Will there be any new freight locos that are tunnel compliant?

[Harlequinuk]

Will there be any new freight locos that are tunnel compliant? Can battery bi mode be compliant?

 

[TheWierdOne]

Will there be any new freight locos that are tunnel compliant? Can battery bi mode be compliant?

I’m not sure the channel tunnel safety authority would be too jazzed about the fire risk of batteries, given the history of fires in the tunnel.

 

[Richard Scott]

I’m not sure the channel tunnel safety authority would be too jazzed about the fire risk of batteries, given the history of fires in the tunnel.

Expect plenty of hybrid and electric cars go through every day?

 

[StephenHunter]

Expect plenty of hybrid and electric cars go through every day?

Not with their engines on, though.

 

[AdamWW]

Not with their engines on, though.

More to the point, not charging their batteries.

Maybe it depends on whether the bimode in question can run on overhead power without using surplus power to charge batteries.

 

[Sorcerer]

Even if battery bi-mode units were compliant, why would you run a train on battery under the wires? It's hardly economical considering that batteries were designed to let trains run off electrified routes, and the Channel Tunnel is not only electrified, but it's overhead lines power Le Shuttle locos that pull half-mile formations filled with heavy goods vehicles. Eurostar's new trains will probably draw even less power than the current ones if they ever get certified.

 

[Richard Scott]

Not with their engines on, though.

No would a train run with engines on, nor would there be any need to charge batteries.

 

[Harlequinuk]

Run under the wires with the battery electronically isolated , use battery when needed outside of wires and not in tunnel.

 

[43096]

No would a train run with engines on, nor would there be any need to charge batteries.

There’s no need for anything other than a straight electric loco through the tunnel.

 

[zwk500]

Why should we care what Jon Worth thinks. He's got zero railway engineering experience: "I am not really a typical railway person. I do not work for a railway operator or a manufacturer, and I have never worked for a transport ministry. My background is in European Union political communication, not railways."

His analysis is not completely irrelevant - this is a regulatory issue not an engineering one. However, he does seem to not be privy to anything that isn't in the public domain, so any conclusions he reaches as to the viability of anything should be treated with a pinch of salt that he has zero railway operating or engineering experience directly. He has spoken to a lot of railway people since starting his blog though, so don't dismiss him as completely uninformed.

Reading through the document and following the citations, the issue of the space between the doors and doors lining up with accesses to the Service tunnel seems to be an operating procedure of the Channel Tunnel, not a regulatory requirement. It would therefore be for the CTSA and Eurostar to agree a new Operating Procedure for the Avelia Horizon. Quite different from the Horizon not meeting interoperability regulations.

I’m not sure the channel tunnel safety authority would be too jazzed about the fire risk of batteries, given the history of fires in the tunnel.

The fire survivability requirements for new rolling stock are clearly published.

There’s no need for anything other than a straight electric loco through the tunnel.

No, but at either end the loco may want to go onto non-electrified track. A Battery-Electric loco would also allow for self-rescue in the event of a power failure or isolation in the tunnel.

 

[43096]

No, but at either end the loco may want to go onto non-electrified track. A Battery-Electric loco would also allow for self-rescue in the event of a power failure or isolation in the tunnel.

The idea of running through at the English end is absolutely pointless - it's not been achieved to any real extent in the 30 years since the tunnel opened. Much better would be to run standard European electric locos (Vectron, TRAXX, Euro 6000 or whatever) through to Dollands Moor and change locos there. Far cheaper than a small production run of highly customised locos to UK gauge.

 

[Harlequinuk]

Reason i mention the Battery locos is the Nexrail Panto-Battery Hybrids of the Euro9000 and Stadler are rolling out the battery version of the EuroDual to Norway and Switzerland

https://a.storyblok.com/f/269997/x/6c89da103d/eurodual_en.pdf

 

[Amalie]

The idea of running through at the English end is absolutely pointless - it's not been achieved to any real extent in the 30 years since the tunnel opened. Much better would be to run standard European electric locos (Vectron, TRAXX, Euro 6000 or whatever) through to Dollands Moor and change locos there. Far cheaper than a small production run of highly customised locos to UK gauge.

A lot of the standard European electric locs also offer bi-mode versions with diesel which should be alright for emergency purposes.