The ultra-light passenger rail vehicle (“Revolution Very Light Rail” or RVLR) with a composite body and a maximum axle load of eight tons has been under development since 2014 by a consortium of seven UK companies. Along with Eversholt Rail and TDI, the consortium also includes Warwick Manufacturing Group from the University of Warwick, the UK Railway Safety and Standards Board, diesel engine manufacturer Cummins and others, according to rollingstockword.com.
An alternative on routes with low passenger flow
RVLR is expected to become a more cost-effective alternative to conventional rolling stock on rail lines with low passenger traffic.
The new vehicle, also known as a rail bus, will reportedly be built using a modular vehicle assembly approach. This means that the vehicle can be both battery-powered and hybrid with a diesel-electric powertrain. Various layouts are available for passenger service and even one for cargo with additional loading and unloading doors.
The vehicle ordered by Eversholt Rail will be battery operated only. The battery will be able to be charged on the go with a specially designed fast charging system using the contact rail. All three vehicles will be built at TDI’s plant in the Midlands. Their assembly will begin in 2024, and the first railway vehicle – a rail bus – will be put into operation in 2026.
Will try it on routes with passengers
Eversholt Rail and TDI are currently in talks with the UK’s main rail operators to agree possible routes for passenger trials of the new vehicles.
During the trials, passengers and operators will be introduced to the design and capabilities of the RVLR. With the actual data on economy and passenger flows obtained at this stage, a long-term strategy for the introduction and operation of such vehicles will be developed.
The first RVLR hybrid prototype has already been built
The first RVLR prototype was built in 2021 and tested for two years on a disused access road in the West Midlands. The 18.5 meter long vehicle weighs 24.8 tons. To reduce its weight, the ends and roof are made of aluminum and reinforced composite, while the side panels are made of carbon fiber. These body panels are mounted on a welded steel chassis and are easily replaceable.
The underframe, or undercarriage, consists of proven Wabtec-manufactured LN25 bogies for freight cars and is lightened by Lucchini-manufactured wheelsets with hollow shafts, smaller diameter wheels and carbon fiber drive shafts.
The prototype is a diesel-electric hybrid powered by two six-cylinder Cummins automotive diesel engines that meet the Euro 6 environmental standard and two lithium-titanate battery cells, each with a capacity of 30 kWh. The maximum speed of the vehicle is 104 km/h in diesel mode and 32 km/h in battery mode.
The cabin has 56 seats, a place for a wheelchair passenger, two air conditioners, USB sockets for charging personal mobile devices.
There are other projects in the UK
TDI has developed a variety of battery-powered rail vehicles, including for private use.
In 2021, the company participated in the development of another very light rail vehicle prototype, which is able to drive on the lightest possible track and negotiate curves with a radius of 15 m.
At the beginning of last year, the project received a state grant of 81.3 million euros and continued testing on a new test track in the city of Dudley in autumn. The first railway passenger line served by such vehicles is planned to open in 2026 in the UK city of Coventry.
Latvia is also planning to purchase battery electric trains
On January 9 of this year, the Government of Latvia approved the Cabinet of Ministers regulations prepared by the Ministry of Transport, which determine the funding available for the purchase of zero-emission trains (battery electric trains) and the conditions for the implementation of the project. The purchase of battery electric trains is planned under the cohesion policy program of the European Union (EU) 2021-2027. within the year, informs the Communication Department of the Ministry of Transport.
The total available funding is 21,287,963 euros, including EU fund funding of 18,094,768 euros and national funding of 3,193,195 euros. The purchase of at least two new battery electric trains with 180 seats in each electric train is planned.
“Battery electric trains will be purchased in order to strengthen the role of railways as the backbone of public transport by developing emission-free railway infrastructure, as well as improving the quality and availability of passenger transport. Also, better integration of passenger rail transport in the overall public transport system of the city of Riga will be ensured.
Battery electric trains will provide passenger transportation on non-electrified lines, thus improving the quality of the provided services, the level of comfort, making it more accessible and pleasant for residents. Their advantages will also be felt by those living near the railway tracks, because such modern trains are quieter and pollute the environment less,” SM praises the advantages of these vehicles.
Additional information on battery trains
Battery electric trains are equipped with battery or battery technology, which allows them to run both on electrified lines, using electricity from the contact network, and on non-electrified lines, where they use energy stored in batteries.
Their advantages – large investments are not required when electrifying lines with low traffic intensity, and at the same time it is an environmentally friendly solution. By purchasing battery trains and modernizing the railway infrastructure, it is planned to gradually replace the old diesel trains.
A battery train can travel 80 to 100 km on a non-electrified railway line without recharging, after which the train needs a battery charge. This can be ensured by creating charging stations where the batteries can be charged for a maximum of 25 minutes. Also, the batteries are charged while the train is traveling along the electrified sections, so electrified areas must be created on longer non-electrified routes to cover the entire length of the route.
2024-01-11 03:15:06
#plans #introduce #batterypowered #trams #rail #buses
