Household coal ban ‘will not affect steam trains’
...but fears sounded that coal import costs could close some lines
THE Government’s forthcoming ban on sales of coal and wet wood for domestic heating, in a bid to cut air pollution, will not include fuel used for steam locomotives, according to Heritage Railway Association chairman Brian Simpson.
However, concerns are growing about the future of supplies of coal for steam engines and how much they will cost, as the three existing British pits are expected to close within the next three years.
On February 21, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) confirmed that the ban, which had been announced in 2018, will see the sales phased out in England from February 2021.
Environment Secretary George Eustice said: “Cosy open fires and wood-burning stoves are at the heart of many homes up and down the country, but the use of certain fuels means that they are also the biggest source of the most harmful pollutant that is affecting people in the UK.”
Wet or ‘unseasoned’ wood, a cheap form of solid fuel, has not been left in storage to dry out fully, meaning that it has a moisture content of 21% or above, and therefore generates more smoke and contains more harmful air pollutants than dry wood, an environmentally cleaner and more efficient fuel.
From February next year, sales of bagged house coal and loose coal for domestic use will be phased out, in favour of alternatives such as wood pellets, briquettes or ‘hog fuel’, comprised of dried waste wood material from forestry.
However, Brian said: “The ban doesn’t apply to coal used in heritage rail. We have some concerns about where our future fuel will come from, and its cost. But DEFRA has confirmed that its proposals for domestic coal burning won’t prevent heritage railways continuing to use the fuels we need.”
Lord Ashton, the Undersecretary of State for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, also confirmed that the department is working carefully to consider how to achieve a balance between environmental and public health protection and ensuring that the UK’S heritage vehicle industry continues to thrive, and is holding meetings with DEFRA to that effect, said a HRA statement.
“Environmental, health and safety matters are always highest on heritage rail’s list of responsibilities,” the statement added. “Through the HRA, the sector has been actively working with government, engaged in processes that will mitigate the impact of emissions on the environment.”
The last UK steam coal suppliers
The three surviving open-cast mines currently supplying the heritage railway sector with steam coal are the Banks Group’s Shotton near Cramlington, five miles north of Newcastle-upon-tyne (closure expected 2021); Hargreaves’ House of Water at Killoch in Scotland (2021, to be confirmed); and Celtic Mines’ffos-y-fran near Port Talbot (2023).
Banks has been trying for the past 10 years to win planning permission to open a new opencast mine near Widdrington station in Northumberland but so far without success.
Unless permission is granted to any or all of them to extend their lifespans, or open a new mine, the heritage section will have to import coal – with international shipping adding to the cost.
Russia is deemed to be the current market leader because of the exchange rate with the rouble, and Colombian coal is regarded highly, while North America and Australia are other possible outlets. However, critics point out that the extra greenhouse gases generated by shipping will outweigh any benefit to the climate by ceasing production in the UK.
Nigel Yaxley, managing director of the Association of UK Coal Importers and Producers, warned that the cost of imports could force some heritage lines to close. He said: “Households which rely on domestic coal could see at least a 30% increase in their annual fuel bill if they have to switch to manufactured smokeless fuels.
“Given large numbers of these households are already below the poverty line, a ban on the sale of domestic coal could see thousands pushed into a position of fuel poverty. The elderly would be amongst the hardest hit by a ban, as 37% of the customers served by coal merchants are 65 and over, more than double the figure for the UK population as a whole.
“The house coal ban is clearly disproportionate because a recent report published by DEFRA confirms that wood is the main problem – causing around 40% of national PM (particulate matter ) 2.5 emissions compared to coal at less than 2%.
“British-built steam trains were designed to run on British coal. This draconian ban on house coal will cause UK producers to cease production of this high quality coal, and our steam locomotives may no longer be able to source the bituminous lump coal they need from foreign suppliers – or at least not at a price they can afford.
“This would lead to the demise of these much-loved visitor attractions.”
Climate protests groups ‘not a major threat’
Meanwhile, the perceived threat by public protests to coal-fired steam trains, might be much less than main line operators and the heritage railway museum movement imagine, if the responses to a straw-poll of environmental pressure groups by Heritage Railway contributor Hugh
Dougherty, are to be believed.
Friends of the Earth press office came back immediately to say that the organisation has no policy on the issue and isn’t working on one, while Matteo Besana, senior press officer of the Green Party replied at once to say: “The Green Party does not support the banning of heritage steam trains.”
But Extinction Rebellion, which has been a major disruptor of transport services, including rail, during climate change protests, and which could have heritage steam in its sights, failed to answer questions about its policy on coal-fired steam trains. Two emails to its media centre went unanswered after an initial acknowledgement and follow-up telephone calls and texts were ignored. Greenpeace also failed to respond.
Hugh asked the organisations if they felt that coal-fired steam trains should be banned and would advocate the use of alternative fuels. He enquired if they accepted that heritage steam trains burned a tiny proportion of coal consumed nationally, and that they removed thousands of car journeys from roads, especially where lines provided park-and-ride facilities or ran through scenic and fragile areas, so protecting the environment.
Although none answered the questions individually, it was clear that Friends of the Earth and the Green Party have no issues with heritage steam, but the failure of Extinction Rebellion to respond, either strengthens the view held by many members of the media that the organisation’s press relations are lacking, or shows that they have no policy on the matter.
Hugh said: “As a journalist, I felt that these questions needed to be asked. Much of the debate within the heritage railway movement has, so far and rightly, been about the potential, future problems of coal supplies and the Government’s attitude to coal burning, but there is also a need to consider the environmental implications and the possible response of climate change activists to operations.”
“The ban doesn’t apply to coal used in heritage rail. We have some concerns about where our future fuel will come from, and its cost. But DEFRA has confirmed that their proposals for domestic coal burning won’t prevent heritage railways continuing to use the fuels we need.”