Crossrail Update
Much has been said about Crossrail’s promise to set new standards for rail projects – from rethinking station design to requiring contractors to train new apprentices. But when it comes to being environmentallyminded, what has the Crossrail Project achieved which improves upon what went before?
LIGHTENING THE LOAD
Big claims are made for the new trains. Bombardier’s Aventra Class 345s are said to be 25% lighter than existing trains on the rail network of an equivalent length. Having been set a target of designing a train weighing less than 350 tonnes, the total train mass achieved weighs in at around 319 tonnes.
There are some smart systems on-board to maximise energy recovery during braking and minimise waste in managing the on-board heating and cooling systems for passengers. LED lighting features automatic dimming and there’s an intelligent stabling system to minimise energy use when the trains are parked. An advisory system will tell drivers to moderate power consumption if services are running ahead of schedule.
At Old Oak Common, the structure of the main depot building is now complete and solar photovoltaic and solar thermal roof panels, energy piles and rainwater harvesting syst…
