According to the latest government data, about 29 percent of the UK train fleet still runs on diesel and freight trains run almost entirely on it.
The government claims it is on track “to meet the ambition of removing all diesel-only trains from the network by 2040”.
Electric trains emit 60 percent less carbon than their diesel counterparts, but only 42 percent of the UK rail network is currently electrified, according to official data. This leaves the UK far behind European neighbours, such as the Netherlands, where 76 percent of the network is electrified. Lumo’s new fully electric London-Edinburgh service launched in November.
Some train operators are transitioning via hybrid models. Porterbrook, in collaboration with Rolls-Royce recently announced a hybrid battery-diesel train for services in the Midlands run by Chiltern Railways.
Plans are also underway to produce trains that run on hydrogen. French train manufacturer Alstom is developing the UK’s first-ever fleet of new hydrogen trains, as opposed to rolling stock that has been remodelled.
A hydrogen-powered train was showcased at COP26 recently. Rail is already the lowest emission transport mode, but train operators are confident that hydrogen trains can improve on this.
Sadly, the recent surge in electricity prices has forced some electric-run trains to revert to diesel locomotives. Trade body Rail Freight Group (RFG) insists that this a temporary set-back and looks forward to more investment in electric locomotives.
The head of Britain’s Rail Industry Decarbonisation Task Force and railway safety authority RSSB has said “Britain is leading the world on setting clear targets to reduce carbon, and so it’s critical that all industries play their part”. “Rail is ahead of the curve on the decarbonisation agenda, and our report shows that we can align with the government’s policy for the UK economy to be net carbon zero by 2050. We will need to fully exploit electrification, hydrogen and battery power to make this happen, but we also need all transport sectors to fully comprehend the challenge of decarbonisation.”
There is no doubt the rail industry is working hard to achieve the target of being diesel-free by 2040, and at the moment the future is looking good.
Whatever the trains are running on, White Knight will still be making their reliable range of Lanterns and Signal Lamps for the Rail Industry.
White Knight have been manufacturing Network Rail approved signalling lamps for over 25 year and is best known for their range of rechargeable handlamps.
The White Knight range was developed after extensive research when a major train company expressed concern over the weight of the train driver’s bag, which was partly due to the weight of the old-fashioned Bardic Lamps. White Knight responded by designing and producing the hugely successful Halo personal signalling lamp. Not only was it significantly lighter than the original Bardic lamp, it was also much brighter.
White Knight’s Halo Plus torch is Network Rail approved (Cert. No. PA/05/965) and has been in production since 1990. It is used by the British, German and Swiss rail networks, as well as the Eurostar service and infrastructure companies.
White Knight is a market leader in the supply of specialised lamps to “Blue Light Services”, Rail Networks, Military and Public Utilities worldwide. White Knight holds BS EN ISO 9001 certification, and the company has also achieved a range of industry standards and certification.
As well as the Network Rail approved signalling lamps used for train movement and shunting etc, White Knight also manufacture a sturdy range of lamps for other areas of the rail infrastructure including banksman’s lamps, and other portable spotlights for long and short distance inspection work.
Other White Knight products include bespoke lamps for specific industries and applications.
Talk to the White Knight team for your specific portable lighting solutions or any rail lighting.
Network Rail have a vast array of situations where reliable lightiing is required and it is eessential to the health, safety and general comfort of staff at all places of work to ensure that effective, reliable lighting is used. The quicker and easier it is to see a hazard the
higher the likelihood of avoiding it.
Network Rail have produced an excellent pdf detailing their lighting requirements.
This pdf includes:
- an explanation of the different types of lighting
- considerations when choosing temporary lighting
- Lighting levels for different situations
- An explanation of Lux variations
It also offers some general guidance task lighting requirements
- Pedestrian access to/from work site, access along or between sites
- Site access points, loading/distribution areas, and tracking machines on/off site
- Localised work using small plant e.g., single sleeper replacement, rail head repair weld
- Large worksite multiple task linkable lighting towers
- S&T work location cabinets etc perception to detail required
View and download the Network Rail Lighting PDF
White Knight offer Network Rail approved hand-held railway signalling lamps. Advancements in technology have allowed us to improve the brightness, durability, battery life and overall weight of these lamps, as they continue to provide a vital service, even on our 21st century railways.
