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95
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All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: Vivarail chosen for fast charging trial on the Greenford branch
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on: February 18, 2022, 18:29:36
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The one thing I can't source explicitly is whether the new batteries are around 100 kWh capacity, like the initial ones. I think they are; I just can't work out where I saw that. But that's not all used; they are operated between 20% and 80% charge by agreement with Hoppecke. The bottom 20% is "get you home" reserve, but how can the top 20% be used as a reserve? My guess is that as they get older the upper limit of charge is allowed to go up to keep the same working range of 60 kWh. I imagine the 80% is too allow for regenerative braking, if for example the unit has been charged at the top of a hill. |
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98
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All across the Great Western territory / Buses and other ways to travel / Re: Bristol Airport
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on: February 15, 2022, 17:27:25
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The big difference is that Bristol Airport is being pushed by a private company with finance available and all of the detailed planning BCRs▸ etc were done behind closed doors.
With railways the funding comes from HMG and all the planning is done in public with far more opportunities for query and delay. I suspect that in full GWR▸ days Portishead would have been far faster.
I suppose a private project doesn't need to fiddle the BCRs like projects such as MetroBust had to do to get the money. If it flops, it flops, and in this case a lot of Canadian pensioners will not get quite the rise they were expecting next year. On the other hand, I am sure I am not alone in paying the closest possible attention when I am spending my own money rather than that belonging to a constituency that could vote me out of power next year. Any pension fund, home or abroad, would be just as careful. I agree that they will be as careful, but they will not publicise the BCR and will not show their plans until it has passed internal tests such as the BCR. |
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99
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All across the Great Western territory / Buses and other ways to travel / Re: Bristol Airport
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on: February 15, 2022, 17:08:24
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The again delayed reopening of Tavistock railway station and the line thereto was reported on local TV news yesterday, 13/02/2022. The latest delay was contrasted to the expansion of Bristol airport.
It was suggested that airport expansion could be "pushed through" but that railway re-opening was "delayed as long as possible" Certainly seems an interesting view of actual transport priorities.
The big difference is that Bristol Airport is being pushed by a private company with finance available and all of the detailed planning BCRs▸ etc were done behind closed doors. With railways the funding comes from HMG and all the planning is done in public with far more opportunities for query and delay. I suspect that in full GWR▸ days Portishead would have been far faster. |
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101
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All across the Great Western territory / The Wider Picture Overseas / Re: OTD - 3rd Feb 2004 - First passenger train to Darwin on the Ghan
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on: February 03, 2022, 17:14:34
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In 1969 I took the overnight train from Brocken Hill to Sydney. This was shortly before the current standard gauge line was opened. The train could have come for the western US in the 1880s. Heating was provided by a hot brick wrapped in a blanket and the only way to change carriages was to step between the open carriage ends over the couplings. The view from the carriage end over the outback was terrific.
I would love to do the Ghan but doubt I ever will. I have seen TV programmes on it.
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105
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Journey by Journey / South Western services / Re: South Western Railways - reductions west of Salisbury
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on: January 27, 2022, 17:03:44
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Two months ago, SWR» ran around 15 trains a day from Exeter to London, and around 3 trains a day from Bristol to London. Now they run just one a day (at 05:09) from Exeter to London, and none at all from Bristol.
Has the combination of SWR, the DfT» and Covid succeeded where Beeching and British Rail (Western Region) failed in making GWR▸ the only rail route from London to the West? Is the next step the "localisation" of the Salisbury operation as part of a greater Wessex regional organisation, covering southern Wessex lines and with trains running to the boundary of third rail territory, from where London passengers will change into the electric trains of the South West Home Counties operation?
I overheard an interesting conversation a few days back. There is absolutely no firm evidence to back up the comments, so it is probably just 'wibble' to be taken with rather more than just a pinch of salt, but it would not surprise me if there is a tiny element of correct speculation. The comments were essentially that GWR would take over Exeter to Axminster services completely with SWR running Gillingham to Basingstoke. Two trains (one Up and one Down) per day would run from Exeter to Salisbury to enable the line to remain open for diversionary purposes. I sincerely hope it never comes to that, but I do fear a repeat of the mid-1960s now that one company has control over both routes to the westcountry. Should this be referred to the Competition and Markets Authority in view of their comments when First Group took over the SW Trains franchise. |
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