Lec. - Railway Engineering Assist. Lec.

Zaid Abdul Zahra Mahdi

2- Electrified railway they became increasingly popular only after the introduction of alternating
to steam, it designed to use the electricity to move the engine of the train

3- High speed rail Advances in railway and train technologies enabled technicians to design
new type of railway that is optimized for high speeds and smooth driving. These railways can
be found in many high-speed train networks, especially in Japan, France and Spain

4- Maglev it uses power of the magnets to provide support for traveling locomotive and its
trains. Today this system is often used for very expensive and high-speed railway lines

Comparative between Electric traction and Fuel cell locomotives

Electric traction Fuel cell locomotives

Electric traction offers a lower cost per mile of The initial cost of such fuel cell vehicles is still
train operation but at a higher initial cost substantial at the moment, Higher cost per mile

electric traction is less viable for long-distance It is more viable for long-distance lines with the
lines with the exception of long-distance high exception of long-distance high speed lines
speed lines

Electric trains receive their current via Fuel cell locomotives combine the advantage of
overhead lines or through a third rail electric not needing an electrical system in place
system
Lec. - Railway Engineering Assist. Lec. Zaid Abdul Zahra Mahdi

Types of Trains
There are various types of trains that are designed for particular purposes and consist of five major
types, those are:

1- A freight train (also known as a goods train) uses freight cars (also known as
wagons or trucks) to transport goods or materials (cargo) any train that is not used for
carrying passengers.

2- Mine trains Special train types that are used for underground excavations of rock and
coal. They are durable, small, and capable of hauling goods in very harsh and cramped
environment; Mine trains are operated in large mines and carry both workers and goods.
Overland trains are used to carry cargo over rough terrain.

3- Long-distance train category is high-speed rail; a passenger train is one which includes
passenger carrying vehicles which can often be very long and fast.

Freight train Passenger train

4- Freight and passengers may be carried in the same train in a mixed consist.

5- Rail cars and machinery used for maintenance and repair of tracks, etc., are termed
maintenance of way equipment; these may be assembled into maintenance of way trains.
Similarly, dedicated trains may be used to provide support services to stations along a train
line.
Lec. - Railway Engineering Assist. Lec. Zaid Abdul Zahra Mahdi

Rail car Maintenance Rail Car

The comparative between two types of land transport mode:

feature Rail Road

1- Tractive The movement of steel wheels on steel The tractive resistance of a

resistance rails has the basic advantage of low pneumatic tyre on metaled
rolling resistance. This reduces of roads is almost five times
haulage costs because of low tractive compared to those wheels on
resistance rails.

2- Right of way A railway track is defined on two rails
and is within protected limits. Trains
work as per a prescribed schedule and
no other vehicle has the right of way
except at specified level Crossings.
Roads, though having well
defined limits, can be used by
any vehicular traffic and even by
pedestrians they are open to all.

3- Cost analysis Owing to the heavy infrastructure, the The cost of construction and
initial as well as maintenance cost of a maintenance of roads is
railway line is high. comparatively cheaper.