RSSB: cost savings from new electrification standards

The Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) has introduced new electrification standards that it says will deliver £27 million cost savings to the industry over the next five years.

In its own words, the new standards “reduce red tape”, with the £27m saving based on 100 single track kilometres (STKs) per year for the next five years.

This will deliver either lower electrification costs or more STKs for the same cost, and is a key part of the industry’s drive to lower electrification costs.

A key part of the change is revised contact wire height/ clearance requirements, to avoid bridge reconstruction.

Previous standards, an increase against those used by latter-day BR electrification teams, is one of the main drivers of increased costs.

“The changes to these standards make a welcome contribution to delivery of a safe and reliable contact system, while reducing the costs of electrification,” said Garry Keenor, Professional Head of Discipline - Electrification, Transportation, Atkins.

The introduction of Standard RIS-2715-RST Issue 1 (Rolling Stock Subsystem and Interface to AC Energy Subsystem), together with updates to GMRT2111 Issue 3 (Rolling Stock Subsystem and Interface to AC Energy Subsystem), provides “rationale and guidance for achieving compatibility at the interface between rolling stock and the AC energy subsystem”, said RSSB.

The move has been welcomed by Phil Doughty, Chief M&E Engineer, at Network Rail, who said “Having been an active contributor to this work, I’m confident that these standards will play an important part in supporting Network Rail’s ongoing efforts to drive down the cost of AC electrification.”

RSSB said its standards update has “provided a solution which significantly reduces costs while still delivering a safe, reliable energy system”.

The new standards set clearer requirements and guidance to achieve route technical compatibility between rolling stock and the AC energy subsystem.

RSSB added that the reduction in costs achieved by the changes to standards “will support delivery of decarbonisation objectives, including Government’s legal commitment to achieve ‘net zero’ greenhouse gas emissions by 2050”.