 |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Railways through Europe |
maps and interoperabilty |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
25kV and BB21 to boost Dutch capacity
|
Netherlands Transport Minister Tineke
Netelenbos has approved the eventual
conversion of the Dutch rail network from 1.5kV DC to 25kV, and the
introduction of a new transmission-based train control system known as BB21
(Beheersen en Beveiligen in de 21e eeuw). At the end of last year she
allocated 1bn guilders in the Transport Ministry's long-term infrastructure
programme for the development and installation of BB21 and 25kV to boost
capacity on selected routes.
|
 |
|
Based on ERTMS/ETCS protocols, BB21 will increase line capacity on the
busiest corridors through the use of moving block, avoiding the need for
expensive quadrupling works. Adoption of European standards will also ensure
interoperability, ending the need for locomotive changes on cross-border
operations. For this reason the new equipment will initially be installed on
international routes and TEN corridors. The introduction of BB21 will also
eliminate the expensive task of immunising existing signalling against
interference from 25kV traction supplies.
The adoption of 25kV is also being driven by interoperability and capacity
enhancement requirements. By increasing the power available it will enable
trains to accelerate faster and run at speeds over 200km/h. As the DC power
supply network currently limits the number of trains which can be
accommodated on busy routes, Mrs Netelenbos has instructed Railned to
install additional DC substations to relieve pressure as an interim measure
(RG 8.97 p517).
The Ministry has allocated an initial 190m guilders for development of BB21
to an operational level by 2004, ready for installation on the Betuwe
freight route and the HSL Zuid Amsterdam - Antwerpen high speed line, which
are both due to open in 2005. The equipment will also be fitted to the HSL
Oost corridor between Amsterdam, Utrecht and the German border, possibly
avoiding the need to quadruple some parts of the Amsterdam - Utrecht line. A
further 800m guilders will be required to fit BB21 to the rest of the
national rail network between 2007 and 2010, including 300m guilders to fit
on-train equipment. In a related safety improvement, the Ministry will be
looking to eliminate as many level crossings as possible from the network.
The government had already decided to install 25kV electrification on the
two high-speed lines and the Betuwe route. Conversion of the entire network
to 25kV is costed at 3bn guilders. Mrs Netelenbos is expected to set out the
formal conversion strategy in the next few months, but a staged process
following the introduction of BB21 is anticipated.
NS has recently put into service substantial fleets of new rolling stock,
and adaptation of these to dual-system operation is not considered
cost-effective. Railned has therefore recommended to the Minister that
conversion of the network to 25kV should be phased to match the replacement
of the existing trains by new equipment.
Meanwhile, the Transport Ministry is understood to be negotiating a private
finance initiative for tracklaying, electrification and signalling of the
Betuwe route, which is valued at 1.3bn guilders. The intention is that the
contractor will recoup the cost of the investment from access charges over a
30 year period.
NS has put forward proposals for a new network of high-speed inter-city
services making use of the HSL Zuid and HSL Oost corridors. Sharing tracks
with 300km/h international services, the domestic ICs would fan out from the
new line to serve 27 key cities. Journey time savings of around 22% are
envisaged, leading to a 40% increase in passenger numbers. Semi-fast and
suburban trains would continue to use the existing lines, but NS has not
indicated what would happen to regional stopping services. Local services on
the Arnhem - Venlo corridor are to be replaced by buses from the next
timetable change to release line capacity for freight trains pending
completion of the Betuwe route.
|
| Text taken from (Railway Gazette International) |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
page last updated: 1. September 2004 |
©1998-2008 Thorsten Büker |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
