Reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that transport produces is a hot topic, but people often think that this only applies to road users. Trains are, of course, more environmentally friendly than individual cars, through their potential to carry so many more people. However, they also produce high levels of emissions and train companies have been taking steps to reduce these.
The largest commuter rail franchise in the UK, South West Trains, has invested in a regenerative braking system for 200 trains on its network. Much in the same way as for hybrid cars, excess kinetic energy is stored when the brakes are used. The system reduces energy used by 8%.
South West Trains is run by UK transport company Stagecoach. Stagecoach has also other energy saving initiatives in place in other areas of its business, including introducing hybrid buses in different cities across the UK. As well as introducing the technology to save energy, the company has also invested in training their drivers in eco-driving techniques.
Hybrid technology is developing for trains across the world. Japan is the leader, with hybrid trains already in use there. JR East, a private Japanese railway company has recently announced the introduction of ten diesel-battery hybrid railcars, which will reduce fuel consumption by 10%. The trains will also be a lot quieter than conventional diesel engines.
In Europe train engine builders are working to fit hybrid technology into the existing spaces that engines fit into on trains, rather than redesigning the trains from scratch. MTU, a company in Germany has already developed a hybrid engine-gear package to replace the conventional motor to work alongside an electric motor. A special gearbox is used to combine the two engines’ outputs, and the whole mechanism fits where the old engine used to fit.
Although the train industry is still behind the car industry in energy saving technology, it looks like the trains of tomorrow will definitely adopt greener technology.