Electric power on track for America’s trains
The United States has the largest railway network in the world. Almost 2 billion tons of goods travel on U.S. trains every year and millions of Americans use Amtrak — contributing roughly twice as much carbon emissions as electric trains. We use electric trains to get around cities, but they require an overhead line (a catenary) or a third rail that constantly feeds electricity. So we need another solution to electrify the rest of America’s trains. And that solution seems to be big batteries. [thedailybeast.com]
Will a fast train from LA to Vegas catch on?
Brightline West would help the U.S. catch up on high-speed rail. It would not only transport southern Californians to Las Vegas on fast, climate-friendly trains with food, drinks and free internet, but would check in their bags for them at their hotels. The project’s parent, Brightline Holdings, is angling for financing under the federal infrastructure law passed in November. With support among elected leaders and access to build along public roads secured, Brightline could break ground by the end of this year. [bloomberg.com]
Will Pacific NW’s high-speed dream be realized?
For more than five years, Washington state, Oregon and British Columbia have collaborated on studies of a possible Cascadia bullet train to run between Portland, Seattle and Vancouver, Canada. What will it take to bring high-speed rail to the Northwest? This winter, the Washington Legislature approved money for yet more studies and to attract federal support. Project supporters envision train with top speeds of at least 250 mph whisking travelers from Vancouver to Seattle in one hour and from Seattle to Portland in another. [ijpr.org]
Europe’s cross-border rail network disconnect
The train has long played a romantic role in the collective imagination of Europeans. From traversing the snow-capped Alps to the rolling hills of Scotland, train travel is often seen as more than just a way of getting from A to B. It is good for the planet too. Despite this, traveling across Europe by train is not as easy as it should be. From inconsistent pricing to disjointed booking platforms, Europe’s train network is far from well connected. [cleantechnica.com]
How maglev — magnetic levitation — works
What if you could travel from New York to Los Angeles in just under seven hours without boarding a plane? It could be possible on a maglev train. Maglev — magnetic levitation — trains use superconducting magnets to levitate train cars. Superconducting magnets are electromagnets cooled to extreme temperatures during use, dramatically increasing the power of the magnetic field. The first commercially operated maglev train opened in Shanghai in 2004, while others are in operation in Japan and South Korea. In the U.S., a number of routes are being explored. [scitechdaily.com]
