Economist article on rail technology

There is a pretty interesting article on “Reinventing the train” in
Economist June 1, 2013.

http://www.economist.com/news/technology-quarterly/21578516-transport-new-train-technologies-are-less-visible-and-spread-less-quickly

The article is part of a special section on technology. It sketches
broad topics with little depth. A couple of topics that drew my
attention might interest some forum members.

Discussion of electric grids, and a system that makes safe third rail
for urban transport: “uses a wireless signal, transmitted by a moving
tram, to switch on the third rail only in the section covered by the
train.”

Discussion of forces on cars tells of brake modernization ideas. Also
forces from momentum shifts within a train.

“Software that simulates train dynamics can work out how best to load
and sequence cars by analysing a given route.”
<…>
“Such software is becoming more valuable thanks to technology that
weighs moving trains.”

This interests me because I like high-quality software. Where can an
outsider learn more?

There is one more topic from this Economist that I’ll write in another
post.

John

There are always a lot of ideas floating around. That’s good. Some of them will evolve into practical applications. Most won’t.

I don’t think the writer fully understands the amazing changes that have happened in US/Canadian railroading. He’s not here. He doesn’t have the background.

350 containers on a train! Two high! With DPU! Rolling at 70 MPH! Who’d a thunk it? Railroads defeating piplines for crude oil movement? Who’d a thunk it.

Door to door pricing on intermodal in partnership with major truck lines? Amazing. Just flat out amazing. The innovations and improvements are real, productive and ongoing.

The safe third rail application is a great idea and one that I thought of too…way back in high school.