Crossrail first bodyshell unveiled

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• Ben H - 10/09/2015 13:50

  Rolling stock availability in the UK at a crossroads: should the production line capacity go immediately to Crossrail 1 as planned, or to deal with the crisis caused by severe electrification delays? Setting up a collaboration with Vivarail would be prudent at this time. Vivarail is already testing its converted former London Underground D78 stock (Class 230). The automotive van engine and generator sets are of most interest. The Class 230 cars are 18 metres long. The Crossrail Class 345 bodyshell is 23 m. An extra 5 m to fit three modular engine-generator sets instead of two (Class 230). Building underfloor modular fitment capabilities for the Class 345 body shells from the beginning would allow for engine-generator sets to be swapped for batteries and transformers. The carriages currently planned to be Class 345s could be fitted with three engines each (giving 600 horsepower per car) and used for non-electrified commuter services with frequent stops and 100 mph max speed. Regions where electrification has been 'paused' would receive them brand new. Conversion to EMUs would take place when the 'paused' electrification schemes are delivered. Crossrail 1 requirements for its first five years would be met by the Shenfield Metro service's existing Class 315s, supplemented by other Class 313s and 314s made available through cascades of EMUs displaced from Thameslink by the Class 700s.

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• Andrewjgwilt1989 - 10/09/2015 18:56

  Plus Bombardier are to build new trains including the Class 387/2 for Gatwick Express and 387/3 for Great Western Railway along with 387/1 cascaded from Thameslink and London Overground have ordered 45 new trains and possibly Bombardier could win the contract to build new trains for Merseyrail to replace the Class 507 & 508 trains destined to be scrapped.

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