Campaign to Electrify Britain's Railway

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Campaign to Electrify Britain's Railway (CEBR) is an internet-based campaign group formed in 2018 whose aim is to convince the government to completely electrify the British Railway network. Its slogan is "Down with Dirty Diesel." The campaign promotes a rolling programme of electrification, which it considers essential to improve UK railways and help to decarbonise transport. It collaborates with groups such as the Railway Industry Association,[1] Rail Delivery Group, Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education,[2] Campaign for Better Transport,[3] Institute of Electrical Engineers[4] and the Permanent Way Institution.[5] The group has given evidence to the Transport Select Committee. Huw Merriman the committee chair at the time, put it writing he agreed with their view.[6] Merriman was appointed as Minister of State for Rail and HS2 in October 2022.[7][8] The desire to achieve net zero carbon in transport has increased calls for electrification.

Origins[edit]

The CEBR manifesto states: "The UK has suffered from too many boom and bust infrastructure projects. A steady, planned, rolling programme will reduce costs, speed up journey times, create more seats on more reliable trains and ultimately reduce ticket prices." The group staged a protest on top of Snowdon in 2018.[9] In July 2019, the final report of the rail decarbonisation project was published by the group.[10]

2012 Department for Transport plans for UK rail electrification by 2019 including MML electrification and Electric Spine (yellow/green).
Newly installed overhead electrification into Manchester Victoria station, in October 2015

Main organisational goals[edit]

Many, but not all, diesel trains use only friction brakes (as do cars and trucks) to slow or stop the train. This wears the discs and pads, introducing particulates into the atmosphere. Electric trains predominantly use the motors in regeneration mode to slow the train, producing almost zero particulates. The technology does not yet exist to stop the train completely.[11] Using this technology would improve the health of the nation but in particular for people who live closer to the railway. In addition, regenerative braking saves energy and is more efficient and thus helps the low-carbon economy. Diesel trains also generate soot and particulates from the engines, often clearly visible in the air. Electrification vastly reduces or even eliminates this problem, thus bringing cleaner and healthier air.[12]

Geopolitics[edit]

Electric power can be sourced from a diversified grid and thus reduce the effects of oil and geopolitics. Petroleum and petroleum-based products were used as a weapon after the Yom Kippur War, quadrupling the price of oil after an OPEC embargo.[13] In 2000, the fuel protests in the United Kingdom virtually crippled UK transport and left transport agencies only a day away from bringing the diesel railway to a standstill.[14][15][16] The rate of electrification in Britain is often compared to overseas and many acknowledge it is a geopolitical and resource issue as petroleum is a finite resource.[17] In addition, the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine highlighted issues with regards to countries being dependent on hydrocarbons from other countries with embargo risks.

Railway electrification in Great Britain[edit]

Main article: Railway electrification in Great Britain

Railway electrification in Great Britain started in the late 19th century. After World War II and the nationalisation of the railways in 1948 and the 1955 Modernisation Plan, electrification commenced in earnest.[18] After a pause, the West Coast Main Line north of Weaver Junction to just south of Glasgow was electrified between 1970 and 1974. Small amounts of the rail system then followed, with more electrification occurring in the 1980s, including the East Coast Main Line.[19]

From the mid-1990s to late 2000s, electrification of the network stalled. In 2009, Lord Adonis was appointed Secretary of State for Transport. After a gap of more than a decade, electrification was back on the agenda[20] and Adonis announced plans to electrify the Great Western Main Line from London as far as Swansea, as well as infill electrification schemes in the North West of England.[21] In July 2012 the UK coalition government announced new electrification schemes, all at 25 kV AC, and reconfirmed schemes previously announced by Adonis. Devolved rail transport in Scotland has allowed the Scottish government to pursue electrification with multiple schemes in the Central Belt. This has been followed up by a further commitment to a low carbon economy and a modal shift to enable it.[22] The 2009 government document was refreshed in January 2015.[23]

However, electrification has not been without controversy, with cost overruns and late-running schemes, particularly on the Great Western Main Line. This led to cancellations of projects[24] and various appearances of the Secretary of State for Transport called before the Transport Select Committee.[25] Shortly after this, Campaign to Electrify Britain's Railway was launched to try and mitigate the boom and bust cycle.

Future railway electrification in Great Britain[edit]

Main article: Proposed railway electrification in Great Britain

The UK government aims to decarbonize all rail transport by 2040, a measure that has broad parliamentary support.[26][27] In September 2019, Transport Scotland announced the goal of having Scottish transport net carbon neutral by the year 2035.[28][29][30] This would be achieved by a rolling programme of electrification; where that is not feasible, using battery and other emerging technology such as hydrogen.

