Environmental impact of not electrifying the GWML

[gallafent]

Batteries are charged using electricity and hydrogen can be made by electrolysis of (passing electricity through) water so both offer the same fuel-independence as stringing up wires above the track.

There's an interesting comparison to be made regarding end-to-end efficiency between the two (and indeed with fixed infrastructure electrification).

 

[TractiveEffort]

It might be handy if you provide some evidence, rather than just “I reckon”.

It would take a study with access to more information than I have available. When the 802’s are running in diesel, they are dynamic braking, not regen, so just burning off all the energy as heat. When any set is running under the wires, if the voltage is at a level that they can’t accept the regen from the train, it will either divert it to the resistors or switch to friction braking.