Sign in to manage your newsletter preferences. It’s better for air locally, but not regionally. Powering trains with electricity rather than diesel has several other benefits, according to the auth… Diesel-powered trains transfer about 30-35 percent of the energy generated by combustion to the wheels, while supplying electricity directly from an overhead powerline transfers about 95 percent of the energy to the wheels. Hydrogen-powered trains, like electric trains, are also incredibly quiet compared to their diesel counterparts. © Gannett Co., Inc. 2021. Diesel Locomotives use electricity to drive forward motion despite the name 'diesel'. Contact Marc Larocque at mlarocque@tauntongazette.com. Deval Patrick is clear about his preferred route for the South Coast Rail through Stoughton to extend service to commuters in Taunton, Fall River and New Bedford, his administration has not yet declared whether the state will be full steam ahead for an electric- or a diesel-powered train. There are advantages and disadvantages to both forms of traction, and each is … Subscribe to BBC Focus magazine for fascinating new Q&As every month and follow @sciencefocusQA on Twitter for your daily dose of fun science facts. Yards where trains are idling are typically located in low-income areas, so you aren’t going to have more impact there with electric. The electric powered train through the Stoughton route is expected to indirectly result in 74,482 tons per year of CO2 emissions, through power generation to provide electricity for the train. 9 thoughts on “ Diesel vs. electric trains: study vindicates Clean Train Coalition on debate over rail line to Pearson (but the province is buying diesel cars anyway) ” … The OCS consists of concrete foundations, steel poles, contact wire, feeder wire, static wires and switches. Discover our latest special editions covering a range of fascinating topics from the latest scientific discoveries to the big ideas explained. “The bottom line is that everybody says that diesel train is more polluting as far as air pollution goes,” said Bennett, the director of the Public Employees for Environmental Safety’s New England office. The Army Corps of Engineers report said the “canopy gap,” or the area of forest that is cleared, is anticipated to be approximately 40 feet in width for the length of the trestle. About 300 of these locomotives, only 96 being standard gauge, were in use at various points in the con… Are electric trains really better than diesel? Already have an account with us? Each type of locomotive has benefits and drawbacks, when considering the cost, environmental impact, visual impact and performance. To be cost-competitive with entry-level diesel trains requires c$12/kg hydrogen, $6/gallon diesel … By clicking “sign up” you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy policy. Nevertheless, we are most positive on the electrification opportunity around railways, particularly using next-generation combustion technologies. if you have 4x 6kw train if all moves same time from stationary it will overload your single powerplant. Fox said that one important factor related to the electrical train’s OCS system is that the larger space it requires will result in a greater impact to the potentially sensitive archeological lands of Native Americans. They also produce none of the local pollution associated with diesel … You will learn the working of diesel trains or diesel locomotives in this article. The diesel-electric locomotive in the US are descendents of the gas electric cars and the Dan Patch line gas electric locomotives with a lot of electric locomotive experience thrown in. South Coast Rail Project Manager Jean Fox, of Freetown, said that whether the train is diesel or electric, upwards of 300,000 vehicle miles traveled each day would be removed from regional roadways. Our daily newsletter arrives just in time for lunch, offering up the day's biggest science news, our latest features, amazing Q&As and insightful interviews. While more costly, the electric locomotives are faster, mainly because they accelerate faster than diesel trains and have higher maximum speeds. While more costly, the electric locomotives are faster, mainly because they accelerate faster than diesel trains and have higher maximum speeds. To date, the focus on electrification in the UK has been on marginally quicker journeys, but electric trains are also more reliable, quieter and cleaner. read. Digital access or digital and print delivery. Diesel-Electric Locomotives 1. Either way, electric or diesel, the trains will have an impact on the habitat of several species that Massachusetts considers endangered or of special concern, including the Blanding’s turtle and the blue-spotted salamander. Box 111 Taunton, MA 02780 ~ Do Not Sell My Personal Information ~ Cookie Policy ~ Do Not Sell My Personal Information ~ Privacy Policy ~ Terms Of Service ~ Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. As the BBC's Transport correspondent Tom Symonds explains, electric trains are considered more environmentally-friendly because they do