RSSB2700 - Request for Expressions of interest in RSSB research project T1129 Discontinuous Electrificatio

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Request for Expressions of interest in RSSB research project T1129 Discontinuous Electrification RSSB are seeking to investigate the feasibility of discontinuous electrification. Background A large cost challenge for electrifying GB Railway is running electrified line through existing restrictive structures which often requires costly civil engineering works, services diversion and extensive possessions. Discontinuous (or discrete) electrification is the concept of not applying electrification to particular sections of railway which incur disproportionate costs, in order to reduce the total costs of the scheme in a way which also reduces whole industry long-term costs. Discontinuous electrification is not a new concept but has not yet been implemented. Previous RSSB research Energy Game Changer (T966) which included a cost benefit analysis of various discontinuous electrification scenarios concluded discontinuous electrification was either unviable, or at best marginal, based on numerous factors which included: • The requirement to manually raise and lower the pantograph was deemed an unacceptable operational risk, in particular from a failed pantograph lowering operation leading to a collision between it and a structure such as a low bridge. • In many cases, coasting through a gap was the most cost-effective solution, but this was not deemed operationally feasible due to the potentially very large operational cost of being stranded in a non-electrified gap. • Battery costs at the time were deemed too high. Although, the report states that "With a 54% reduction in today's battery costs and 3-4 years between replacement, discrete and discontinuous electrification could start to show a whole life cost saving." Six years has passed since the publication of T966 and developments in recent years have made a significant impact on the potential viability of discontinuous electrification, in some cases, directly addressing the limitations above, specifically: • Packet 44 , RFID or Automatic Power Control (APC) magnets offer a potential solution to facilitate automatic and seamless raising and lowering of pantographs. • Improvements in on-board energy storage capabilities, specifically a very large reduction of costs per kWh in battery technology has been achieved. • The improvement in the capability of bi-modes, their increasing availability and the observed trend in shorter rolling stock life-cycles for some vehicle subsystems means legacy and cascading of rolling stock is less likely to be an issue. Based on the above, the Industry believes there is potential for discontinuous electrification to significantly lower the Railway's whole system and whole life costs. Ultimately this could lead to significant savings for planned projects and tip the balance of more marginal cases and encourage further electrification in future.