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29 comments on DTI Energy Review 2006

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writerman on March 28, 2006 - 9:00am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
Yes, railways are the future. But what kind of railways? I think we should be thinking of building a new type of railway network with a substantially wider track gauge. There are substantial savings to be made here. One can transport far more goods and people for only a relatively minor increase in fuel consumption. Though the cost initially would be expensive. However, I believe the idea would be an interesting sign to send to the population that we were taking the whole Peak Oil phenomenon seriously and it might even capture the public imagination.
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Magnus Redin on March 28, 2006 - 10:14am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
No

Flexibility and incremental improvements are more important then raw capacity. Wider track gauge would be good for cargo limited by volume and do very little for dense cargo limited by axle preassure.

What is being done in Sweden is a gradual enlargement of the loading profile and upgrading of the railway lines for larger axle preassure. This gives most of the benefits of a wider gauge withouth the incompatibility costs.
http://www.banverket.com/upload/pdf/marknad/jarnvagsnatsbeskrivning/Lastprofil%20A_B%20och%20C%20040 714.pdf
The intresting examples for higher axle loads can often be fond in USA, they also double stack containers wich is impossible in Sweden due to numerous bridges and the electrification.

You can also get more capacity by longer trains and better traffic control systems such as the ERTMS that is to become the new pan european standard.

Find needed railway lines that can be built with current technology and standards, getting them to run a few years earlier then odd projects should be inspiring.

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29 comments on DTI Energy Review 2006

Comments can no longer be added to this story.