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| Ex-Underground train plan for Harrogate line | Ex-Underground train plan for Harrogate line |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Business leaders in a North Yorkshire town believe they have found a solution to the limited rail services between Leeds, York and Harrogate, by using former London Underground trains. | Business leaders in a North Yorkshire town believe they have found a solution to the limited rail services between Leeds, York and Harrogate, by using former London Underground trains. |
| Plans are being drafted to utilise the so-called "sub-surface" electric trains to ease a lack of capacity on the route. | Plans are being drafted to utilise the so-called "sub-surface" electric trains to ease a lack of capacity on the route. |
| The scheme, if successful, could be running by 2014. | The scheme, if successful, could be running by 2014. |
| The plan is backed by Harrogate Chamber of Trade and Commerce. | The plan is backed by Harrogate Chamber of Trade and Commerce. |
| It envisages using trains that are ex-District Line trains - commonly referred to as 'sub-surface lines' carriages. | It envisages using trains that are ex-District Line trains - commonly referred to as 'sub-surface lines' carriages. |
| The trains have one owner, London Underground, and their engineers gave them a serious overhaul five years ago, replacing many components. | The trains have one owner, London Underground, and their engineers gave them a serious overhaul five years ago, replacing many components. |
| Electrifying line | Electrifying line |
| These electric trains trains would provide 60% more seats than the current service, experts believe. | |
| The use of these trains would mean electrifying the line - but not with the overhead power cables used elsewhere. | The use of these trains would mean electrifying the line - but not with the overhead power cables used elsewhere. |
| The power would come from a rail mounted a couple of feet above the track and a "current collector" would run along it, feeding electricity to the trains' motors. | The power would come from a rail mounted a couple of feet above the track and a "current collector" would run along it, feeding electricity to the trains' motors. |
| A similar system is already used in the south east of England, on the London Underground and on a large part of Merseyside's commuter network. | A similar system is already used in the south east of England, on the London Underground and on a large part of Merseyside's commuter network. |
| And the plan would not prohibit other trains from using the same tracks, so diesel trains could substitute in an emergency and Harrogate's direct train to London could still operate. | And the plan would not prohibit other trains from using the same tracks, so diesel trains could substitute in an emergency and Harrogate's direct train to London could still operate. |
| This would mean the timetable between Leeds and Knaresborough could be boosted to every 15 minutes and between Knaresborough and York to every 30 minutes. | This would mean the timetable between Leeds and Knaresborough could be boosted to every 15 minutes and between Knaresborough and York to every 30 minutes. |
| 'Reliable scheme' | 'Reliable scheme' |
| Chamber chief executive Brian Dunsby said: "The chamber's solution is a modern low-cost ground-level electrification system, similar to that used on the Docklands Light Railway. | Chamber chief executive Brian Dunsby said: "The chamber's solution is a modern low-cost ground-level electrification system, similar to that used on the Docklands Light Railway. |
| "This should be more reliable and much simpler and quicker to install than the conventional overhead electrical systems used on the East Coast and West Coast mainlines. | "This should be more reliable and much simpler and quicker to install than the conventional overhead electrical systems used on the East Coast and West Coast mainlines. |
| "It would also be less technically challenging in the Bramhope tunnel. | "It would also be less technically challenging in the Bramhope tunnel. |
| "And it would be easier to install on the high-level viaducts along the route, including the Wharfedale and Crimple Valleys and the Knaresborough viaduct, where overhead cables would be an eyesore on what are now Grade 2 listed structures." | "And it would be easier to install on the high-level viaducts along the route, including the Wharfedale and Crimple Valleys and the Knaresborough viaduct, where overhead cables would be an eyesore on what are now Grade 2 listed structures." |