In an attempt to mitigate and improve the cost situation and thus persuade the government to backtrack on its electrification cancellations, the Railway Industry Association published a report in March 2019 detailing why costs had risen and suggested ways forward.[31] Campaign to Electrify Britain's Railway heavily circulated and advertised this report. The answer to a written question in parliament regarding route miles electrified in the years 1997-2019 made rather stark reading.[32] It has been mainly agreed that electrification costs in the UK are too high though.[33]

Railways in Scotland are a devolved matter but all parties including the Green Party are vigorously campaigning for electrification.[34]

Roger Ford, the technical editor of Modern Railways, often writes about similar themes and coined the phrase “Bionic duckweed". This refers to putting off what needs to be done today because something new in the future may be just around the corner[35] to refer to schemes that are not based on electrification but alternative technologies such as biodiesel and Hydrogen. Other writers have done likewise.[36][37][38] Other authors also cite issues with the huge inefficiency of hydrogen as opposed to electrification and the safety of using hydrogen fuel.[39]

In September 2020 the Traction Decarbonisation Network Strategy Interim Business case was published. The principal recommendation was further electrification of 13,000 km (single track kilometres) of UK railways.[40] As of November 2022, the TDNS has been quietly abandoned.[41]

On 23 March 2021, the Transport Select Committee published a report in the 'Trains Fit for the Future" enquiry, which recommended a rolling programme of electrification that allowed for battery and hydrogen. Greater cost scrutiny was also recommended.[42] The report was also highlighted in the mainstream press, featuring how Members of Parliament were calling for a rolling programme of electrification.[43] In March 2021, in the April issue of Modern Railways magazine also reported that work was underway to extend OHL electrification to Market Harborough, but that the SPL Powerlines contractor was working in conjunction with Network Rail to extend wires beyond this to Sheffield and Nottingham. It was reported that the scheme was being divided into eight distinct route sections.[44] On 22 April 2021, along with an open letter[45] to Grant Shapps with fifteen signatures, the Railway Industry Association published their report "Why Rail Electrification". It was produced in conjunction with their RailDecarb21 campaign.[46][47][48][49] These set out the case for a rolling programme of rail electrification.[50] Both main political parties agree.[51]

In July 2021, the UK Government released the document "Decarbonising transport – a better greener Britain" and at the same time released the supporting Rail environmental policy document. These were welcomed by the CEBR.[52][53] These documents stated that rail electrification had a major role to play in the decarbonising agenda.

On 18 November 2021 the Integrated Rail Plan (IRP) was published.[54] This included full Midland Main Line electrification and upgrades. In addition, full Transpennine North electrification was included. However, in December 2021 plans were leaked showing the treasury had declined to provide funding to electrify and decarbonise the railways.[55][56][57] Further outcry came after it was revealed in The Guardian that the majority of civil servants who wrote the plan don't even live in the North or Midlands.[58]

The Railway Industry Association continues to carry out reviews on decarbonisation in an effort to hold both the government and the industry to account.[59] Although not the same as electrification, the organisation and others suggest modal shift away from roads to an electrified railway, will also help the climate.[60]

Government reluctance[edit]

Countries including India[61][62][63] and China[64][65][66] are electrifying and building new lines at a fast pace. Europe is following this trend[67] but the UK ranks 21st as a percentage electrified.[68] Germany ranks eighth.[69] Worldwide the electrification volume market remains high.[70] Geopolitics and the desire to reduce reliance on oil has once again put rail electrification high on the agenda.[71]