not have to carry their fuel, have lighter engines, and better acceleration. We can see from this therefore, that the power required from the diesel engine is related to the power required by the motors. Pay by Direct Debit and get two issues free*, Receive every issue delivered direct to your door with FREE UK delivery. The system, which has been developed by Hitachi in Japan, consists of a battery-assisted diesel-electric traction engine. “It’s true in the local sense, but the devil is in the details. A noisy morning commute on the train can be stressful, but could electric trains really make your journey to work quicker and more relaxing? All rights reserved. Steam locomotive tractive effort vs diesel electric horsepower Posted by Isambard on Thursday, June 3, 2004 12:01 PM Is there a "simple" formula or rule of thumb for converting a steam loco rated T.E. Nevertheless, the diesel train would result in 29,166 less tons of CO2 per year, when put up against the no build alternative. This analysis factors in greater estimated time savings experienced with the faster electric train, which makes the alternative more attractive to riders. The Stoughton route would bring the train through 3.2 miles of the Hockomock Swamp. Video Tour of an F1 2. Hello guys, what is better, Maglev trains or Electric/Diesel. Could traffic noise be converted into useful energy? When it comes to noise, the corps wrote that electric train operations for the full Stoughton route would result in 236 cases of moderate and 47 cases of severe noise impact to “residential receptors.” The majority of these, the corps said, would occur in Taunton and New Bedford, in the Plain Street, Welby Road, and Worcester Street neighborhoods. How do sea turtles remember what beach they were born on? The trend of electrical and diesel energy cost in terms of unit charges and Rs/litre as compiled in the annual statistical statement of Indian Railways is as follows: However you calculate it, though, electric trains are greener than diesel trains. In many parts of the world, diesel-electric locomotives are the primary hauling power for trains. Another big difference between the electric and diesel commuter trains is size. A diagram included in the report shows a catenary support system can go up to 24½ feet tall. How do tunnelling machines know where they are? According to a recent report from Pike Research, both hybrid and genset railcars will develop an increasingly large presence on the world’s rail markets between 2015 and 2020, with the sales of hybrids forecast to rise at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) approaching 25%, representing some 100 to 170 units being purchased each year. Are floating solar farms better than land-based ones? Bennett predicted that “old growth” trees that have never been cut before have shallow root systems, and that the wind will knock the trees and threaten the train track. The electric engine produces around half the carbon emissions of a diesel freight train locomotive which itself produces 76% less carbon dioxide than the equivalent lorry journey. The traction unit uses the battery when the train is at rest and in the early stages of acceleration up to around 30 kilometres an hour (19mph), at which point the conventional diesel engine kicks in. The report noted that “the pollutant increases from train locomotives are relatively small,” but “electric trains do not emit air pollutants and would not have any air quality impacts on receptor locations adjacent to the train stations.”. At what speed would you need to go to stop a speed camera photographing your plates? Last Friday, Patrick announced that “the train is coming back” to Southeastern Massachusetts, and while there are still plenty of political and legal hurdles in the way, the state must eventually decide on electricity or diesel fuel to power the commuter rail extension. She pointed to the Acela electric train service being shut down in September due to a commercial power problem. During World War I, there was a strategic need for rail engines without plumes of smoke above them. Is it possible to run along the top of a moving train? The Taunton Daily Gazette, Taunton, MA ~ 5 Cohannet St., P.O. According to railway-technology.com, electric trains are more environmentally friendly too, emitting between 20% - 30% less carbon monoxide than their diesel counterparts. Robert is a science writer and visiting professor of science at Aston University. While the electric train is faster, it also is expected to produce fewer pollutants in the area of the train stations, where the locomotives are expected to be idling at different points throughout the day. Electric trains ridership and customer satisfaction due to decreased travel time. He likes maths, West End musicals and hamsters. That results in substantial carbon dioxide reduction, she said. Capital expenditure for this electrification is over Rs 1 crore per kilometre. After all, refurbishing existing rolling stock takes ways less time than building entirely new trains. 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