DOCSLIB.ORG

Or Zero-Emission Multiple-Unit Feasibility Study

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

Low- or Zero-Emission Multiple-Unit Feasibility Study FEASIBILITY REPORT December 30, 2019 Prepared for: San Bernardino County Transportation Authority 1170 W. 3rd Street, 2nd Floor San Bernardino, CA 92410 Prepared by: Center for Railway Research and Education Eli Broad College of Business Michigan State University www.railway.broad.msu.edu 3535 Forest Road Lansing, MI 48910 USA Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education University of Birmingham Edgbaston Birmingham B15 2TT United Kingdom www.railway.bham.ac.uk Authors: Stephen Kent - BCRRE Raphael Isaac - MSU CRRE Nick Little - MSU CRRE Andreas Hoffrichter, PhD - MSU CRRE Executive Summary The San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) is adding the Arrow railway service in the San Bernardino Valley, between San Bernardino and Redlands. SBCTA aims to improve air quality with the introduction of zero-emission rail vehicle technology by procuring a new zero-emission multiple unit (ZEMU) train and converting one of the diesel multiple unit (DMU) trains that will be used to provide Arrow service. Using a Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) grant, SBCTA will demonstrate low- or, ideally, zero-emission rail service on the Arrow route. The ZEMU is expected to be in service by 2024 and demonstrate low- or zero-emission railway motive power technology for similar passenger rail service in California as well as a possible technology transfer platform for other railway services. SBCTA commissioned the Center for Railway Research and Education (CRRE) at Michigan State University (MSU) in collaboration with the Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education (BCRRE) at the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom, to assist with the comparison of low- and zero-emission technology suitable for railway motive power applications. The project seeks alternative railway motive power propulsion options to diesel power, (the current benchmark used in this report), since diesel power has had difficulties meeting current emissions requirements and will likely fail to meet future, more stringent standards. Renewable diesel, natural gas, hydrogen fuel cell, and hybrid options are considered. The emphasis is on a vehicle technology suitable to initially provide the Arrow service with the possibility to expand service to Los Angeles Union Station. Zero-emission propulsion hydrail technology based on hydrogen fuel cells is given priority due to its zero-emission capability while having the potential to offer a practical range between refueling. The Arrow and Los Angeles Union Station services have been evaluated using a simulation model for two-car and four-car train consists to reflect possible demand patterns. Three hydrogen production and delivery options have been evaluated. The production of hydrogen using 100% renewable electricity is the most environmentally sustainable option and true zero-emission from source to use (well-to-wheel). Our methodology explored energy requirements and emission assessments during operation of the services. All hybrid options performed better than their conventional counterparts. Though hydrogen fuel cell technology has the capability to be totally zero-emission, a hydrogen fuel cell battery hybrid (hydrail) was found to be the better solution with lower energy consumption of the two options, resulting in an estimated 50% lower energy requirement than diesel performing the same service. For the Arrow service, a hydrogen-battery hybrid is feasible and provides significant emissions reductions compared to diesel. Hydrogen fuel cell powered trains and battery hybrids are already running in revenue service in Europe. Bus services in California also use this technology successfully. The most cost-effective option of producing hydrogen is through on-site steam methane reforming (SMR). This technology is capable of scaling-up with proportionate emission and energy reductions. The Los Angeles Union Station service will be best performed by a hydrogen-battery hybrid, which will require either additional hydrogen refueling at termini or additional hydrogen storage space on the train if daily refueling is required. The current growth of hydrogen fuel cell technology and hydrogen storage on-board vehicles as well as the development of refueling infrastructure will have the capability of supporting bus, truck, automobile as well as train requirements. -i- Potential for expansion of hydrail to other rail services in California includes SMART, eBART and SPRINTER. The synergistic demand for hydrogen as a fuel will support development of infrastructure to manufacture and deliver hydrogen as well as on-site manufacture where warranted. The total potential annual demand across these services could amount to between approximately 1.7 to 2.0 tonnes per day in addition to SBCTA requirements. The greenhouse gas emission reduction for these three services amounts to approximately 11,000 tonnes per year from operations (100%) and could lead to a 100% reduction on a well-to-wheel basis if on-site electrolysis powered by renewable electricity is utilized, for the other production methods reductions are estimated between 30% and 40% on a well-to-wheel basis. The California services listed above are similar to the Arrow service because they can be performed using multiple-unit trains (where power is distributed throughout the train from point of generation to traction motors powering multiple axles in several vehicles). In the services mentioned above, the nature of the terrain, distance and other factors influencing the duty cycle, indicates that hydrogen hybrid multiple unit trains would be a cost- efficient, zero-emissions option during operation with significant well-to-wheel emission reductions. eBART, having a short route and the potential option to recharge batteries at termini, is possibly achievable with a battery-only solution, subject to further study. Other rail services such as streetcars, light rail, yard switchers, heavy rail commuter and long-distance services have been subject of initial hydrogen fuel cell and hydrogen-battery assessments. More work needs to be done, but hydrogen is already proving suitable for streetcars and light rail services as well as being a likely option for yard and road-switcher freight applications. Longer distance and heavier train applications of the technology may be achievable using a tender car to carry hydrogen fuel supply. The report recommends proceeding with the hydrogen fuel cell hybrid option for the Arrow service if extension to Los Angeles Union Station is a priority. The succeeding phase is to expand the concept to the San Bernardino to Los Angeles Union Station service as demonstrator of technology feasibility and assess the viability on a longer route with a different set of performance requirements. -ii- Contents 1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................1 1.1 Existing Conditions Along Arrow Service Corridor .......................................................1 1.2 Scope ...............................................................................................................................5 1.3 Report Structure ..............................................................................................................5 2 Background .............................................................................................................................7 2.1 Current Railway Motive Power .......................................................................................8 2.2 Emissions From Diesel Combustion .............................................................................10 2.2.1 Exhaust Emissions Impacting Air Quality ................................................................... 10 2.2.2 Greenhouse Gas Emissions .......................................................................................... 11 2.3 Renewables and Hydrogen ............................................................................................11 2.4 Introduction to Hydrogen ..............................................................................................13 2.4.1 Introduction to Hydrogen Production .......................................................................... 14 2.4.2 Hydrogen Fuel Cells .................................................................................................... 15 2.4.3 On-Board Hydrogen Storage ........................................................................................ 17 2.4.4 Hydrogen Fuel Cells in Transportation Applications .................................................. 19 3 High-Level Motive Power Technology Review ..................................................................20 3.1 Improvements in Combustion Engines .........................................................................20 3.1.1 Diesel Engines .............................................................................................................. 20 3.1.2 Spark Ignition Engines ................................................................................................. 21 3.2 Biofuels .........................................................................................................................22 3.2.1 Operational Application to Arrow ............................................................................... 23 3.2.2 Safety Hazard Considerations .....................................................................................
Recommended publications
  • Investor Presentation 2019

