SprinterMan
Established Member
Sorry
What are you sorry for?
Sorry
Prickwillow Parkway sure does sound interesting but for station renames Witton to Villa Park would be top of my list
Oh, that's easy to answer!
It will start as coal mined in Poland, using a lot of diesel and electric plant, conveyed to port using a lot of diesel fuel, loaded into ships by diesel hoists, then carried by sea buring a lot of particularly crude/ dirty diesel, unloaded in the UK by electric hoists, carried across the UK by diesel locomotives, and dragged up into the boiler houses by electric motor. Meanwhile, the ships will return empty/ ballasted burning more of that dirty diesel.
But none of this ever stops people thinking that somehow 'electric is better'. The losses in electric power distribution alone are staggering.
Not that I have any objection to railway electrification; I just don't see that it brings much of the benefits that are popularly claimed. It will provide electricity suppliers with a high-useage committed customer, will provide electricity generators with choice over their raw fuel which their customers don't enjoy, and will tie rail operators into a single supply, both in terms of price and availability.
It will have doubtful impact on pollutants and efficiency when viewed globally.
Mass-electrification please. Given the threat of climate change, the governments current plans for a new order of Intercity DMUs (IEP) are totally unacceptable in my opinion.
Mass electrification.
I think gas is too useful a fuel to generate electricity. Good for boosting supplies at peak times though.
Schemes to secure available of power like a Severn Barrage should be seriously considered. Improve navigation on the Severn & extra road and or rail crossing
Go down like a lead balloon with conservationists.
France has a smaller one on the Rance http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rance_Tidal_Power_Station
Other locations, Wyre etc.
http://www.reuk.co.uk/Severn-Barrage-Tidal-Power.htm
I really think that a fleet of trains designed to run on diesel for relatively short distances away from wires would make such a negligible difference to CO2 Emissions as to be barely discernible.
Giving every EMU an auxiliary diesel motor for shunting purposes would be very cost-effective, as you wouldn't have to wire depots, turnbacks etc. So something truly tiny, enough to take the train at 10mph max, would do.
CAUTION: Topic Drift.
Ah, Shippea Hill... *Gets misty eyed*
Mind you, I took a trundle up the A11 on Sunday and had a bit of a jolt when I saw a sign for Eccles station. Do either of these stations get any regular trains? Perhaps I should add Spooner Row to the list.
O L Leigh