[Article] Battery-powered intercity trains possible

[comcor]

It's a UK study and the economics don't look good in the short-term, but it does raise an interesting possibility of using smaller batteries to bridge gaps on difficult to electrify lines. If we were to look at electrification in Ireland, that could help to bring down costs by avoiding bridge rebuilds etc.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/fe...possible-study

[Mark Gleeson]

The battery powered train was invented here to start with and worked out quite well for Harcourt Street Bray and back.

The next step forward in the rail industry will be high voltage power electronics, so no more need to carry around a heavy transformer, which will save several tons.

We are likely to see super capacitor solutions replacing the rheostatic braking grids so you can power the train from the energy recovered when braking when it moves off again, but only if you move off promptly

Some talk of similar stored energy systems for hydraulic drives as well