    Investor Presentation 2019

    Eversholt Rail Investor Presentation 2nd December 2019 Contents • Strategic context • Refranchising, opportunities and challenges • New and existing fleet management • Financial overview • Conclusions • Q&A 1 Executive summary • 2015-2018 characterised by investment to grow balance sheet • General election result and Williams Review should set the industry’s direction of travel over the medium term • Business focused on long-term value while addressing strategic challenges and opportunities • Contracted new build programmes coming to a very successful conclusion: C802 fleet fully delivered, C397 in advanced state of delivery and C195/C331 fleets progressing well • Management effort shifting to maximising opportunities for fleets with leases expiring in the near future and exploring attractiveness of alternative growth opportunities 2 Strategic context Strategy Great Trains, Great People, Great Future To be recognised as the expert provider of transport asset financing and Vision asset management for the long term Two strands to our strategy: 1 Optimise our current portfolio through maximising asset utilisation and investing to enhance residual value (RV) 2 Developing opportunities for further growth in transport sector Maintain investment discipline: we will continue to be selective in choosing growth opportunities ensuring that they are the right assets for our portfolio Great Trains Great Great People Great Great FutureGreat C802 all units in service Company offsite C397 in service 2019 4 2019 – pressures across the rail industry Reshaping
  • Gloucester Railway Carriage & Wagon Co. 1St

