Skipton once or twice a day.