The Gov, assuming you mean the UK government, seems to be trying to do as little as possible. Its policy on decarbonisation seems to be one of doublethink. It's really satisfying to see the Scots sticking to the promises in their 2020 policy.I'm genuinely surprised by some of these time frames, Especially with the electrification to Tweedbank. It's genuinely better than what the Gov is doing.
My strong impression on Tweedbank is that they will wire it from the south end northwards. That way, they'll probably only need to do a few miles initially to allow battery trains to operate the line. Enabling them to top up at both ends is much better than wiring from the north only.
OS mapping shows an agglomeration of existing overhead grid lines near the crossing of the Tweed between Tweedbank and Galashiels stations, making it presumably an excellent site for a feeder station.
The current expectation is that these lines and the Stranraer line will get hydrogen trains (though with eventual electrification to Tain and Girvan) but I imagine it will be quite a few years before their specification needs to be finalised.I noticed that it is intended to eventually withdraw all of the Sprinters and 170s.
Has anything been mentioned of bimode/battery stock for the West Highland and the lines north of Inverness, and will it be designed as scenic stock in conjunction with for example the Shrewsbury - Swansea via Llandovery line?
I think one of the video lectures that have been posted included a slide saying that electrification of the Maryhill line has been put back.Also, there seems to be no mention of the Maryhill Park line receiving wires to Anniesland and Westerton, and for a short stretch Craigendoran Junction - Helensburgh Upper either. This would be handy for the West Highland as trains can change mode at Helensburgh Upper as well as to/from the RETB signalling system rather than in the loop at Craigendoran so as to avoid blocking the Edinburgh trains as it is single track to /from Helensburgh Central.
A review of the programme is due in spring next year. We'll probably see more details then, if not earlier.
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