    Gloucester Railway Carriage & Wagon Co. 1St

    Gloucester Railway Carriage & Wagon Co. 1st Generation DMU’s for British Railways A Review Rodger P. Bradley Gloucester RC&W Co.’s Diesel Multiple Units Rodger P Bradley As we know the history of the design and operation of diesel – or is it oil-engine powered? – multiple unit trains can be traced back well beyond nationalisation in 1948, although their use was not widespread in Britain until the mid 1950s. Today, we can see their most recent developments in the fixed formation sets operated over long distance routes on today’s networks, such as those of the Virgin Voyager design. It can be argued that the real ancestry can be seen in such as the experimental Michelin railcar and the Beardmore 3-car unit for the LMS in the 1930s, and the various streamlined GWR railcars of the same period. Whilst the idea of a self-propelled passenger vehicle, in the shape of numerous steam rail motors, was adopted by a number of the pre- grouping companies from around the turn of the 19th/20th century. (The earliest steam motor coach can be traced to 1847 – at the height of the so-called to modernise the rail network and its stock. ‘Railway Mania’.). However, perhaps in some ways surprisingly, the opportunity was not taken to introduce any new First of the “modern” multiple unit designs were techniques in design or construction methods, and built at Derby Works and introduced in 1954, as the majority of the early types were built on a the ‘lightweight’ series, and until 1956, only BR and traditional 57ft 0ins underframe.
  • Project the Latest Alternative Train Tech

    Project the Latest Alternative Train Tech

    SEE INSIDE FOR: A national traction climate strategy n Designing a ‘green’ project n The latest alternative train tech: batteries & hydrogen n The case for more wires Decarbonisation Special 76 Decarbonisation SMART TRANSPORT CONFERENCE 2019 Special CONTENTS Full steam ahead BCRRE introduces its 40soon-to-be-launched Centre of Excellence in Decarbonisation. Ready to charge VIVARAIL explains how its 42latest innovations will revolutionise rail traction. Bright spark Why HITACHI thinks that 44battery power is the answer to powering zero emissions trains ‘off the wires’. Industry taskforce How the recommendations of 46the Decarbonisation Taskforce final report are now being implemented. The market leader ALSTOM seeks to expand the 52reach of the world’s only DATE: 17 MARCH 2020 in-service hydrogen-powered trains. PHIL METCALFE. Mean, green machine VENUE: ETC VENUES, How SIEMENS MOBILITY is 54perfectly in step with the UK’s COUNTY HALL, LONDON ambition to phase out diesel trains. Smart money Welcome SYSTRA tells RAIL how cutting Find out about local and national a project’s carbon footprint n June 12 2019, in one of her final to achieve this vision. 56 does not always mean increasing the cost. government transport challenges acts as Prime Minister, Theresa Meanwhile, Network Rail’s Head of ADVANCED • May announced that the UK will Strategic Planning Helen McAllister provides Listen to multi-modal solutions Oend its net contribution to global an update on the Traction Decarbonisation RATE NOW greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Network Strategy (TDNS), which is being Current beliefs AVAILABLE • By amending the Climate Change Act 2008 developed to inform government decisions on Why electrification remains Network with senior public and to incorporate this target, it made the UK the providing support for further electrification, 58the future of UK railways, first G7 country to legally implement a net alongside the deployment of alternative according to FURRER + FREY.
  • General Motor Diesel Locomotive

    General Motor Diesel Locomotive

    (Govt. of India) (Ministry of Railways) INTRODUCTION HAND BOOK ON GENERAL MOTOR DIESEL LOCOMOTIVE (For official use only) IRCAMTECH/2006/M/D/GM loco/1.0 FEBRUARY-2006 Centre for Advanced Maintenance TECHnology Excellence in Maintenance MAHARAJPUR, GWALIOR – 474020 INTRODUCTION HAND BOOK ON GENERAL MOTOR DIESEL LOCOMOTIVE i PREFACE The GM Locomotives have been included in the Diesel Locomotive fleet of Indian railway. Production of GM locomotive has already started in DLW, Varanasi. The 4000 HP, computer controlled GM locomotive has a large number of special and improved features vis-a-vis the Alco design diesel locomotive presently running in Indian railway. All those in the field of diesel locomotive need to get acquainted with the GM locomotive. This book “Introduction hand book on GM locomotive” prepared by the CAMTECH has been prepared with the purpose of disseminating the introductory information to all those in diesel loco maintenance field. The suggestions are invited from the readers to improve and make the book more useful. Any such suggestion shell be included in next publication. Date: - 28.02.2006 KUNDAN KUMAR Director (Mech) ii CONTENTS S No. Description Page No. 1. Preface i 2. Contents ii 3. Book details iii 4. Correction slips iv 5. Introduction of the GM Locomotive 1 to 2 6. General information data 3 to6 7. Various parts and its location 7 to 21 8. Fuel Oil System 22 to 25 9. Cooling Water System 26 to 30 10. Lube Oil System 31 to 37 11. Air Intake System 38 to 41 12. Compressed air system 42 to 43 13.
  • The Piedmont Service: Hydrogen Fuel Cell Locomotive Feasibility