White Knight produce reliable and portable high powered illumination for the rail industry, ambulance and rescue, police and SOCO
The HS2 Project has attracted controversy and dissent since it was first announced back in 2012.
The cost of the project originally estimated at around 32.7bn when approved in 2012 has soared to£107.7bn
The Eastern Route has been killed off in in yet another controversy with some sources suggesting it is merely on hold while others seem adamant that it has been killed. Temporarily or permanently, the bottom line is there is just not enough money in government coffers to fund this part of the project.t the buffers next week.
The axing of the route, linking Birmingham with Nottingham, Sheffield and Leeds will save £40 billion.
At the same time another crisis has hit HS2 with Siemens Mobility taking the government to court over the awarding of a £2.8bn train building contract.
According to Siemens the contract was awarded to Hitachi and Bombardier after a process “shrouded in mystery”.
Siemens claim that the Hitachi/Bombardier joint venture was selected in spite of a failure to meet HS2 technical requirements, as well as the lack of consideration of the problems with Hitachi’s trains that led to widespread disruption across the UK rail network earlier this year.
Siemens are seeking an injunction to prevent the awarding of the train building contract to Hitachi and Bombardier, claiming that their own contract is the only one to fulfil HS2’s original requirements.
Back in June HS2 reached an out of court settlement with Spanish train manufacturer, Talgo, for similar issues.
In better news, Hartlepool dock is to be the beneficiary of over 100 new jobs thanks to HS2.
An old oil rig fabrication is set to become a factory for the manufacture of precast tunnel segments for HS2. 36,000 concrete segments will be produced at the site for tunnels running from Old Oak Common station to Green Parkway in London. The new factory is owned by PD Ports at Hartlepool Dock and will bring new skilled job opportunities to the local area.
HS2 claims to have created over 20,000 jobs and the with a completion date of approximately 2030 for the first phase, it is likely that many more jobs and many more controversies, missed deadlines and budget changes will take place.
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White Knight Portable Emergency Lamps for farmers
An late-night emergency for a farmer is stressful enough without having to worry about finding reliable lighting.
Modern agricultural machinery usually has very efficient lighting for farmers to work at night, but in an emergency it may not be possible to use a tractor or similar. A late-night farm emergency might mean that speed is of the esence and often the noise of agricultural machinery could just exacerbate any emergency to say nothing of difficult terrain.
A well-stocked emergency kit will always include emergency portable lighting and like all other emergency equipment this needs to be 100% reliable!
All farmers need to be sure that their portable lighting is adequate, effective and reliable.
White Knight offer the following emergency portable lighting for farmers
The Halo Plus – a personal torch used where guaranteed performance in non-hazardous situations is critical.
The WK-5 Hand Lamp – a versatile lamp used by police, fire and ambulance services throughout the world.
White Knight’s versatile range of portable emergency lighting is relied upon by emergency services around the world.
We also offer a bespoke design service to create the perfect portable lighting for your situation
Give us a call on +44 (0)23 9266 8624 if you need reliable, easy to use, lightweight emergency lighting for your veterinary service teams.
Various rescue teams including mountains rescue teams and the RNLI have called on the public to use caution and common sense when holidaying in the UK this summer.
Lockdown has made foreign holidays almost impossible and thousands of people who would usually go abroad during the summer will be holidaying at home.
While this is fantastic news for local tourism which has suffered badly because of lockdown, it also brings added pressure to rescue services.
Mountain Rescue England and Wales is the umbrella body for 49 volunteer mountain rescue teams and eight regional bodies in England and Wales, while Scotland is home to 27 rescue teams. These teams, along with the RNLI and some coastguard services are all manned by volunteers who give their time freely to ensure that we can enjoy the outdoors safely.
