Almost exactly 200 years ago today, a disruptive innovation shook the world. It led to the emergence of advanced industries, large cities, unprecedented social change, and made trade and travel accessible to all. In brief, it built the modern world. That innovation was the railway. And the revolution is far from over. Railways are once again changing the world, this time by making transportation cleaner, more sustainable and more resource efficient.

Across the globe, urban planners have realized that they cannot solve traffic gridlock by building further roads. Instead, commuter rail systems, metros and trams (as well as electric buses) are being installed to provide safe and efficient alternatives. For journeys between cities, intercity and high-speed trains provide a competitive alternative to both driving and short-haul flights. And when it comes to moving goods, railways take pressure off the roads by enabling efficient and sustainable supply-chain logistics.

Increased energy efficiency

Railway systems are by nature lean on energy consumption. The principle of a metal wheel on a metal rail features far lower rolling resistance than a road vehicle. Electrification takes the efficiency of rail to an even higher level. Electric propulsion systems are clean, efficient, compact and lightweight while enabling precise control. Electric traction systems can furthermore provide regenerative braking, meaning that when the brakes are applied, kinetic energy is converted back to electricity rather than being lost as heat. This energy can be fed back into the grid, but can also be stored on board the train for later use. Regenerative braking reduces the energy used to propel a train by up to 30 percent.

Ongoing progress in the energy efficiency of motors and converters has further augmented sustainability of rail transportation. In other words, electric trains are saving considerable amounts of energy and reducing emissions, making transportation more sustainable - even when the electricity is not actually from sustainable sources. When sustainable electricity enters the equation, the advantages of rail are raised even further.

ENVILINE Energy Storage System

ABB’s Enviline Energy Storage System is installed trackside and enables the power supply to accept regenerative braking. It is suitable for new installation but can also be retrofitted to older systems.

BORDLINE® Traction Batteries

The BORDLINE® portfolio of Traction batteries are on-vehicle lithium-ion-based energy storage systems designed for rail and transport applications. They enable energy storage, extended range and operational flexibility, not just for railways but for electric buses, small marine vessels, and heavy industrial applications, such as mining and construction vehicles.

An onboard battery can be used as the main energy source in battery electric vehicles and enable them to operate over non-electrified sections. In hybrid vehicles, the battery works as a buffer storage and provides peak power that helps to reduce the installed power of the primary power source, be it the diesel engine or a fuel cell, and allows the recuperation of braking energy. Further, peak shaving helps to operate the primary power source more often at its maximum efficiency point and reduce fuel consumption.

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Railways: the transformation of transportation

Increased energy efficiency

ENVILINE Energy Storage System

BORDLINE® Traction Batteries

Discover more about ABB’s contributions to the world of railways and learn how the company is helping industry outrun, leaner and cleaner