Hydrogen-powered train today

Fri 2 Oct 2020, 14:07

Ted

I think the BBC have edited their item since I posted.  On Wednesday they originally said all the running was in Warwickshire.  Only the last bit of the Long Marston branch is in Warwickshire. 

Fri 2 Oct 2020, 09:33

Alan, Christine,

I think it depends on your definitions. The Long Marston Branch is a Network Rail running line so by the standards that use 'main line' to mean real railway as opposed to siding, dedicated test track (which it isn't) or Heritage railway it's a main line. This puts main line running in Warwickshire, of course. By the standards that refer to the Heathrow Airport Branch, with 8 trains per hour each way, you don't get on to a main line until Wolvercote Jn at Oxford. Or by the comments overheard from some First Group staff a while back, you turn on to the branch line to Oxford at Didcot...

Wed 30 Sep 2020, 15:59 (last edited on Wed 30 Sep 2020, 16:05)

It looks as if the 1st daylight journey of the Hydroflex train on the Long Marston to Evesham West loop was on September 21st. There are some pictures taken at Honeybourne  here: http://petertandy.co.uk/longmarston%20page.html

NB A long way down the page!

Presumably something different is happening today (or yesterday?). Funding was obtained by the Quinton Rail Technology Centre at the  University of Birmingham to "take HydroFlex out onto the mainline via the Long Marston branch line. Mainline routes under consideration for this testing include the North Cotswold line and the Alloa to Dunfermline line (in conjunction with ScotRail)."

Yesterday's and today's newspapers suggested the whole route between Oxford and Hereford would be used. But it seems that this has not happened yet.

Wed 30 Sep 2020, 11:36

The run on the main line was between Honeybourne (where the test track from Marston joins) and Evesham (all the run on the main line was in Worcestershire, whatever the BBC may say).

Wed 30 Sep 2020, 09:58 (last edited on Wed 30 Sep 2020, 09:59)

The link Naomi provides does not fit with the news in Mail online which says that the Hydrogen-powered train will run on mainline for the first time today on mainline routes, and on the North Cotswold Line: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8787303/Hydrogen-powered-train-run-mainline-time-TODAY.html.

Given that yesterday's trial was described as being in Warwickshire which does not (I think) have a mainline route between Long Marston (where the train is being built) and Evesham, as shown in yesterday's video, it could be that the Mail is right. 

Yes, more details welcome, please.

Wed 30 Sep 2020, 08:24

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/business-54350046

Looks like it passed through yesterday.

Wed 30 Sep 2020, 06:33

Apparently it's passing through Charlbury on its first-ever run on mainline tracks. Does anyone have more details?