Inside Europe's trailblazing hybrid trains - BBC News

These trains are Europe's first tri-mode trains to enter passenger service, after starting running on routes in Italy at the end of 2022.

As well as being fitted with pantograph overhead power and a standard diesel engine, they also have with a battery pack power unit and can be switched between modes.

#Trains #BBCNews

[fixieroy]

This is the first time I’ve seen a journalist with missing limbs. Im glad no one stopped him from following his passion. Hope to see more of him.

[alexmaxwell]

Overhead powered trains are the way to go, not batteries. But this nonetheless is a fab idea to bridge the gap until then.

[thatmessylife]

People in the US don’t travel by train Like they do in a Europe but these trains lok so comfortable and so amazing! I would love to travel on one of these trains!

[oldsoul]

Tri-mode trains are a type of train that can operate on three different power sources: overhead lines, third rail, and diesel. This allows them to operate on a wider range of routes than traditional electric or diesel trains, which can be beneficial for operators who want to reduce their carbon footprint or improve their operational flexibility.

[alexsteven.m]

Successful investing is hard work because it means disciplining your mind to do the opposite of human nature. Buying during a panic, selling during euphoria, and holding on when you are bored and just craving a little action. Investing is 5% intellect and 95% temperament.

[e_pl]

In Poland we have bi-mode trains since 2020. I don't really see the need to power a train from a battery as well and making a tri-mode - if you don't want diesel, then electrify lines instead of putting more batteries on some trains, these aren't really that groundbreaking in my opinion.
The Polish trains are called Impuls, operate in Poland in West Pomerania and Lower Silesia and are made by Newag (a Polish company). One of their electric-only variants is operating in Italy, and in 2013 a different electric-only variant broke the speed record for a Polish designed and manufactured train at 211, 6kph.

[retromuel]

Meanwhile in England it takes 90 minutes to get from Manchester to Chester (if it leaves on time) and the ride feels like you're rattling around inside an empty can of Lilt.

[seanrm]

Meanwhile in the UK: Lord Belborough has announced an extension of the Chigley Line to Camberwick Green (after some delays now due to open in 2067).

[joelmulder]

Sounds like a stopgap measure against poor infrastructure and companies/governments being too lazy to install overhead lines.

[thatguyswavomeer]

In other news, Polish company Pesa developed a hydrogen-fueled locomotive and got it approved for commercial use just weeks ago. It doesn't have to be always diesel.

[staygoldponyboy]

Anything on the big news story this weekend or are you still trying to verify it?

[gliese]

It's so wonderful to see intelligent people with physical disabilities working in complex physical jobs like this. Continue to engage in fair hiring practices European Union. I would love to see more of this in my country, the US. It's much better than seeing them suffering outside a train station begging just to survive without a roof over their head. However, the American system just doesn't work that way. That's just too bad. The discrimination just needs to stop.

[matthewbaynham]

There was a video on the YouTube channel Fully Charged a few years ago about battery electric trains, and back then there were already a couple of routes that had been converted to battery electric replacing the diesel engines for batteries without any problems.

[sawayaka_videoofJapaneselandsc]

Important technology is regenerative brake and battery. When a train gets its speed off, it converts physical energy into electric energy, not into thermal energy.

[gabriele]

To all the people shitting on my country, 80% of Italy’s railways are electrified. And expansions are planned. Don’t act as though we only use diesel trains. It may suck for everything else, but if there’s one things Italy does fairly well, it has to be railway transport.

Do villages in the middle of nowhere, whose railway lines are yet to be electrified, deserve to have the same death traps from the 70s? I don’t think so. This is the alternative Italy is providing them with.

Just shut up if you don’t know how things work here.

[Del-bm]

This is the way forward for modern trains

[rbrown]

My biggest concern is all of the experts on here expressing their “concerns” as though they’re some sort of expert.

[striell]

Pretty smart as it allows for the connection to multiple rail lines regardless of the energy source. Can connect multiple places without heavy infrastructure change.

[Infinity-lceq]

How does this video completely fail to menton the Stadler FLIRT Tri-mode trains currently undergoing final testing for Transport for Wales in the the UK!? And yes really we should be focusing on proper electrification!

[treefarm]

Looks terrific! Much of Queensland Rail is not electrified, so could benefit from such a system.