    The Piedmont Service: Hydrogen Fuel Cell Locomotive Feasibility

    The Piedmont Service: Hydrogen Fuel Cell Locomotive Feasibility Andreas Hoffrichter, PhD Nick Little Shanelle Foster, PhD Raphael Isaac, PhD Orwell Madovi Darren Tascillo Center for Railway Research and Education Michigan State University Henry Center for Executive Development 3535 Forest Road, Lansing, MI 48910 NCDOT Project 2019-43 FHWA/NC/2019-43 October 2020 -i- FEASIBILITY REPORT The Piedmont Service: Hydrogen Fuel Cell Locomotive Feasibility October 2020 Prepared by Center for Railway Research and Education Eli Broad College of Business Michigan State University 3535 Forest Road Lansing, MI 48910 USA Prepared for North Carolina Department of Transportation – Rail Division 860 Capital Boulevard Raleigh, NC 27603 -ii- Technical Report Documentation Page 1. Report No. 2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient’s Catalog No. FHWA/NC/2019-43 4. Title and Subtitle 5. Report Date The Piedmont Service: Hydrogen Fuel Cell Locomotive Feasibility October 2020 6. Performing Organization Code 7. Author(s) 8. Performing Organization Report No. Andreas Hoffrichter, PhD, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2384-4463 Nick Little Shanelle N. Foster, PhD, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9630-5500 Raphael Isaac, PhD Orwell Madovi Darren M. Tascillo 9. Performing Organization Name and Address 10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS) Center for Railway Research and Education 11. Contract or Grant No. Michigan State University Henry Center for Executive Development 3535 Forest Road Lansing, MI 48910 12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address 13. Type of Report and Period Covered Final Report Research and Development Unit 104 Fayetteville Street December 2018 – October 2020 Raleigh, North Carolina 27601 14. Sponsoring Agency Code RP2019-43 Supplementary Notes: 16.
  • Energy Consumption and Carbon Dioxide Emissions Analysis for a Concept Design of a Hydrogen Hybrid Railway Vehicle Din, Tajud; Hillmansen, Stuart

    Energy Consumption and Carbon Dioxide Emissions Analysis for a Concept Design of a Hydrogen Hybrid Railway Vehicle Din, Tajud; Hillmansen, Stuart

    University of Birmingham Energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions analysis for a concept design of a hydrogen hybrid railway vehicle Din, Tajud; Hillmansen, Stuart DOI: 10.1049/iet-est.2017.0049 License: None: All rights reserved Document Version Peer reviewed version Citation for published version (Harvard): Din, T & Hillmansen, S 2017, 'Energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions analysis for a concept design of a hydrogen hybrid railway vehicle', IET Electrical Systems in Transportation. https://doi.org/10.1049/iet- est.2017.0049 Link to publication on Research at Birmingham portal Publisher Rights Statement: Published in IET Electrical Systems in Transportation. Final version of record available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1049/iet-est.2017.0049. Checked for repository 31/1/18 General rights Unless a licence is specified above, all rights (including copyright and moral rights) in this document are retained by the authors and/or the copyright holders. The express permission of the copyright holder must be obtained for any use of this material other than for purposes permitted by law. •Users may freely distribute the URL that is used to identify this publication. •Users may download and/or print one copy of the publication from the University of Birmingham research portal for the purpose of private study or non-commercial research. •User may use extracts from the document in line with the concept of ‘fair dealing’ under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (?) •Users may not further distribute the material nor use it for the purposes of commercial gain. Where a licence is displayed above, please note the terms and conditions of the licence govern your use of this document.
  • Barrowmore Model Railway Journal

