In a first for the UK it has been revealed that cutting edge battery technology will enable certain sections of future Midland Metro extensions to be constructed without overhead wires. Often one of the major objections received to the construction of tram lines through historic areas is the supposed unsightliness of the overhead wires and support so the development of this technology will change some of these anti-tram opinions.<\/p>\n
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The entire fleet of Urbos 3 trams running on Midland Metro will be fitted with hi-tech batteries which enable them to operate without overhead power in \u201carchitecturally sensitive\u201d areas. It will also provide cost savings in some areas where expensive infrastructure works would be needed to allow for the addition of overhead wires.<\/p>\n
Cllr John McNicholas, chairman of the West Midlands Integrated Transport Authority\u2019s delivery committee, said: \u201cWhen we placed the order in 2012 for our new fleet of trams the ITA had the vision for them being capable of running without overhead wires. The technology then was not sufficiently developed to incorporate into the Birmingham city centre extension, but provision was made within the contract that should technology catch up the new trams could be retro-fitted with batteries. That is now the case and the application of battery technology on this scale in the West Midlands will be a historic first for the UK light rail industry and the modern era of British tramways.”<\/p>\n
Urbos 3 trams already run catenary-free in sections of the tram networks in Zaragoza, Seville and Cadiz in Spain but these use supercapacitors to provide on-board energy storage. It is considered that the steep gradients in Pinfold Street between New Street station and Victoria Square would be too much for these supercapacitors but newly available lithium ion batteries will be more robust.<\/p>\n
Four sections of future extensions have been identified as suitable for battery operation:<\/p>\n
* The whole of the Birmingham Centenary Square extension \u2013 including through Victoria Square \u2013 where the Town Hall and Council House are situated<\/p>\n
* Birmingham-Edgbaston extension from Centenary Square to Brindleyplace and through the underpass at Five Ways<\/p>\n
* Birmingham Eastside extension between Moor Street Queensway and Digbeth High Street, including under the proposed HS2 station at Curzon Street<\/p>\n
* Wolverhampton City Centre extension between the bus station and the railway station tramstops.<\/p>\n
The proposed extension from Wednesbury to Brierley Hill will also be evaluated to see if any sections would be suitable for catenary free operation.<\/p>\n
It is expected that using battery operation on these four sections will gain savings of \u00a3650,000 but longer term there will be greater savings as there is now no longer any need to prepare roads or buildings for overhead lines.<\/p>\n
The current fleet of 21 Urbos 3 trams will be retrofitted with the batteries \u2013 negotiations have begun with battery suppliers but no decision has yet been made on the manufacturer of the batteries \u2013 and a further four trams are now on order to maintain the current level of service once the Centenary Square extension opens. These latter four trams will come with batteries already installed upon delivery.<\/p>\n
The batteries will be fitted on the tram roof and will be recharged by the overhead lines along other parts of the route. They are expected to need replacing at seven year intervals.<\/p>\n
The cost of the batteries will be partly covered by a \u00a331.5m contribution from the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership with a further \u00a31m from UKTram.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In a first for the UK it has been revealed that cutting edge battery technology will enable certain sections of future Midland Metro extensions to be constructed without overhead wires. Often one of the major objections received to the construction … Continue reading