SWR 158 / 159 replacements?

Surrey 455

Hero Member

Posts: 1230

SWR 158 / 159 replacements?

« on: October 23, 2022, 21:29:09 »

This popped up in my Google News feed.

From Rail Magazine

Quote

South Western Railway intends to replace its Class 158 and ‘159’ diesel multiple unit (DMU^▸ ) fleets by 2030 with an “innovative self-power solution” such as battery (which could include lineside rapid recharging points) or hydrogen.

Outlining plans to achieve ‘net zero’ by 2040, SWR^» observed that its current DMU fleet, comprising 110 vehicles, is 30 years old and will need “significant investment” in the next five to ten years.

The operator said that reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2040 is dependent on a range of external factors, including: government funding; policy commitments to decarbonise the National Grid and electrify the rail network; investment and innovation in rolling stock technology; and action from the wider value chain.


	Logged

Clan Line

Hero Member

Posts: 864

Re: SWR 158 / 159 replacements?

« Reply #1 on: October 25, 2022, 09:07:05 »

I hope "net zero" doesn't apply to the legroom again !


	Logged

eightonedee

Transport Scholar
Hero Member

Posts: 1538

Re: SWR 158 / 159 replacements?

« Reply #2 on: October 25, 2022, 22:49:58 »

Quote

South Western Railway intends to replace its Class 158 and ‘159’ diesel multiple unit (DMU^▸ ▸ ) fleets by 2030 with an “innovative self-power solution” such as battery (which could include lineside rapid recharging points) or hydrogen.

Hmmm....it will be interested to see what such "solution" turns out to be. Will the new GBR^▸ be able (capable?) of procuring a reliable standard product from one or more of the suppliers of rolling stock, suitable for operating to cover gaps in either third rail or OHL^▸ electric networks throughout the country? This seems the only realistic way of meeting this aspiration.

The current state of public finances does not look promising for pushing ahead with the optimum solution of electrification of all the mainline and secondary rail network, sadly.


	Logged

broadgage

Transport Scholar
Hero Member

Posts: 5416

Re: SWR 158 / 159 replacements?

« Reply #3 on: October 26, 2022, 03:18:51 »

I suspect that any new trains to replace the existing fleet will be some hugely expensive and unreliable TRI-mode units with batteries, diesel engines, and third rail capability.

"Flexible train length" which is rail speak for shorter.
"comparable" leg room, which is rail speak for slightly worse.

And of course catering similar to that provided at present, i.e. none.

When half of the new trains fail to work, provide a connecting service via Basingstoke, as a "temporary" measure.

Must be worse than IETs^▸ , this is called progress.


	Logged

A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU^▸ is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.

Do you have something you would like to add to this thread, or would you like to raise a new question at the Coffee Shop? Please [register] (it is free) if you have not done so before, or login (at the top of this page) if you already have an account - we would love to read what you have to say!

You can find out more about how this forum works [here] - that will link you to a copy of the forum agreement that you can read before you join, and tell you very much more about how we operate. We are an independent forum, provided and run by customers of Great Western Railway, for customers of Great Western Railway and we welcome railway professionals as members too, in either a personal or official capacity. Views expressed in posts are not necessarily the views of the operators of the forum.

As well as posting messages onto existing threads, and starting new subjects, members can communicate with each other through personal messages if they wish. And once members have made a certain number of posts, they will automatically be admitted to the "frequent posters club", where subjects not-for-public-domain are discussed; anything from the occasional rant to meetups we may be having ...

Pages: [1]

« previous next »