can pass safely use)
Available width of headroom indicated
Sharp deviation of route to left (or right if chevrons reversed)
Light signals ahead at level
crossing, airfield or bridge
Miniature warning lights at level crossings
Cattle
Wild animals Wild horses or ponies
Accompanied horses or ponies
Cycle route ahead
Here is what our companies are doing to make Getting from A to B more sustainable:
Risk of ice
Traffic queues likely ahead
Distance over which road humps extend
Other danger; plate indicates nature of danger
Soft verges
Fuel Sources
Side winds
It is in the interest of Virgin Trains to find a source of sustainable biofuel as an alternative to oil given that the world’s supplies are predicted to soon peak and decline3
Hump bridge Worded warning sign
Trains successfully ran the first ever scheduled train on a biodiesel blend in the UK4
. This was
part of a six month trial run in association with Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC)5 (RSSB)6
and Railway Safety Standards Board , to test the use of biodiesel. The trial was
successful in that it showed that the train could operate without impairing its performance. It also demonstrated the potential to reduce CO2 emissions from train travel by 12%. Although the trial was successful it will not be taken further for the fleet of 21 Super Voyagers (diesel) trains, until a source of commercially viable biofuels is found that is both environmentally and socially responsible.
. In June 2007, Virgin
109
Quayside or river bank
Trains has recently introduced energy metering and eco-driving which have the potential to reduce traction energy use by 5-10% . Virgin Trains seeks to be closely involved in the development of the infrastructure and technology of ‘new generation’ train designs.
Risk of grounding
Virgin Trains has worked with the Carbon Trust on a co-funded project to understand and reduce the carbon footprint of every aspect of its business7
. The company’s growth plans mean
Virgin Trains’ total carbon footprint will increase. However, because of the measures introduced with the help of the Carbon Trust, the footprint per passenger should decrease.
Energy Use
Virgin Trains’ carbon footprint is highly dependent on the trains’ design and the fuel that is used. Although it was involved in the design of its trains, fuel efficiency was only one of many aspects considered. A major factor in improved performance was the incorporation of tilting technology which enables Virgin Trains to operate competitively against domestic air travel .
It’s possible to reduce the carbon footprint of a train journey, simply by improving driving behaviour. Taking basic efficiency measures like this is always a fundamental first step as they are considerably more sustainable than buying new energy efficient trains, developing alternative fuels or overhauling existing infrastructure. Virgin
34
Due to the current franchise model in the UK, large-scale modification of existing fleets presents enormous challenges. Making even minor software adjustments to improve onboard consumption of power can be an extremely costly and lengthy process. Virgin Trains has however been successful in implementing a range of modifications to its fleet to increase energy efficiency. Virgin Trains is:
• the first UK inter-city train operator to introduce regenerative braking on the Pendolino trains
• introducing a software upgrade on the trains’ onboard computers that enables all trains to register and record energy usage which can then be analysed to increase efficiencies further
• embarking on a Pendolino lengthening scheme to increase passenger capacity which will in turn increase energy efficiency per passenger (a DfT/Virgin project)
• reducing the diesel fuel consumption of Super Voyager trains by lowering the power output.
The use of tilt technology allows Virgin trains to travel over the main London to Glasgow route at high speeds on regular railway tracks. As a result, the reduced overall journey time competes very strongly against domestic airlines especially when factoring in the time saved by the train travelling directly into the city centre.
‘Traction energy’ is the energy that physically drives the train along as opposed to ‘hotel energy’ which is used for lighting, heating, air conditioning etc.
Conventional brakes convert the train’s kinetic energy into waste heat and noise, whereas regenerative brakes convert a proportion of energy into electrical energy which feeds back into the national grid. All 52 of its Pendolino (electric) trains have regenerative brakes which return 17% of the energy used to the grid.
3. For a definition of Peak Oil go to page 20
4. B20 – 20% bio-diesel, 80% ultra-low sulphur diesel
5. Association of Train Operating Companies – ATOC (www.atoc.org)
6. Railway Safety Standards Board – RSSB (www.rssb.co.uk)
7. The Carbon Trust (www.carbontrust.co.uk)
ns
Dual
rriageway ends
Road narrows on right (left if
symbol reversed)
Road
narrows on both sides
Distance to ‘Give Way’ line ahead
Junction on bend ahead
T-junction with priority over vehicles from the right
Staggered junction
e priority through route is indicated by the broader line.
Traffic merging from left ahead
Bend to right
(or left if symbol reversed)
Roundabout
Uneven road
Plate below some signs
Two-way traffic straight ahead
Opening or swing bridge ahead
Low-flying aircraft or sudden
aircraft noise
Falling or fallen rocks
Steep hill
Steep hill
Over the year each Pendolino train saves enough energy to power over 11,000 homes.
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