[Article] Iarnród Éireann says fuel scheme will save €2m a year

[Colm Moore]

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...245943748.html

Iarnród Éireann says fuel scheme will save €2m a year

RONAN McGREEVY

IARNRÓD ÉIREANN has said new fuel efficiency measures it is introducing will lower its fuel bills by €2 million a year and cut its carbon emissions by about 7 per cent.

The company said it is already ahead of the 2012 deadline to comply with EU standards for emissions from new rail vehicles.

Iarnród Éireann is conducting trials on a driver advisory system that allows maximum use of braking, track contours and current train position to save on fuel costs.

It has deployed a control system across the entire Dart fleet. The system allows the momentum of a train to be converted into electrical energy during braking so that other trains can be powered by this energy conversion.

Other initiatives it has introduced include lowering the line voltage on the Dart system to reduce the energy consumption. In addition, it will be implementing automatic shutdown systems on the Dart fleet that will allow vehicles to automatically power down when not in service.

The company is hoping that with the expansion of the Dart network to Maynooth and Hazelhatch further environmental benefits will be possible from Dart trains in the high-density Dublin commuter belt.

All commuter railcars, which operate on Drogheda, Dundalk, Maynooth, Gorey and Kildare commuter services, have been fitted with automatic engine shutdown equipment causing the engine to cut out if the vehicle is stationary for a certain amount of time.

The same technology is being fitted to Intercity railcars which operate Cork and Belfast Enterprise services.

As engine technologies improve, Iarnród Éireann will be replacing less efficient diesel engines with more efficient motors with lower CO2 emissions.

An Iarnród Éireann spokesman said: “Fuel efficiency makes economic and environmental sense for us.

“We must focus on our costs, and in key areas environmental initiatives will enable us to this. Rail has always been, by definition, at the forefront of green technology.”

[dowlingm]

regenerative braking wasn't there before?

[karlr42]

Originally Posted by Victor

All commuter railcars, which operate on Drogheda, Dundalk, Maynooth, Gorey and Kildare commuter services, have been fitted with automatic engine shutdown equipment causing the engine to cut out if the vehicle is stationary for a certain amount of time.

What's the odds on this happening at North Strand Junction?

[Thomas Ralph]

The same technology is being fitted to Intercity railcars which operate Cork and Belfast Enterprise services.

O RLY?

[Mark Gleeson]

Originally Posted by dowlingm

regenerative braking wasn't there before?

The DART has been using the regenerative braking facility since 1984, it was turned off in 2006 for some reason and was turned back on in January 2008 curiously 4 weeks or so after someone made inquiries about it on our behalf

Cost savings from the DART are roughly 500,000 euro per annum

The new railcars may be green in terms of emissions they are far from fuel efficent

1. Dublin Cork

Mk4 + locomotive (412 seats)
6 car 22k railcar (368 seats)

22k uses 50% more diesel

2 Tralee Mallow Cork

2700 4 car railcar
3 car 22k railcar

22k uses 30% more diesel