Electrification_bene...
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For years there has been discussion on the feasibility of electrifying the missing parts of the local rail network to allow electric trains to use the North Downs Line. There has been a number of issues, awaiting updated signalling, 3rd Rail is not safe compared with overhead wires, other priorities. The recent issues with getting replacement stock using complex electric/diesel rebuilt trains is just the most recent failed attempt to upgrade the services.
The Railways industry Association has produced a short paper highlighting why electrification of our rail network is important. The Railways Industry Association highlights that rail electrification provides a more efficient, higher-performing railway, with lower life cycle costs and the additional benefit of decarbonising rail traction.
The paper (which we attach below) claims that electric traction is:
Affordable – over a 30-year vehicle life the total purchase, maintenance, and traction energy costs of electric trains are £2 to £3 million per vehicle less than diesel or hybrid equivalents.
Reliable – electric trains are between 40% and 300% more reliable than diesel trains.
Energy Efficient - Being almost three times more energy-efficient than Diesel or Hydrogen. Only electric trains can recover energy from braking (regenerative braking) and feed it back into the grid or directly to nearby trains, recovering between 8% and 30% of the train’s energy consumption
Reduce Journey Times and Increased Capacity - Electric trains can accelerate faster than diesel ones, reducing journey time and increasing the number of trains that can use a line in an hour increaseing capacity
Longer And Faster Freight Trains - Electric freight trains are cheaper to operate, have more powerful electric locomotives which enables faster, longer, heavier trains with obvious commercial and network benefits.
Less Maintenance - Electrification once installed is a fixed asset requiring minimal maintenance, compared with the infrastructure required to refuel diesel stock..
Better for the Environment - The estimated carbon payback period for electrification is four years. This will be even shorter when more electricity is generated by renewables. As electric trains mainly use their motors for braking, this reduces harmful particulates from brakes and they are significantly quieter.
Proven Technology - Electric trains are simple and cheap to build, with no inbuilt power plant, far fewer moving parts, and a mature competitive market.
Future Proof - There is no more efficient way to power a train than feeding electricity directly from wires/third rail to a train’s motors. Electricity can be sourced from a diversified grid fed by renewables, further reducing the impact of climate change.
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