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Battery powered trains seem really unlikely to me. It's hard to imagine a situation where it's cheaper to do a battery powered train than a train track that sup
by adgjlsfhk1 5y ago
Battery powered trains seem really unlikely to me. It's hard to imagine a situation where it's cheaper to do a battery powered train than a train track that supplies power (aka how most subways work).
- silly-silly 5y agoThe rest of the world doesn't live in high density built up areas. Many small crops farming trains in rural areas can not and will not be allowed to run power through the tracks in above ground situations.
- giva 5y agoThe rest of the world uses overhead lines for powering trains (I'm a bit shocked to learn that this is not the norm in the US, actually)
- cogman10 5y agoAt least in the UK, a 3rd rail was common. IDK about the rest of the world but wouldn't surprise me. Some major cities in the US had overhead powered "trolleys". But, car lobbies destroyed those :(.
- cogman10 5y agoI can think of a few usages for it. Batteries could get a train up to cruising speed requiring a smaller train engine and less fuel. Batteries could save on line expansion, instead of installing a 3rd rail for the whole line, they could go a 3rd rail every 50 miles for 10 miles. I agree a 3rd rail would be cheaper in the long run. Batteries could help bridge the gap.