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Sideshoots - associated subjects / Campaigns for new and improved services / Re: Portishead Line reopening for passengers - ongoing discussion
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on: January 19, 2019, 08:26:40 pm
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When Bath's Two Tunnels project was in its design phase, I seem to remember something close to uproar when this issue of bats was raised. Then it turned out that all was necessary was a good lighting design that pointed the light away from the tunnel roof, and everyone was happy. I suspect that something similar will transpire in the Avon Gorge: 'tread softly, for you appear to be thinking of building a gabion wall on my sorbus wilmottiana...'
It was disappointing, though perhaps not surprising, that some (very few, thankfully) people at the FOSBR meeting seemed to be trying to turn this into an example of Eurocratic madness - as though we'd be following some other set of rules in a post-Brexit world!
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Sideshoots - associated subjects / Campaigns for new and improved services / Re: Portishead Line reopening for passengers - ongoing discussion
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on: January 19, 2019, 06:35:47 pm
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... 2. There is an issue with conservation and law changes in the gorge - case law from a Northern Ireland fresh water mussel thing under European law which, however, was largely written by the UK team in Europe, and stays. Something about "no you can't build / improve there - look at alternatives" then "oh, isn't there an alternative, then we can give you special permission provided you put mitigation in place". Not been able to find anything on Google - closets is http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-1379... The species referred to is, I think, the freshwater pearl mussel. My googlings suggest that they are seriously endangered, with the remaining population concentrated in a few places in Ireland. Of course we don't have any of these in the Avon Gorge, but it is home to 24 rare and two unique (as in they exist nowhere else on earth) plant species, along with some rare invertebrates. In this time of mass-extinctions we can get a bit blasé when just one more species disappears for ever; to paraphrase Stalin 'a single extinction is a tragedy, a million extinctions is a statistic'. I'm as keen as anyone to see passenger trains return to Portishead, but I do think it is absolutely right to make sure that it is done in a way which minimises any impact on the special ecosystem they will pass through. |
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All across the Great Western territory / The Wider Picture Overseas / Re: Delay scarf
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on: January 18, 2019, 11:06:09 am
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...grey wool meant her delay had been less than five minutes, pink signified delays of between five and 30 minutes... In the land of Grey and Pink Where only boy scouts stop to think They'll be coming back again Those nasty grumbly grimlies And they're climbing down your chimney Yes, they're trying to get in Come to take your money Isn't it a sin They're so thin? Happy days. Caravan were once quite big in the semi-professional Canterbury area prog-rock scene... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0NfCj8zcR8 |
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All across the Great Western territory / Who's who on Western railways / Re: Transport secretary - on subjects beyond transport
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on: January 17, 2019, 06:43:42 pm
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Like the reference to the Adonis family in this thread.
Chris Grayling is a shoe-in for Uncle Fester with his insane tinkering and failed mistakes. Morticia May should be smoking all the time, while Lurch could well be Philip Hammond in disguise. Thing could be Boris in disguise ( whoop whoop!)while Michael Gove is sufficiently weird in appearance and manner, to play himself.
Rees-Mogg would fit in rather well as... well, a new character; perhaps a locum butler called 'Rees-Mogg'..? |
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All across the Great Western territory / The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom / Re: Alstom and Eversholt to hydrogenate class 321s
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on: January 16, 2019, 12:39:01 pm
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The problem with gas on trains in the past has been what happens in an accident if the tanks or connecting pipes are ruptured in an accident. Was it Quintinshill where we learnt that lesson? And are we now to forget it?
I think the problem with Pintsch gas was that it was heavier than air, and thus sank into the wreckage until it found a source of ignition. Hydrogen on the other hand stands a decent chance of floating away harmlessly. Doesn't make hydrogen trains any less pointless, but it does make them sound a bit safer! |
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All across the Great Western territory / Looking forward - 2019 to 2045 / Re: WECA Alphabet Soup
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on: January 15, 2019, 04:54:16 pm
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I've finally found JLTP4, for those who are interested in this kind of thing: https://westofengland-ca.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s702/13b%20-%20Draft%20West%20of%20England%20Joint%20Local%20Transport%20Plan%20Nov%202018.pdfSome juicy bits: Building on MetroWest, we want to see 15 minute turn up and go services; the Clifton Down to Bath Spa route could be the first to benefit from this. Future expansion could see turn up and go services between Bristol Temple Meads and Henbury, Yate, Portishead and Weston-super-Mare.
During the life of JLTP4, we will consider extending services beyond Henbury and new stations to support the JSP at Charfield (1,200 homes), St Annes Park, Saltford, Ashton Gate and Constable Road, and new links to Thornbury and Bristol Airport. We will also work with planning colleagues to review the need to safeguard disused rail lines where they could have a future role to play.
We want to transform suburban rail services in the West of England with new and high frequency turn up and go services, new lines and new stations. Stations will be brought up to a new high standard with improved passenger facilities and levels of accessibility, making them step free to enable all passengers to travel by train. Modern ticketing, fully integrated with local bus services, will make all journeys seamless.
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All across the Great Western territory / The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom / Re: Alstom and Eversholt to hydrogenate class 321s
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on: January 15, 2019, 12:57:44 pm
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There's an article about these trains in Rail 870... but I wouldn't rush out to buy it on the strength of that.
The issue of energy density (referred to in Bmblbzzz's post) needs consideration: ICE power plants are typically around 20% efficient (YMMV), whilst fuel cells are around 35%; batteries on the other hand are around 99% efficient - so when comparing energy density, you need to bear in mind how much of that energy is going to make it to the electric motor.
I still don't get why anyone is investing in this technology. Is it something to do with the fact that PPE courses don't contain a 'simple applied physics' module?
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