Engineering news
Here are the five most-read Professional Engineering rail stories of 2022. Click on the links throughout to read the full stories.
Printed concrete minimises impact of HS2
HS2 is the biggest infrastructure project in British history, and there are some innovative technologies being used to reduce its impact on the environment to make it the most sustainable railway of its kind in the world, wrote Tom Austin-Morgan in this year’s most-read story. Clean construction techniques and low-carbon technologies are being used on the project, including ‘earth-friendly’ printed concrete and renewable energy instead of diesel power.
HS2 U-turn prevents 'once-in-a-generation opportunity' to boost capacity
Perhaps unsurprisingly, HS2 was also the subject of this year’s second most popular article. Writing in February, David Shirres highlighted the Integrated Rail Plan’s cancellation of “the most transformational part” of HS2’s proposed Y-network, curtailing the eastern leg to Leeds. That decision “fails to make the best use of HS2’s core route from London,” Shirres said.
Elizabeth line finally opens
After a mammoth 13-year construction project, many more years of planning, and countless delays, the Elizabeth line finally started operating in May, transforming journeys through Central London. Many of the project’s most significant challenges have been civil engineering-related, but innovations elsewhere promised to make journeys as smooth, quick and reliable as possible. We looked back through the Professional Engineering archives at some of the novel approaches and engineering advances made during the Crossrail project.
ABB wins $170m order
In October, ABB received orders worth $170m to power more than 300 new trains with energy-efficient traction technologies. The orders, from Spanish firm Stadler Valencia, aimed to ‘modernise and reinforce’ train transportation in countries including Spain, Portugal, the UK, Germany and Austria, as well as some European railway corridors. ABB will supply its traction converters, and motors to power the trains.
‘Tri-mode’ Hitachi train uses batteries, overhead lines and diesel power
Hitachi Rail unveiled a new ‘tri-mode’ train that uses battery, electric and diesel power in September. Aimed at halving fuel consumption and carbon emissions without massive investment in new rail infrastructure, the ‘Blues train’ became the first tri-mode to enter passenger service in Europe when it started operating in Sicily today (20 December).
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