"No new DMU orders in CP5"

[Xenophon PCDGS]

The matter of rail in the north of England has received some good analysis coverage in the October 2014 issue of Modern Railways.

 

[cjmillsnun]

Because we have a different guage which means compliant diesel don't fit in our stock but can fit in the European guage. Thats the basic different and why Europe continues to order DMU's while we can't.

I really am sure a UK spec compliant DMU can be built, and that a compliant engine can be put in an existing UK spec DMU. You're talking moving some ancillaries. The problem is cost over a comparatively small fleet, not that it can't be done.

 

[Manchester77]

Once our current fleet of DMUs is exhausted then I'd imagine some kind of review would take place as to which lines are candidates for wiring and which will remain DMU operated. Then a fleet of DMUs can be ordered for the routes which need them thus meaning that the costs are lower since you'd be ordering a high number of DMUs for the UK.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Once our current fleet of DMUs is exhausted then I'd imagine some kind of review would take place as to which lines are candidates for wiring and which will remain DMU operated. Then a fleet of DMUs can be ordered for the routes which need them thus meaning that the costs are lower since you'd be ordering a high number of DMUs for the UK.

There is the not inconsiderable matter of the date of the "DMU exhaustion" and the time period when the new DMU fleet actually entering into service, noting the liking for leaving matters as late as possible in that respect.

 

[AM9]

Once our current fleet of DMUs is exhausted then I'd imagine some kind of review would take place as to which lines are candidates for wiring and which will remain DMU operated. Then a fleet of DMUs can be ordered for the routes which need them thus meaning that the costs are lower since you'd be ordering a high number of DMUs for the UK.

I would expect new developments such as hybrid energy traction systems to be more viable by the end of CP6. If off-wire running with batteries gives sufficient range then a lot of newer DMUs currently committed can be released for those routes that won't be wired.
Then there's the other type of hybrid, - electro-diesels. If compliant engines with useful power can't effectively be fitted underfloor, there is scope for hybrid DEMUs for longer off wire working or even battery DEMUs where the route would allow a small helper engine to keep batteries charged during cruise parts of journeys and the battery stored energy would give useful acceleration from stops.
Further out there could be hydrogen fuelled engines that could stay well within future permitted emission limits yet having similar flexibility to conventional diesel powered stock.

 

[Class377/5]

I really am sure a UK spec compliant DMU can be built, and that a compliant engine can be put in an existing UK spec DMU. You're talking moving some ancillaries. The problem is cost over a comparatively small fleet, not that it can't be done.

Possibly, not that anyone thinks the cost is worth it in the industry as no-one wants to fund new DMUs bar the class 278 proposal.

 

[IanXC]

Possibly, not that anyone thinks the cost is worth it in the industry as no-one wants to fund new DMUs bar the class 278 proposal.

Class 278 proposal?

 

[Suraggu]

Class 278 proposal?

Former D78 London Underground stock with a proposal to convert them to diesel multiple units.

It seems a bit of a non starter with various issues cropping up and crashworthyness is one of the biggest ones.

 

[Olaf]

There is the not inconsiderable matter of the date of the "DMU exhaustion" and the time period when the new DMU fleet actually entering into service, noting the liking for leaving matters as late as possible in that respect.

The RDG has looked at the requirement for new DMUs and updated their plans, but so far there is still no significant need for them.

 

[pemma]

Class 278 proposal?

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=103488

 

[IanXC]

Former D78 London Underground stock with a proposal to convert them to diesel multiple units.

It seems a bit of a non starter with various issues cropping up and crashworthyness is one of the biggest ones.

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=103488

Thanks - I'd not heard it called that!