COst-Reducing Dynamic Electrification gradient System (CODES)

Currently, 42% of the UK's routed rail network is electrified, with 4,238km using overhead electrification infrastructure (Office of Road and Rail 2018/19). According to Network Rail plans, there is a positive business case for electrification. However, the projected cost of rolling programmes in the UK is around £2.5 - £3.5 million per single track kilometre (stk) against for instance Germany, it is typically £1m per stk.

The RIA Electrification Cost Challenge -- March 2019 highlighted that the contribution of civil interventions to the total cost of electrification can be as high as 40%.

In response, Furrer+Frey are proposing to develop a physical gradient dynamic system at GCRE, that will allow rapid, real-life replication of current and proposed electrification gradients, so that dynamic testing of the train and electrification interface can be tested in the real world in order to reduce the need for civils interventions.

Furrer+Frey modelling shows that at least 20% of the civil interventions on recent major electrification projects could have been removed through better testing. The CODES project (COst-Reducing Dynamic Electrification gradient System) is designed to allow us and Network Rail to create real-life twins of the rail infrastructure, so different gradients can be tested quickly, affordably and efficiently in a test environment.

CODES will save testing costs, reduce project durations, reduce railway electrification costs by removing civil interventions and also reduce the embodied carbon of raising bridges.