Bombardier ‘Green Train’ Uses 20-30% Less Fuel Than Other Trains, Sets Swedish Speed Record
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 08.13.08
Photo: BOMBARDIER REGINA train for Gröna Tåget research project
Normally we try to stay away from the third person on this site, but I think it’s safe to say that TreeHugger likes trains. They’re one of the most efficient ways to move goods and people over long distances, and from this passenger’s perspective are the far most enjoyable form of public transit. That said, Bombardier has announced one more reason why you should like trains.
‘Green Train Project’ Makes Test Trip
In Swedish it’s a Gröna Tåget, but in English you can call it a Green Train. Developed by Banverket the Swedish Railway Administration and Bombardier, the train is based on Bombardier's Regina model.
Kitted out with ECO4 energy efficiency gadgetry, such as Bombardier's MITRAC Permanent Magnet Motor and an assistance system which allows the driver to monitor speed and traction force, this new train not only set a new Swedish speed record (295 km/h; 183 mph) but consumes 20-30% less energy than your average train.
A Faster, Yet Smoother Trip
Bombardier also says that the train has been equipped with “track-friendly bogies” which allow for increased running stability and less wheel wear on curved tracks. Passenger comfort has not been neglected, with an active lateral suspension system, for a more stable train travel experience.
The Green Train Project began in 2005 and is scheduled to run until 2010 or 2011. Which presumably means none of us will actually be taking a passenger trip in the Gröna Tåget for a couple of years.
Nothing like making a good thing even better.
Trains
Train Travel Hits New Highs
Air Travel and Climate Change: Take the Train
Taking the Train to New York: The Only Way to Fly
Thirsty for more? Check out these related articles:
- Try these Eco-friendly Trains for Your Next (and Future) Trips
- No Way To Run a Railroad: Amtrak Arrests Photo Contest Participant- For Taking Photos
- Ride a Bus in the Winter and Survive
- London’s Mayor Wants Unemployed to be Trained as Energy Efficiency Advisors
Definitely good news. The rest of the world is going for high-speed rail in a big way. We really need to catch up.
Thanks for the train coverage, treehugger.
Not sure exactly what you mean by the third person, but I thought you used it all the time -- just like every other journalist does --, since you could barely write anything about something other than yourself and the person(s) you are talking to without the third person... (???)
The person who is speaking or writing, i.e. who is sending out a message, is the first person (I/me, we/us). The second person is the one the message is directed to (you), and the third person is anyone else who is neither the originator of the message nor the intended recipient (he/him, she/her, it, they/them).
That attempt at clarification aside, I wish we would start seeing something like this soon here in Canada, especially at first in the busy "Old Canada" Windsor-Quebec corridor where at first it would be most easy to run. Close to three decades now we have heard discussions about high speed trains in this corridor without anything ever coming to fruition...
----
author responds:
I was referring to making a general statement such as TreeHugger thinks 'this' or TreeHugger likes 'that'. While their may be some sort of collective likes and dislikes among all the writers here, we generally try to write from our own perspective and not that of some single group perspective. In this case I felt I was on solid ground in saying that TreeHugger likes trains.
Seriously? It bothers me that large websites such as TH have errors like this in their posts.
"for increased running stability and less wheel wear on curved tracks. Passenger comfort has not be neglected, "
Not be neglected?
HA HA HA! Way to go college educated kid... come on, spell checker is NOT the only thing you should do before posting!
Speaking merely about comfort and reliability, the Swedish trains I go on each year a dreeeeam!
And now more efficient? Gotta love those Swedes. Bra, bra, bra, och ductig! : )
I wish more would be done to retrofit older trains with efficient goodies. Many countries still use 40 year old trains on a daily basis, which is definitely good from a reducing-waste perspective, but it doesn't exactly scream comfort, elegance or efficiency.
Has anyone done any recent study on electrifying the US rail system? Diesel trains beat diesel trucks all around - but given the inherent efficiency of electric versus internal combustion - wouldn't electric freight trains be super green?
Just doing a cocktail napkin sketch - there would be a capital investment - but wouldn't that be returned quickly in reduced energy costs? Also - wouldn't the rail companies benefit from the relatively stable costs of electricity versus the wild ride on commodity markets with petroleum? Also - wouldn't the maintenance costs be greatly reduced with electric versus diesel?
Perhaps the rail companies could also earn some income by making their wires part of the electric grid?