How the media works, rail decarbonisation edition

MPs take evidence from experts
one MP questions electrification
experts set him straight
newspaper turns MP's comment into headline
headline and article says "MPs" (plural)

Let's review the evidence, shall we?

1/

First, some background.

UK rail traffic is largely electrified – but significant sections of track (+ freight) still use diesel locomotives.

To reach UK net-zero goal, that must change.

So MPs on @CommonsTrans are rightly asking what we should do:

https://committees.parliament.uk/work/653/trains-fit-for-the-future/

Yesterday, the MPs took evidence from a bunch of experts. So far so good!

You can watch the meeting here:

https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/1893537a-ff63-4be7-ade7-04cb582edc5a

During the meeting, one of the MPs on the committee @gregsmith_uk raised doubts about further electrification of the rail network, comparing it to the diesel car fiasco.

I have to admit I found this confusing…

(more on the actual evidence later)

Anyway, I'm told all three expert witnesses on the panel at the time responded by setting him straight

My spies tell me: "His comments got fairly short shrift. There was eye rolling."

Trouble is, that single MP's comments somehow became the story, for the Daily Telegraph

Worse, he has become multiple "MPs" – not only in the headline but in the article intro too

This is a well-worn trope seen many times before, which is clearly intended to give extra weight

The article also featured prominently in today's Daily Telegraph print edition, under a different headline, but with the same message

So what do we know about emissions from UK rail?

It's not a huge amount, at 3.6MtCO2e in 2016/17, but it still needs eliminating if we're to reach net-zero

https://www.rssb.co.uk/Research-and-Technology/Sustainability/Decarbonisation/Decarbonisation-our-final-report-to-the-Rail-Minister

We also know that electricity powers 80% of journeys, even though only 42% of track kilometres is electrified.

https://www.rssb.co.uk/Research-and-Technology/Sustainability/Decarbonisation/Decarbonisation-our-final-report-to-the-Rail-Minister

What's more, CO2 per passenger kilometre fell by 50% during 2005-2016, thanks to progress decarbonising the UK's electricity supplies

https://www.rssb.co.uk/Research-and-Technology/Sustainability/Decarbonisation/Decarbonisation-our-final-report-to-the-Rail-Minister

Here's what the Office of Road and Rail has to say about why rail emissions per passenger km are falling:

https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/media/1531/rail-emissions-2018-19.pdf

Still, there is another 15,400 "STKs" (single track kilometres) of unelectrified rail, which needs fixing for that net-zero target

Here's how Network Rail suggests we do it:

85% more electrification
8% hydrogen
5% battery train
2%

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Traction-Decarbonisation-Network-Strategy-Executive-Summary.pdf

Why so little H2? Aren't we testing H2 trains already?

Pros and cons of H2, per Network Rail

no need for wires
quiet, clean
need 8x larger fuel tank than diesel
currently no freight or high-speed H2 locos
currently no clean H2

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Traction-Decarbonisation-Network-Strategy-Executive-Summary.pdf

Here's how Network Rail summarises electric vs battery vs hydrogen in one image, with traffic lights

Have to say, I didn't realise hydrogen trains weren't (currently) considered suitable for high speed or freight

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Traction-Decarbonisation-Network-Strategy-Interim-Programme-Business-Case.pdf

There's a more detailed technical backgrounder on all this, from the Rail Safety and Standards Board

(only available to members but I got my hands on a copy)

The doc explains the traffic light coding in more detail

TL;DR you need a lot of space to store hydrogen

The technical doc also looks at the CO2 footprint of various potential ways of fuel rail

NB how electrification offers big savings *right now, today* and even more in future (sound familiar?)

(green hydrogen would be zero CO2, but it doesn't currently exist at scale)

Of course, there are practical and economic challenges to installing overhead wires across more of the rail network

Recent experience has been, shall we say, suboptimal

https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/london-to-cardiff-rail-electrification-opens-after-years-of-delays-and-cost-hikes-09-01-2020/

In summary, Network Rail says we need a mix of solutions to fully decarbonise the UK rail network

H2 is part of the answer, but only 8% of it (acc NR)

Electrification is a much, much bigger part (84%)

Also- newspapers, pls stop turning single ppl into many ppl for effect

Fin/

I forgot to say, I still can't quite work out why Greg Smith thinks rail electrification could turn into the next diesel scandal.

I *think* maybe he means we could electrify more trains and fail to decarbonise electricity?

Answers on a postcard pls!