These volunteers are on call 24 hours a day 365 days a year in all-weather to provide assistance to those who need it.
Lockdown restrictions have provided some new challenges as people who are not fully aware of the potential hazards venture out to try new experiences.
Most of these teams are charities who rely heavily on donations to keep them operating. Lockdown has brought extra challenges in this area as fund-raising events have been cancelled and charity shops stayed closed.
Rescue equipment is expensive and needs to be maintained to the highest standards to protect those who need rescuing and those who give their time so selflessly.
Stories abound of people who have needed rescuing because they were ill-prepared. There is also the rather tragic story of an experienced mountaineer who suffered life-changing injuries whilst trying to rescue people who were ill-equipped for their adventure. It is vital that we all prepare adequately and ensure that we have done everything possible to keep ourselves safe and not put rescue teams at risk unnecessarily.
If you are planning to enjoy the outdoors here’s a checklist of kit you might find usefulOutdoor Walking Kit
- Waterproof clothing is essential regardless of the weather forecast.
- Sunglasses, Hats, Gloves & Buffs – Sunglasses aren’t just for summer, they can protect your eyes from wind and glare even in winter. Sun hat, rain hat, warm hat – you’ll probably need one of them and a pair of gloves and a scarf in your backpack won’t go amiss.
- First Aid Kit, Whistle and Torch – A small first aid kit, a reliable torch and a police whistle.
- Sandwiches and Snacks – A well-filled sandwich or pasta in sauce are great options. Trail mix combination of nuts and dried fruit is a great source of energy and relatively heat-resistant.
- Water – Keeping hydrated is vital to a good walk. Depending on how long you’re walking for, you could need up to2 litres!
- Sunscreen – Always
- Map and Compass – Always familiarise yourself with the route and even if you know it well make sure you have a map and compass or GPS device out with you. You never know when you might have to change track, and you can end up stranded if you can’t find an alternative route. Another useful app is ‘OS Locate’ which is free and available for both iOS and Android mobile systems. This app will give you a grid reference for your current location and works whether you have a phone signal or not.
- Walking Poles – A help or a hinderance? Walking poles can be useful for helping you to move more confidently over difficult terrain, or to provide support to your knees if needed. They can also come in handy for crossing streams or uncertain-looking bogs! Just make sure you know how to use them.
So, if you’re out there enjoying the countryside and/or the seaside please follow the rules. Keep yourself safe, keep the volunteers safe and enjoy the countryside.
White Knight provides handheld rescue torches to rescue services across the UK. We also offer a bespoke design service to create the perfect portable lighting for your situation. Give us a call on +44 (0)23 9266 8624 if you need reliable, easy to use, lightweight, portable,emergency lighting.
White Knight Portable Emergency Lamps for Veterinarians in the field.
An emergency call-out to a farm or outdoor area is stressful enough for a vet without having to negotiate the logistics of carrying out a treatment/assessment in the dark.
Vets get called out at night, particulary in rural areas fora variety of reasons. Obviously a call-out will only be necessary if the emergency is in relation to an animal that is too large to be transported to a vet’s surgery.
These emergencies usually involve farm animals or horses, and can often be a matter of life or death.
Complications in birthing or severe and sudden illness or injury can necessitate thes kinds of emergeny call-outs. When an animal, particularly a large one is in distress, it can be become dangerous, to itself, to other animals and to the humans attempting to care for it. It is therefore vital that the vet be able to proceed as quickly as possible and as confidently as possible with any emergency procedures.
A well-stocked emergency kit will always include emergency portable lighting and like all other emergency equipment this needs to be 100% reliable!
Most farmers will ensure that adequate lighting is available wherever possible, but vets still need to ensure that they carry all the necessary equipment and lighting.
White Knight offer the following two lamps for veterinary use:
The Halo Plus – a personal torch used where guaranteed performance in non-hazardous situations is critical.
The WK-5 Hand Lamp – a versatile lamp used by police, fire and ambulance services throughout the world.
