Hello everyone! I am from the United States, in Florida; I hope this is ok for everyone since I am a foreigner from this forum.
Great to see more electrification and Net Carbon Zero technologies in the UK Railways being developed and tested. But what puzzles me is that the UK government, Network Rail, and Great British Railways (2023-onwards) want to make the National Railway network be Net-Carbon Zero by 2050. Still, the thing that puzzles me is the lack of an electrification scheme to finish off the Great Western Mainline Electrification to Bath, Bristol, and points where it is possible. I understand some regions of the Railway network won't use OLE, but I hope Battery and Hydrogen are developed to be used by the Railways. OLE Electrification will help the Mainline Railways to be able to reach speeds of 125 Mph easily and cleaner sources.
Here in the United States, we have some electrification works, and in the Northeast, there are plans to electrify more Rail corridors and lines. We have CAHSR, Caltrain modernization and electrification in California, and some others, including Brightline West.
So in a way, I am all for cleaner sources and that it's achievable and able to travel fast from one destination to another. Also, it's quieter, a win for passengers, Railways, cities, etc.
Are there any active or in the planning Electrification schemes in the UK? I am surprised GWR is not expanding its electrification network coverage?