    Barrowmore Model Railway Journal

    ISSN 1745-9842 Barrowmore Model Railway Journal Number30 March2012 Published on behalf of.Barrowmore Model Railway Group by the Honormy Editor: David Goodwin, "Cromer", Chun:1l Road, SaugbaU, Chester CHI 6EN; teI. 01244 880018. E-mail: 4it A '&ee!I 1--pllk Contributions are welcome: (a) as e-mails or e-mail attachments; (b) a bard copy ofa computer file; (c) a typed :manuscript; (d) a hand-written manuscript, preterably wi1h a eontact 1elephone number so that any queries can be sorted out; (e) a CD/DVD; (f) a USB storage flash drive. Any queries to the Editor, please. The NEXT ISSUE will be dated June 2012, and contributions should get to the Editor as soon as possible, but at least before 1May2012. 11111111111111111111111111111111111111111.111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 Copies ofthis magazine are aJso available to non-members: a cheque for f8 (payable to 'Barrow.more Model Railway Group') will provide the nm fuur issues. posted direct to your home. Send your details and cheque to the Editor at the above address. I I I 11 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I f I I 11 I I I I I I I I I I I Tile cover Wustration for this issue is ofa private owner coal wagon operated by the local firm ofW.BDobell & Co.Ltd. This wagon is only one of several Dobell wagons which appear on the negative~ taken on 3 August 1912, in a sic.ting at Ellesmere Port docks.
  • A New Vision for Local Transport

    A New Vision for Local Transport

    A NEW VISION FOR LOCAL TRANSPORT Parry People Movers Ltd Overend Road, Cradley Heath, West Midlands, B64 7DD, UNITED KINGDOM Tel: +44 (0)1384 569553 Email: [email protected] HOW PARRY PEOPLE MOVERS PERCEIVED A SHORT HISTORY THE NEED FOR AFFORDABLE PASSENGER RAIL The answer OUR STORY began 20 years ago when, for to suit the tastes of customers with plenty to the need: the first time, concerns were beginning to of money: the most prosperous of the Lightweight be raised about whether it was possible to towns and cities of the industrialised rail and the provide for unlimited growth in personal world. innovative travel as part of town planning. PPM railcars PPM35 For the rest, because there were roads of and trams. On the environmental front, worries were a sort connecting every part of every also being expressed about the urban town, obviously the only public transport Developed in concentration of vehicles propelled by that could be deployed would be buses. stages, and internal combustion engines, producing proven in a unhealthy amounts of noxious gases in the But there is always a problem with the bus variety of PPM50 local atmosphere. The world’s economies mode. The journey on a bus is as good or real public had already experienced the first and bad as the road that it runs along, and transport second ‘Oil Shocks’ and, instead of how much traffic is likely to get in the operations, scrapping street running railways — tram way. In Britain, while car manufacturers the ‘People Mover’ and streetcar systems (as they were called provide many vehicles capable of ‘Class 139’: PPM60 differently in Europe and the USA) — a exceeding 100 mph, traffic conditions in employs few cities with foresight had been most urban areas restrict average speeds flywheel energy storage.
  • Trains Galore

    Trains Galore

    Neil Thomas Forrester Hugo Marsh Shuttleworth (Director) (Director) (Director) Trains Galore 15th & 16th December at 10:00 Special Auction Services Plenty Close Off Hambridge Road NEWBURY RG14 5RL Telephone: 01635 580595 Email: [email protected] Bob Leggett Graham Bilbe Dominic Foster www.specialauctionservices.com Toys, Trains & Trains Toys & Trains Figures Due to the nature of the items in this auction, buyers must satisfy themselves concerning their authenticity prior to bidding and returns will not be accepted, subject to our Terms and Conditions. Additional images are available on request. If you are happy with our service, please write a Google review Buyers Premium with SAS & SAS LIVE: 20% plus Value Added Tax making a total of 24% of the Hammer Price the-saleroom.com Premium: 25% plus Value Added Tax making a total of 30% of the Hammer Price 7. Graham Farish and Peco N Gauge 13. Fleischmann N Gauge Prussian Train N Gauge Goods Wagons and Coaches, three cased Sets, two boxed sets 7881 comprising 7377 T16 Graham Farish coaches in Southern Railway steam locomotive with five small coaches and Livery 0633/0623 (2) and a Graham Farish SR 7883 comprising G4 steam locomotive with brake van, together with Peco goods wagons tender and five freight wagons, both of the private owner wagons and SR all cased (24), KPEV, G-E, boxes G (2) Day 1 Tuesday 15th December at 10:00 G-E, Cases F (28) £60-80 Day 1 Tuesday 15th December at 10:00 £60-80 14. Fleischmann N Gauge Prussian Train Sets, two boxed sets 7882 comprising T9 8177 steam locomotive and five coaches and 7884 comprising G8 5353 steam locomotive with tender and six goods wagons, G-E, Boxes F (2) £60-80 1.
  • University of Southampton Research Repository Eprints Soton

