Next month, Tesla Inc. plans to deliver the first of its electric Semi trucks—able to haul a full 40 ton-load some 500 miles on a single charge. These massive batteries-on-wheels may accelerate the transition to electrified transport, but those responsible for delivering …
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RIP Traction Decarbonisation Network Strategy (RailEngineer)
Two years ago, Network Rail published its Traction Decarbonisation Network Strategy (TDNS) which proposed a rolling electrification programme of 13,000 single track kilometres (stk). Although the Department for Transport (DfT) has not responded to TDNS, …
Continue readingNew Merseyrail train runs 135km on battery (LiverpoolBusiness)
One of the new class 777 trains set to run on the Merseyrail network travels for 135km on test run using just a battery – paving the way for the network’s expansion. A test run of …
Continue readingSiemens Mobility receives UK funding for solar powered trains (RailTech)
The UK’s Department for Transport has awarded Siemens Mobility funding for the further development of solar technologies for trains on non-electrified lines. Using a second funding stream, Siemens will also explore charging options for on-train batteries …
Continue readingVivarail announces intention to appoint administrators (RailAdvent)
Battery and hybrid train manufacturer, Vivarail, has announced it has filed a Notice of Intention to appoint administrators. Adrian Shooter CBE founded Vivarail in 2013 and the last 9 years have been spent investigating, trialling and …
Continue readingDB begins constructing OLE islands for battery trains (RailwayNews)
Deutsche Bahn (DB) has begun construction of electrified overhead contact line islands that will charge battery-powered trains in the state of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. These islands will provide a future energy supply for battery-powered trains without …
Continue readingGerman state no longer considering hydrogen trains (HydrogenInsight)
Study commissioned by Baden-Württemberg concludes that line electrification or battery hybrid trains would be far cheaper over 30 years. Hydrogen trains will no longer be considered as a possible replacement for diesel locomotives in the …
Continue readingMexico City elevated trolleybus line opens (UrbanTransport)
In order to quickly improve the situation of the public transport network in the Mexican capital region, the existing trolleybus system, which had been neglected for a long time, was taken into consideration a few …
Continue readingDecarbonising rail technologies decision diagrams (JonWorth)
Rail might correctly consider itself the greenest transport mode, but there is nevertheless plenty railways can do to decarbonise – not least by doing away with diesel as the primary fuel to power trains on …
Continue readingSiemens Mobility launches Mireo battery train (RailwayTechnology)
Siemens Mobility, a separately-managed firm of Siemens, has unveiled the Mireo Plus B battery train to the public for the first time at the InnoTrans event in Berlin, Germany. In 2020, the company secured a contract for the …
Continue readingHitachi Rail unveils tri-mode battery hybrid train (RailUK)
Hitachi Rail has unveiled its new ‘Blues Train’ at InnoTrans 2022. Built for Trenitalia, the cutting-edge battery hybrid train will reduce carbon emissions and fuel consumption by 50% and has the ability to arrive at …
Continue readingChicago commuter rail pursuing zero emission battery locos (MassTransit)
A first-of-its-kind plan to convert older Metra locomotives into battery-powered ones has been approved by the Metra Board of Directors. The commuter railroad that serves the Chicago area first issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) in …
Continue reading1st UK tri-mode locomotive to be delivered next year (RailwayGazette)
The bodyshell for the first of the Class 93 tri-mode electric-diesel-battery locomotives ordered by Rail Operations (UK) has been completed at Stadler’s factory at Valencia in Spain. ‘This is a project of firsts’, said Iñigo …
Continue readingMonday’s Friday Reads – 8 August 2022
• New poll: Soaring petrol prices, cost-of-living boost rail travel (RailUK) • Finance hub that hoped to rival Canary Wharf ends in liquidation (CityLab) • Network Rail proposes discontinuous electrification for Boston MA commuter rail …
Continue readingCanada Post’s fleet electrification plan much better than US’s (ElectricAutonomy)
Earlier this month, Canada Post made a surprise announcement: it would be spending $1-billion to achieve half-electrification of its 14,000-vehicle fleet by 2030, with full electrification by 2040. While Canada Post has been testing low- …
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