The public transport sector is preparing for a power shortage. She wants to make a contribution with voluntary measures so that it doesn’t come to that. In the event of network shutdowns, the transport companies would like to be given preferential treatment.
The public transport industry wants to switch off the decorative lighting at train stations.
After the restrictions due to Corona, the public transport industry is only just beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel. However, the impending power shortage poses major challenges for transport companies again. Rolling power cuts would at least partially lead to a gridlock. The industry now wants to make a preventive contribution to avoid a shortage.
The board of the Association of Public Transport (VöV) has passed recommendations to its members, as announced on Friday. Among the measures is an industry-wide energy campaign. In addition, the tracks should switch off the lighting on facades and decorations. The heating temperature should be lowered in office and factory buildings. What is most noticeable to customers is the reduction in heating temperatures in passenger transport.
The industry can make a significant contribution to saving electricity, writes the VöV. The aim is to avoid operational restrictions. In particular, the reduction in heating temperature and air conditioning in passenger transport should not be underestimated. Other measures, on the other hand, have a more symbolic effect. Modern rolling stock is already considered to be comparatively energy-efficient. “There’s not much we can do anymore,” says VöV director Ueli Stückelberger.
Drive as long as possible
The industry has also dealt with a power shortage that, in extreme cases, would lead to rolling grid shutdowns. The transport companies do not want to reduce their offer on their own. “We carry out normal operations for as long as possible,” says Stückelberger. At the same time, the so-called system leaders for rail and road, SBB and Postauto Schweiz, are preparing for possible escalation levels. The potential for damage to the systems is particularly high in the event of uncontrolled grid shutdowns. These work with household electricity, which has a different frequency than traction current.
In addition, the industry wants to work to ensure that the authorities classify public transport as systemically important. The VöV demands that a separate management model for power shortages be established for this. “The switches and other systems must remain connected to the network,” says Stückelberger. Otherwise there will be no more trains. Stückelberger refers to the points heating with gas, for which the SBB were classified as systemically important – and were therefore preferred. The railways are now pursuing the same goal with electricity.
Many want to be systemically relevant
Only: The industry is not the only one that sees itself as systemically important. A paper by the Organization for Power Supply in Extraordinary Situations (Ostral) points to restrictive criteria for being exempt from grid shutdowns. The Ostral names hospitals, blue light organizations and prison authorities. In addition, giving preference to the public transport sector has another dimension because the degree of networking is high – even if the transport companies undoubtedly have an essential task.
The measures to increase the public transport share of traffic, on which the VöV has also agreed, are taking a back seat. The industry wants to increasingly involve schools and employers in order to win new customers – and increase leisure traffic. On the other hand, new, more flexible tariff offers are hardly an issue. The nine-euro ticket in Germany brought interesting insights. A key argument for using it was that public transport was so easily accessible.