(Yesterday, 10:46 pm)solsburian wrote Sadly there is a real chance that the Porterbrook Class 350/2s could be scrapped, and potentially with batteries fitter be an ideal unit to supplement the North of Tyne heavy rail services. Potentially with batteries, with very short sections of overhead line could be fitted at locations like Ashington (hopefully eventually Newbiggin) and Hexham as recharge points off the mainline AC network (with the side bereft possibly being a springboard for then gradually infilling the electrification). Sadly, I think the 759 fiasco has killed anything like that unless authorities wold pay into a scheme. One Class 379 Electrostar was fitted with batteries and from what I understand it was a reasonable success as a trial, and shows that potentially newer trains are amenable to such modifications. GWR trails with battery only Class 230s trials, with their micro 3rd rail recharging system does seem to suggest merit with such approaches.

Another issues is the need to being down the cost of Electrification, which I guess will need NR to swallow its pride and give Balfour Beaty a call for them to price up variants of the low cost lightweight BR Mk3 systems they have been successfully selling abroad for the best part of 50 years, including to Amtrak and the NY MTA (including Mk1/3 upgrades for older US systems) and recently, New Zeeland (again) and Caltrain.

Honestly can't disagree with any of that to be honest. Would be a good move aswell and reletively cheap really; since I'd assume the three lines would have enough juice to do it. 

One bit of electrification I'd love to see is the line between Newcastle and the Metrocentre so then if you did do the Hexham runs you've got a chunk of that line done aswell.

Sadly we're more bothered about expensive Metro lines between South Hylton and Washington which will cost an absolute fortune with imo not that much benefit either when lots of little schemes could be done instead which would benefit the region, as a whole, more imo. 

I've got no arguments about the line between Washington and Pelaw though as it serves a massive town and a major employment site at Follingsby aswell but we know fine well that ain't happening alone because that benefits Newcastle City Centre and not Sunderland City Centre and well...