Infrabel works on regulation to permit diesel-electric locs in Belgium
Belgian infrastructure manager Infrabel has new regulation in the making that will allow diesel-hybrid locomotives on the network. The company had received request from operators for permissions, sister publication Flows reports, which set things in motion. All the details should be ironed out by June.
Belgium recently committed to phasing out diesel-powered rolling stock by means of comments by minister for Mobility Georges Gilkinet. Around 4 per cent of the network operated by infrastructure manager Infrabel is currently without overhead lines. As such, only 5 per cent of SNCB passenger services are carried out with diesel-powered rolling stock. “Belgium is a real frontrunner in that regard”, the minister said. “Obviously we would like to deploy battery-electric trains, as they don’t produce emissions and are quieter.
Upon queries by Flows regarding the hybrid diesel-electric locomotives that rail freight company Lineas has in its fleet, it was revealed that this rolling stock is currently not permitted on the Belgian network. The locs are used in Germany and France instead.
An Infrabel spokesperson stressed that it is technically feasible, but said that the company’s had to iron out some internal organisational regulations and procedures first. “The request by operators for access will be included in the requests for train paths, as signal boxes need to be made aware. Finally, rolling stock switching from diesel to electric of vice versa will have to be done while stationary.”
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Further reading:
But of course, by far the safest and most energy effective on shore transport device, shall not be obstructed, but max benefitted of!
(Electrification of vitals, as railways, simply has to prove robust, redundant!)
All known and plaguing disturbances now have to be outed from railways!
(Clients, ware owners, have shifted to “On Demand” and high quality at supply chains call for low risk and “JIT”, etc.)