There are a number of reasons why progress in the United Kingdom is much slower. One of the reasons were the delays and cost overruns on the 21st-century modernisation of the Great Western Main Line project.[72][73] In addition, there were problems with the GOBLIN electrification project.[74][75][76] Another reason cited is apportioning blame between the various parties.[77] The boom and bust cycle over the years has also increased costs as expertise is lost.[78][79]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "RIA publish new paper outlining rail electrification benefits". Global Railway Review. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  2. ^ "BCRRE Rail Alliance". Rail Alliance. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  3. ^ "Campaigns". Campaign for Better Transport. Archived from the original on 23 June 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  4. ^ "Decarbonisation of Transport through Electrification Summit". IEEE - UK and Ireland Section. Archived from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  5. ^ Lawrance and Hodge. "PWI Lecture Northern Hub and beyond". Archived from the original on 22 September 2018.
  6. ^ "Rail Technology Magazine April / May 2022 Page 48". mag.railtechnologymagazine.com. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  7. ^ "Ministerial Appointments commencing: 25 October 2022". gov.uk. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  8. ^ "Minister of State (Rail and HS2)". gov.uk. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  9. ^ "Electrification protest on Snowdon". Rail Business Daily. 8 May 2018. Archived from the original on 8 May 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  10. ^ "Decarbonisation – our final report to the Rail Minister". rssb.co.uk. Archived from the original on 22 July 2019. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  11. ^ "Regenerative braking boosts green credentials - Railway Gazette". 11 March 2014. Archived from the original on 11 March 2014. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  12. ^ "Freight Study: Full report" (PDF). England's Economic Heartland. June 2019.
  13. ^ "Milestones: 1969–1976 - Office of the Historian". history.state.gov. Archived from the original on 6 March 2014. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  14. ^ "BBC News | UK | Fuel crisis hits services". BBC. Archived from the original on 27 January 2020. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  15. ^ Hetherington, Peter; Ward, David (11 September 2000). "Fuel crisis looms as pickets hit depots". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 27 January 2020. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  16. ^ "BBC NEWS | In Depth | World fuel crisis | UK fuel tax: The facts". BBC. Archived from the original on 27 January 2020. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  17. ^ Watson, Inara (January 2021). "The advantages of electrified railways: An international summary". Permanent Way Institution Journal. 139 (1): 36–37. ISSN 2057-2425 – via PWI.
  18. ^ "Electrification 1955" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 September 2015.
  19. ^ "ECML: Electrification as it used to be | Rail Engineer". Archived from the original on 6 January 2022. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  20. ^ "Network RUS Electrification" (PDF). Network Rail Archives. October 2009. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 February 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  21. ^ "July 2009 Electrification UK Government paper" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 May 2010. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  22. ^ "Scottish investment to support decarbonisation and modal shift". Rail Technology Magazine. Archived from the original on 4 February 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  23. ^ "Network RUS Electrification 'Refresh'" (PDF). Network Rail. 16 January 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  24. ^ "Rail electrification plans scrapped". 20 July 2017. Archived from the original on 1 April 2019. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  25. ^ "Transport Select Committee Report June 2018" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 April 2019.
  26. ^ "Transport Times Events | News/Blog | Electrifying more of UK's railway will help the Government hit its decarbonisation targets – this work cannot wait". transporttimes.co.uk. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  27. ^ McArdle, Conor (21 June 2018). "The decarbonisation of transport: The next step". The Opus Energy Blog. Archived from the original on 3 April 2019. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  28. ^ Keane, Kevin (2 May 2019). "Scotland to set 'faster' climate change target". Archived from the original on 27 August 2019. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
  29. ^ "Protecting Scotland's Future: the Government's Programme for Scotland 2019-2020 - gov.scot". gov.scot. Archived from the original on 6 September 2019. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
  30. ^ "Scotland plans to decarbonise its railways by 2035". Global Railway Review. Archived from the original on 6 September 2019. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
  31. ^ "Electrification Cost Challenge Report". riagb.org.uk. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
  32. ^ "Railways: Electrification:Written question - 219526". UK Parliament. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  33. ^ "British electrification costs could be cut by 50%, says report". International Railway Journal. 14 March 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  34. ^ "Rail for All Scottish Green Party" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 January 2021.
  35. ^ Great Britain Parliament House of Commons Transport Committee (24 July 2008). Delivering a Sustainable Railway: A 30-year Strategy for the Railways? : Tenth Report of Session 2007-08 : Report, Together with Formal Minutes, Oral and Written Evidence. The Stationery Office. ISBN 9780215522221. Archived from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  36. ^ "Why Tech is not always the answer - The Perils of Bionic Duckweed". Financial Times. 30 October 2020. Archived from the original on 1 December 2020.
  37. ^ Deshpande, Prasad. "Bionic Duckweed". thelantern.substack.com. Archived from the original on 16 November 2020. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  38. ^ "Why tech isn't always the answer — the perils of bionic duckweed". The World News Monitor. 30 October 2020. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  39. ^ "Liebreich: Separating Hype from Hydrogen – Part Two: The Demand Side". BloombergNEF. 16 October 2020. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  40. ^ "Network Rail TDNS Interim Business Case" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 February 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  41. ^ Ford, Roger (November 2022). Sherratt (ed.). "TDNS terminated - official". Modern Railways. 79 (890). Key Publishing: 26–31. ISSN 0026-8356.
