OmniCity999
Established Member
I've been doing a lot of thinking during lockdown as theres not much else to do...
After partaking in a few discussions elsewhere on this site about the electrification on The Forth Rail bridge and its challenges. I've had a couple ideas and I thought it would be a good basis for discussion.
Please bare in mind I'm not a railway professional in any sense of the word. I more often use the bus segment of this site as I work in the bus industry, however I do have family in the industry and have a basic understanding of it.
*It's previously been said there isnt enough headroom to fit overhead lines or conductor bar to the bridge and to do so may violate its listing and heritage status.
*It's also been said the idea of third rail had been investigated and as well as it being costly, it would prove difficult for earthing and the clearance between rail and the bridge deck was limited. On top of that, it would mean having a different type or should I say subtype of traction within the Scotrail fleet.
I personally believe the best option would be to add overhead lines between Edinburgh and Dalmeny and immediately north of the bridge to Dundee, plus Perth. Eventually paving the way for further electrification towards Inverness and Aberdeen. We'd then need to look into the idea of some sort of DEMU or BEMU.
Obviously it's not as simple as adding either batteries or an engine to a class 380 or 385. However, it could be possible for a unit to be designed that could run in electric mode anywhere on the electrified network and also run (pantograph down) over the bridge. Just like the Class 800, but with a more commuter style body, with the allowance to work in multiple.
Services could then continue around Fife and onto Perth, Dundee or Stirling/Dunblane.
Obviously now due to Covid-19 theres a very slim chance of this happening for a very long time - but it's still enjoyable to discuss.
*I have no quotes for this. However I remember reading it elsewhere on the forum.
After partaking in a few discussions elsewhere on this site about the electrification on The Forth Rail bridge and its challenges. I've had a couple ideas and I thought it would be a good basis for discussion.
Please bare in mind I'm not a railway professional in any sense of the word. I more often use the bus segment of this site as I work in the bus industry, however I do have family in the industry and have a basic understanding of it.
*It's previously been said there isnt enough headroom to fit overhead lines or conductor bar to the bridge and to do so may violate its listing and heritage status.
*It's also been said the idea of third rail had been investigated and as well as it being costly, it would prove difficult for earthing and the clearance between rail and the bridge deck was limited. On top of that, it would mean having a different type or should I say subtype of traction within the Scotrail fleet.
I personally believe the best option would be to add overhead lines between Edinburgh and Dalmeny and immediately north of the bridge to Dundee, plus Perth. Eventually paving the way for further electrification towards Inverness and Aberdeen. We'd then need to look into the idea of some sort of DEMU or BEMU.
Obviously it's not as simple as adding either batteries or an engine to a class 380 or 385. However, it could be possible for a unit to be designed that could run in electric mode anywhere on the electrified network and also run (pantograph down) over the bridge. Just like the Class 800, but with a more commuter style body, with the allowance to work in multiple.
Services could then continue around Fife and onto Perth, Dundee or Stirling/Dunblane.
Obviously now due to Covid-19 theres a very slim chance of this happening for a very long time - but it's still enjoyable to discuss.
*I have no quotes for this. However I remember reading it elsewhere on the forum.