High electricity prices makes Freightliner resort to diesel locos
No wires and maybe no emissions either. Class example 66534 with an intermodal train approaching Eastleigh (WikiCommons /Murgatroyd49) source: Wiki Commons
The shocking rise in electricity prices has sparked some rail freight operators into a startling scenario. Electric locomotives are to be stopped and operators will resort to diesel traction instead. This would pose difficult questions for the UK and devolved governments, who lay claim to a diversified energy generation policy. It would also drive a freight train straight through decarbonisation plans.
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Network Rail has a long term contract for electricity supply signed in 2013 with EON, and this fixed the long term price of electricity to train operators.
Freightliner say “As a result of soaring prices on the UK’s wholesale electricity market, the price Network Rail charges us to operate electric train services has increased by more than 210 per cent between September and October”.
Is this because Freightliner chose to use electricity from the wholesale market?