Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms Petrol and diesel car ban 2030

Train enthusiasts may be aware that the first successful electrification of a long distance train line, with locomotives completely able to replace steam, was the railway line which passes along the eastern side of Lake Como from Lecco to Sondrio. There were previous metropolitan systems but the line that passes here was a world first and, even back then in 1902, was "green" and completely powered by hydroelectric.

Plans are now well underway to replace diesel powered trains on the Brescia-Iseo-Edolo line which is 108 km. For anyone interested there are several articles. This one can be translated by Google:

https://www.hdmotori.it/auto/articoli/n530203/treno-idrogeno-italia-trenord-fnm-lombardia/

English translation

There has been a lot of extension to rail electrification going on over here too Peter. It makes sense, where the routes are fixed.
Perhaps we should do the same on all our roads - bring back the trolley bus, convert LGVs to the same and have cars with rather long trolley poles

The hydrogen powered buses and trains give more versatility and can be used to replace diesel power where putting overhead cables is not practical or not warrented by the volume of traffic.

VW's ID range are built with Zero emission construction model, (there again we know how VW can be creative with the truth, funny how US owners have been compensated though isn't it?)

There is no getting away from the fact we need to reduce green house gasses, I just question how much self interest of generating new economic activity for new technologies is in play here.....especially when they prove just as polluting overall.

Exactly John. When you can buy a green hybrid that does 24 mpg & and ICE will give over 50 mpg you have to question the logic.

I remember when I was a lad the whole of London had a system of electrical powered buses called Trolley buses, these were all done away with in favour of diesel engined buses bet our illustrious mayor of London wishes we had never done away with that valuable asset

I remember the trolley buses in London .... surprising accelleration and quiet .... tho every now and again the power poles would jump off and the driver would have to hook them back on with a long pole ..... my uncle worked on them.

To be fair I think they were scrapped long before the current mayor was thought of .... I remember when the Mayor of London was only heard of on high days and holidays when he waved from a cermonial coach .... not the politicised mayor of these days

K

There were trolley buses and trams in Glasgow, though given the time and cost of the Edinburgh tram linking the city to the airport in recent years, I suspect it would be quite some time to see them return, if ever..!

I remember the trolley buses that ran between Wolverhampton, Dudley and Walsall upto 1967, always a great experience compared to catching a bus, the conductor with a long wooden pole from time to time would have to move the collector across to a new overhead cable network. They were replaced because the overhead network required serious updating and major investment and a new trolley bus cost £1200 more than the diesel replacement. At least they have more recently replaced most of the tram network, having to replace all the rails they tore out in the 70's. We never seem to learn.