    University of Southampton Research Repository Eprints Soton

    University of Southampton Research Repository ePrints Soton Copyright © and Moral Rights for this thesis are retained by the author and/or other copyright owners. A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This thesis cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the copyright holder/s. The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. When referring to this work, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given e.g. AUTHOR (year of submission) "Full thesis title", University of Southampton, name of the University School or Department, PhD Thesis, pagination http://eprints.soton.ac.uk UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND THE ENVIRONMENT Transportation Research Group Investigating the environmental sustainability of rail travel in comparison with other modes by James A. Pritchard Thesis for the degree of Doctor of Engineering June 2015 UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON ABSTRACT FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND THE ENVIRONMENT Transportation Research Group Doctor of Engineering INVESTIGATING THE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY OF RAIL TRAVEL IN COMPARISON WITH OTHER MODES by James A. Pritchard iv Sustainability is a broad concept which embodies social, economic and environmental concerns, including the possible consequences of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and climate change, and related means of mitigation and adaptation. The reduction of energy consumption and emissions are key objectives which need to be achieved if some of these concerns are to be addressed.
  • Britain's Rail Delivery Group, Comprising the Chief Executives of the Rail Owning Groups, Freight Operators and Network Rail T

    Britain's Rail Delivery Group, Comprising the Chief Executives of the Rail Owning Groups, Freight Operators and Network Rail T

    Written evidence from the Rail Delivery Group (ROR 01) 1. This is the response of the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) to the Transport Select Committee’s call for evidence on the reform of the railways. 2. The RDG welcomes the Government’s support for the RDG contained in the Command Paper ‘Reforming our Railways: Putting the Customer First’, which was published today. The Paper calls on the Rail Delivery Group to provide leadership to the industry and to respond to the Government’s strategic challenges. The Command Paper lays out the Government’s vision for an expanding and efficient railway that meets the needs of passengers, freight users and taxpayers. The Government sees the Rail Delivery Group leading the industry in driving up efficiency and demand for the railway. This is a challenge that the Group accepts. 3. The Command Paper calls on the Rail Delivery Group to lead the rail industry in working together to deliver a more efficient, more affordable railway. The Rail Delivery Group is pleased that the Government has recognised that the Group is taking and shaping the industry’s agenda for a sustained programme of improved management and running of the rail network. 4. The Command Paper lists the six priority areas being addressed by the Group • Asset, programme and supply chain management; • Contractual and regulatory reform; • Technology, innovation and working practices; • Train utilisation; • A whole-system approach; and • Industry planning 5. The Rail Delivery Group was created to unlock efficiencies that will improve Britain’s railways. In its first nine months the Group has identified opportunities for a range of savings, for example in asset management through earlier involvement of the operators in planning work on the network.
  • The Treachery of Strategic Decisions

    The Treachery of Strategic Decisions

    The treachery of strategic decisions. An Actor-Network Theory perspective on the strategic decisions that produce new trains in the UK. Thesis submitted in accordance with the requirements of the University of Liverpool for the degree of Doctor in Philosophy by Michael John King. May 2021 Abstract The production of new passenger trains can be characterised as a strategic decision, followed by a manufacturing stage. Typically, competing proposals are developed and refined, often over several years, until one emerges as the winner. The winning proposition will be manufactured and delivered into service some years later to carry passengers for 30 years or more. However, there is a problem: evidence shows UK passenger trains getting heavier over time. Heavy trains increase fuel consumption and emissions, increase track damage and maintenance costs, and these impacts could last for the train’s life and beyond. To address global challenges, like climate change, strategic decisions that produce outcomes like this need to be understood and improved. To understand this phenomenon, I apply Actor-Network Theory (ANT) to Strategic Decision-Making. Using ANT, sometimes described as the sociology of translation, I theorise that different propositions of trains are articulated until one, typically, is selected as the winner to be translated and become a realised train. In this translation process I focus upon the development and articulation of propositions up to the point where a winner is selected. I propose that this occurs within a valuable ‘place’ that I describe as a ‘decision-laboratory’ – a site of active development where various actors can interact, experiment, model, measure, and speculate about the desired new trains.