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Rapid-charging battery train trial launched (www.independent.co.uk)

submitted 8 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] [email protected] 13 points 8 months ago (2 children)

Makes me wonder if this is cheaper than refitting a train line with overhead wiring and if not possible, power rails.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Almost certainly not, expanding 2.5 miles of additional catenary or especially third rail really isn’t going to have that much of a cost compared to specialized rolling stock. It’s also worth noting that the longer the route the less practical it is just down to the scale of battery needed and time it wastes charging.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 8 months ago

Well, trials are there for a reason. Battery-only-powered trains could be a good idea or a bad idea.

Remember the trial project for overhead wiring for trucks on the motorway? It ran for a couple of years, and the end result was that it wasn't feasible, despite some interesting benefits. But if it weren't for the trial, some people would still think it was feasible, while others would think it was unfeasible.

I'm leaning more on the unfeasible side with this train, but let's just see what happens.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 8 months ago (1 children)

The article covered that. This is designed to be cheaper apparently....

[–] [email protected] 3 points 8 months ago

Thanks, glimpsed over that line too fast. So durability concerns are most likely the limiting factor, hence the trial run. If, say, the battery can't keep up wih continuously getting topped up and fails after a short time, it's impractical/expensive. But could be the other way around as well.