Peter,
Don't worry about not understanding everyone here. Accents can change drastically in under 100 miles in England, and many southerners (such as myself) have trouble understanding the hard northern accents in places like Yorkshire. It not just accents either; they also invent their own words!
I must confess that I'm not sure how CCGT operates or differs from a regular turbine. Care to elucidate?
It sounds as though the train you described was a DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit). At least that's what they used to be called back in the days of British Railways. For about a year I used to ride one to school every day in the 1970s.
We do have big diesel-electric locomotives on the longer Inter-City services, and I know there were diesel-hydraulic locos used at one time, but I'm not sure if any are still in service.
Quite a few of the main lines have been electrified in recent years; the East Coast line from London to Norwich (about 20 mi. from me) is now electric all the way (overhead 25kV AC system).
There's also electric traction (3rd rail, 660V DC) on what used to be the Southern Region, serving the commuter belt just south of London and down to the South Coast. And of course the London Underground (subway) is electric (3rd AND 4th rails).
I've not been able to come up with any figures for the coal/oil/gas split, but I have found one or two links for you.
The Northern Ireland-Scotland link is called the Moyle Interconnector, and has just been officially opened. Some info at the Northern Ireland Electric site
here and details of the opening
here. I've also found some statistics on energy from waste and related projects at the DTI site
here. By the way, I know there are some power plants in the Irish Republic that burn peat. I remember seeing a plant in the middle of Co. Mayo while driving across miles of open peat bog. It has to be one of the bleakest places I've ever seen (not at all like most of Ireland which is quite attractive).
[This message has been edited by pauluk (edited 05-07-2002).]
