Market Engagement Questionnaire for T1418 How can batteries make the DC network safer and more cost effective?

DC electrification is a system used to provide electric traction power to trains via an exposed conductor rail, commonly described as the ‘3rd rail’. The 3rd rail system is predominantly used in the south of England but is also used by the Merseyside commuter rail network in the North-West. Because of its accessible position on the ground next to the running rails, 3rd rail systems pose an electrical safety risk to the public and railway staff.

To address these concerns in a cost-effective way, small retrofittable batteries could be used to allow trains to run between modest gaps in 3rd rail. This would allow removal of live 3rd rail at higher risk location such as stations, level crossing, and junctions. Elimination of certain sections of the DC network, such as at switch and crossing junctions, could also result in maintenance productivity gains. RSSB project T1272 ‘Compatibility and optimisation considerations for rolling stock traction batteries and battery charging’ (T1272 Phase 1b Report FINAL – Page 64) indicated that a modest sized battery of 100 kWh could potentially remove larger parts of the DC network and allow a train to move through up to two kilometres of traction power disruptions.

The introduction of batteries for these aims must consider capital and operational costs, the engineering and operational controls that would be needed, and the transition strategy for both rolling stock and infrastructure.

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