Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Noel Dolphin @noeldolphin.bsky.social · 3h

In 2022 we did an electric freight loading demo in Wellingborough, with moveable equipment. But doing electric freight in the UK is hard. First real project is in Nagpur, India. Because of course India, with huge freight & electrification projects. Silo loading electric trains

6

Noel Dolphin @noeldolphin.bsky.social · 1d

Free at last - I have to remember to never play late 90's games if I want to get anything done. Took 4 days to win... need to delete the game now.

1

Noel Dolphin @noeldolphin.bsky.social · 1d

Just writing my notes from last week's PWI's Practical Electrification Challenge - super fun, mildly stressful, better than 2024 is my main takeaway.

2

Noel Dolphin @noeldolphin.bsky.social · 2d

Very disappointed by the lack of puns on this story.
press.chilternrailways.co.uk/news/shell-s...

Shell shock as runaway tortoise found on the tracks at Bicester North Station | Chiltern Railways News

News from Chiltern Railways

press.chilternrailways.co.uk

1 3

Noel Dolphin @noeldolphin.bsky.social · 4d

Absolutely

2

Noel Dolphin @noeldolphin.bsky.social · 4d

I have been shortlisting nominees for the @RBF1858 - Heart of Gold Awards - Rising Star. Some genuinely nice people work in rail. Sortlist published next week.
www.railwaybenefitfund.org.uk/news/heart-o...

Heart of Gold Awards - Railway Benefit Fund

Join us in honoring the unsung heroes of the rail industry at the RBF Heart of Gold Awards. Cast your vote for Rising Stars, Lifetime Achievers, Rail Heroes, Wellbeing Champions, Inspirational Volunte...

www.railwaybenefitfund.org.uk

1

Noel Dolphin @noeldolphin.bsky.social · 4d

Will move "heaven and earth to deliver value for money" to Treasury - but ticket prices & performance for passengers will be the same.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Greater Anglia nationalisation will deliver 'value for money'

The transport secretary says the move will bring value for money, but she did not promise lower fares.

www.bbc.co.uk

1 4

Noel Dolphin @noeldolphin.bsky.social · 5d

We've just finished up the PWI's Electrification Challenge in Swindon. Great few days.... but looking forward to the weekend now.

1 7

Noel Dolphin @noeldolphin.bsky.social · 5d

2nd full day of the PWI's Practical Electrification Challenge - today some rail tool suppliers are also on hand to show how tools work. Great spread of office folk - from Balfours, Babcocks, RSSB, ORR, Mott MacDonald, Atkins to name a few of the 20 companies attending

3

Noel Dolphin @noeldolphin.bsky.social · 6d

First full day of the @PWInstitution electrification challenge - a great cross-industry, hands-on event that helps people in rail understand electrification. @25kv.bsky.social up front in the classroom.

1 6

Noel Dolphin @noeldolphin.bsky.social · 7d

Switzerland today for Swindon tomorrow - gearing up for the PWIs electrification challenge kicking off tomorrow.

1 3

Noel Dolphin @noeldolphin.bsky.social · 9d

Article on fine below. Also appreciate the new trains make this type of incident impossible and GW were stuck at the time with legacy trains - just that plastering loads of warning stickers did not reduce any risk www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

GWR fined £1m over train passenger's death in Bath

Bethan Roper was killed in 2018 when she leaned out of a droplight window on a moving train.

www.bbc.co.uk

Noel Dolphin @noeldolphin.bsky.social · 9d

Great Western was fined this week over Bethan Roper's death. The RIAB report was in 2019, link below. This image always stuck in my mind. Warnings either need to be simple or you need to prevent the risk. 6 sets of instructions, doesn't make it clear assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5da5d8...

1 1 5

Noel Dolphin @noeldolphin.bsky.social · 12d

Absolutely

Noel Dolphin @noeldolphin.bsky.social · 12d

A lovely moody image: londonist.com/london/trans...

2 11

Noel Dolphin @noeldolphin.bsky.social · 12d

Just slightly different designs. A photo of a GW pair and a photo of a typical UK one. The GW ones were designed for install in short possessions and don't have a knee brace to save time, but need to be stiffer to compensate.

2

Noel Dolphin @noeldolphin.bsky.social · 12d

I think GCRE's announcement of power and data can only be a good thing - hopefully gets them one step further to being built. www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-n...

Rail centre looking to attract multi-billion-pound investment

A competition has been launched to find an energy and data centre partner at what would be the world's first integrated train and rail infrastructure testing facility in one of the most deprived parts...

www.walesonline.co.uk

1 1 1

Noel Dolphin @noeldolphin.bsky.social · 13d

It was stuff like this that allowed parts of HS2 to be cancelled with only a whimper. Moving people around in the most efficient way, with the lowest emissions - is overwhelmingly good for the environment - but also boosts UK productivty

2 2 18

Noel Dolphin @noeldolphin.bsky.social · 13d

For some perspective, 1,680 football pitches is 0.018% of UK protected land. To say that temporary HS2 construction sites are visible from space is desecration is insane. On google maps a dinner plate on a table in my back garden is visible from space.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

3 9 35

Noel Dolphin @noeldolphin.bsky.social · 13d

OK - I have a niche hobby: electrification structure spotting. But still feels odd to see Great Western two track cantilever structures outside York.

1 12

Noel Dolphin @noeldolphin.bsky.social · 13d

One of many reasons I avoid Cross-country. Another is the service never going back to pre-covid frequency from Reading.

2

Noel Dolphin @noeldolphin.bsky.social · 13d

Can't beat a lovely stock take - to wake you up after lunch.

Noel Dolphin @noeldolphin.bsky.social · 14d

Last night's book launch for Lines of Power. Another use of my German v Uk graph. Flicking through this morning am drawn to the conclusion - a fervent hope is that the opportunity for a rolling programme of electrification does not slip from view once again.

2 7

Noel Dolphin @noeldolphin.bsky.social · 14d

Given up for life with wifi or 5/4g reception on EMR's Meridian fleet. Now, I just need to remember to print all my work beforehand, like the 1990s.

1 2

Noel Dolphin @noeldolphin.bsky.social · 14d

Been sick for two weeks, but finally headed out to a Rail Industry Association catch-up with a presentation from @crisortunity.bsky.social from @ridingsunbeams.bsky.social - some great facts from India and as always some enthusiasm from Leo.

2