Research into a strategy to decarbonise the North Downs Line has found that electrifying parts of the route would provide ‘poor’ value for money.
Network Rail and Great Western Railway are working on options to introduce battery-electric units to the 46-mile route between Reading and Redhill (of which 17 miles is over third rail), and to replace 34-year-old Class 165/166 diesel multiple units (DMUs) that need to be retired from the route by 2035.
The joint report by NR and GWR has said that improving the rail offer could “encourage modal shift”.
The route currently has a half-hourly service from Reading-Gatwick Airport, but the Traction Decarbonisation Strategy has looked at other potential options, including a third train each hour to Gatwick as well as extending services to cities such as…
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RAIL (Digital) - 1 Issue, Issue 1025