I just read that Wellington is testing and utilizing battery powered trains on their northern sections with one had 9km tunnel there
Wonder if we could do something similiar for Laidley section and the new crossing into toowoomba due to tunnels
Of course itll need to use overhead wiring betweeen Grandchester to Brissy but itll need fast charging at termonus and standard charging in stabling yards.
I’m personally a fan of the JR East EV-E801 Series that operates as a 2-car BEMU on the electrified section of the Ou Main Line from Akita and the 27km section of the unelectrified Oga Line, and has been doing so for nearly 10 years. With a rated battery operational speed of 85kph, it capabilities are aligned with the maximum speed boards that exist in that section of the system.
A 3-car set with the extra batteries in the 3rd car would likely comfortably make a run from Ipswich to Gatton using the existing wires to Rosewood with a charging station at Gatton for the return run.
I would be seriously worried about almost any BEMU trying to go all the way up to Toowoomba though, given the extra power stored energy requirements that would be needed for the range ascent would probably mean a lot of batteries, and you’d probably need nearly a full charge at Helidon (and more time on top of the already signed almost 2 hour ascent) to make the attempt.
Could see more overhead lines in Gatton sections and probs the toowoomba section past the range should conservation is need to only use attery power when go in tunnels and areas where overheads is cost/terrian prohibitive