White Knight’s versatile range of portable emergency lighting is relied upon by emergency services around the world.
We also offer a bespoke design service to create the perfect portable lighting for your situation
Give us a call on +44 (0)23 9266 8624 if you need reliable, easy to use, lightweight emergency lighting for your veterinary service teams.
The pressure on hospitals and emergency services due to COVID-19 over the past 12 months has been unlike anything we’ve ever witnessed before.
This pandemic has been a stressful time for frontline workers. Emergency services have found themselves in unprecedented situations with information that has been constantly been changing and updating.
The overwhelming volume of cases has seen emergency services stretched to capacity and beyond. The additional stress of trying to maintain personal protection from the virus and keep their families and loved ones safe have only added to the immense pressure.
We’ve all heard the stories of ambulance crews waiting up to nine hours to transfer patients to hospitals, stories of COVID-19 patients dying in ambulance while waiting to be admitted, and even stories of the vile abuse carried out against paramedics as they through this pandemic.
There has been a huge emphasis on the supply of PPE and related equipment to keep our paramedics working safely and reduce their exposure to any risks. Manufacture and supply of other emergency equipment, such as medical equipment and emergency lighting has also been under pressure and we at White Knight have been working hard to ensure our equipment is available and efficient.
Constant testing for the virus, and the knowledge that they are regularly being exposed to it has certainly taken its toll on emergency services. The introduction of vaccines has taken some of the pressure off our paramedics and ambulance crews, but they still face extreme pressure which is unlikely to abate any time soon.
After over a year of battling COVID-19, paramedics are tired, demoralised and in a lot of case their mental health is under severe strain.
White Knight would like to acknowledge the vital role carried out, not only by paramedics, but all emergency service key workers. We are extremely grateful, thank you.
When one thinks of emergency equipment, lights are not often high on the list. However portable emergency lighting can often be a vital element of successfully dealing with an emergency.
Portable emergency lighting will always be required when dealing with road traffic accidents after dark. During the winter in the UK there is often a need for emergency lights even during the day. Ambulance crews and paramedics need to be sure that the lighting they are using is reliable, light weight and easy to move around. It also needs to be extremely bright in order to give them the best chance of dealing with an emergency.
The police will also use emergency portable emergency lights in areas where there is no power and accurate lighting is required.
Fire and rescue services rely on portable emergency lights when dealing with fires where using electricity is either not possible or could be hazardous.
White Knight’s versatile Expert range of portable emergency lighting is relied upon by emergency services around the world. 3 models offer between 6 and 30watt of illumination providing from 75 minutes to 7 hours of continuous lighting.
Give us a call on +44 (0)23 9266 8624 if you need reliable, easy to use, lightweight emergency lighting for your emergency service teams.
Ambulance services demand the very best portable lighting for emergencies.
Often used in roadside emergencies portable ambulance lighting need to be powerful, reliable and easy to transport.
Paramedics are called upon to work in difficult and demanding environments. They need to know that they can trust the ambulance lights available to them.
White Knight have a handheld rechargeable torch and a handheld rechargeable spotlight perfect for portable ambulance lighting:
Halo Plus2™ HP-11 Personal Torch
The Halo Plus2™ is a handheld rechargeable torch that provides guaranteed performance in emergency situations where reliable lighting is needed. With a constant 10,000 candlepower and up to 5 hours continuous light this is an essential for ambulance kits.
WK-5 Hand Lamp
The WK-5 Hand Lamp is a handheld rechargeable spotlight. This versatile range is trusted by ambulance services all over the world. It offers a choice of models – 30watt, 20watt, 10watt and 6watt halogen output, providing 75 minutes to 7 hours continuous illumination. The WK-5 portable ambulance light has been approved for use by the MOD and NATO.
Paramedics and ambulance teams never know where they might be working next. Their work is demanding, urgent and often takes place in extremely difficult circumstances. They need to know that they can rely on the ambulance lights available to them.
Talk to White Knight Lamps and Torches about your ambulance lights. We will help you find the best and most cost effective solution for your ambulance crews.
