1. Australia's NSW Looks to Japan for a Hybrid on Rails

(Source: smh) It is like a giant Prius on railway tracks. A two-car train operating in northern rural Japan is the world's first hybrid train and the NSW Government is investigating whether the green technology could work on sections of the state's rail network.

The Japanese train, powered by a diesel engine and electric battery, is recharged by energy created from braking at curves and at stations and helps reduce emissions of nitrogen oxide and particulate matter by up to 60 per cent, compared with conventional trains. It cuts fuel consumption by up to 20 per cent and runs more quietly, according to East Japan Railway, the company behind the trial.

09/10/2007 | 617 Hits | Print | Email