  42. ^ "Transport Committee: To hit its own decarbonisation deadline, Government must set out clear strategy for rail network - Committees - UK Parliament". Parliament of the United Kingdom. Archived from the original on 23 March 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  43. ^ Lancefield, Neil (23 March 2021). "MPs call for rolling programme of rail electrification projects to cut carbon". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 23 March 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  44. ^ "MML wires towards Market Harborough". Modern Railways. Key Publishing. April 2021. p. 23.
  45. ^ "Railway industry urges Government to begin programme of rail electrification now, in order to meet Net Zero legal commitments". RailBusinessDaily. 22 April 2021. Archived from the original on 22 April 2021. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  46. ^ "RailDecarb21 - Campaigns". riagb.org.uk. Archived from the original on 22 April 2021. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  47. ^ "Why Rail Electrification? Report". riagb.org.uk. Archived from the original on 22 April 2021. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  48. ^ "Government urged to begin immediate rail electrification works". Rail Technology Magazine. Archived from the original on 22 April 2021. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  49. ^ "UK needs 'immediate' programme of rail electrification to hit net zero goals". New Civil Engineer. 22 April 2021. Archived from the original on 22 April 2021. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  50. ^ "Electrification programme needed to meet Net Zero legal commitments". Railway Gazette International. 22 April 2021. Archived from the original on 22 April 2021. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  51. ^ "Electrifying more of UK's railway will help the Government hit its decarbonisation targets – this work cannot wait". transporttimes.co.uk. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  52. ^ "Decarbonising Transport - a better greener Britain" (PDF). UK Government. July 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 July 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  53. ^ "Rail environmental policy statement" (PDF). UK Government. July 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 July 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  54. ^ "Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands" (PDF). UK Government. 18 November 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 November 2021.
  55. ^ "Reports: Treasury shelves £30bn plan to electrify UK railways over cost concerns". www.businessgreen.com. 13 December 2021. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  56. ^ "RailDecarb21". Twitter. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  57. ^ "Treasury blocks £30bn plan to electrify Britain's railways". B2BCHIEF: CREATE THE BUZZ. 11 December 2021. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  58. ^ "Majority of officials who downgraded northern rail plans don't live there". the Guardian. 31 December 2021. Archived from the original on 5 January 2022. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  59. ^ "Railway Industry Association publishes review on Government decarbonisation". Rail Technology Magazine. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  60. ^ High Speed Rail Group. "Modal shift matters - and HS2 delivers it" (PDF). rail leaders.
  61. ^ "Welcome to Official Website of CORE". core.indianrailways.gov.in. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  62. ^ "Indian Railways completes electrification on one of the biggest stretches in Konkan region". Financialexpress. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  63. ^ Livemint (31 January 2022). "Indian Railways electrification: Three zones 100% electrified. Details here". mint. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  64. ^ "China Rail Electrification Bureau". Chinese Government English Language. March 2022.
  65. ^ Xu, Xueyi; Kent, Stephen; Schmid, Felix (6 May 2020). "Carbon-reduction potential of electrification on China's railway transport: An analysis of three possible future scenarios". Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit. 235 (2): 226–235. doi:10.1177/0954409720921989. ISSN 0954-4097. S2CID 218943844.
  66. ^ "Electrification of transportation infrastructure in China improves efficiency". GSEP. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  67. ^ "Europe leads the charge to replace diesel traction". International Railway Journal. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  68. ^ "Electrified rail network in Europe, by country". Statista. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  69. ^ "Germany lags behind European neighbours in railway electrification". Clean Energy Wire. 25 October 2021. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  70. ^ "Railway electrification is expected to grow worldwide". Railway PRO. 19 February 2021. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  71. ^ "Railway electrification step towards reducing European oil dependency". RailFreight.com. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  72. ^ "Great Western electrification: Intercity line work 'deferred'". BBC News. 8 November 2016. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  73. ^ "Rail electrification between Cardiff and Swansea delayed". BBC. 25 November 2015. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
  74. ^ "London Overground Gospel Oak to Barking route to reopen on Monday 27 February but further work is required". Network Rail. 7 February 2017. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
  75. ^ "Beleaguered Barking to Gospel Oak line to reopen". New Civil Engineer. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  76. ^ "Gospel Oak to Barking electrification works to be complete in time for arrival of new double-length electric trains". Network Rail Media Centre.
  77. ^ "Will the UK ever get electrification back on track?". Railway Technology. 13 June 2018. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  78. ^ "UK electrification is far too slow says industry". RailFreight.com. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  79. ^ "Why is Britain's rail network still dependent on high-polluting diesel trains?". New Statesman. 25 November 2021. Retrieved 31 March 2022.

Further reading[edit]

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Campaign_to_Electrify_Britain%27s_Railway&oldid=1218438072"