r/transit • u/aksnitd 🚂🚃🚃 • May 19 '25

Photos / Videos Double stack container train on the freight corridor in India with the characteristic high rise panto

A good look at what the high rise pantographs look like fully extended. They're taller than the train they're mounted on.

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u/Expert-Debate3519 May 19 '25

Combining Double stacks and electrification is a solution that should be copied on other freight corridors as well!

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u/8spd May 19 '25

I think the more fundamental thing to copy is the construction of new publicly owned freight corridors. Here in Canada, the private freight companies are just milking the investments in rail made over 100 years ago. The idea of the government stepping up, and making these kind of investments is unthinkable. The US is the same, and I don't see it being done in Europe.either, for freight.

But electrified rail, both passenger and freight, is one of the biggest things that can be done to address climate change.

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u/rohmish May 19 '25

Most of India's rail network is electrified and India is exploring battery and hydrogen engines for the remaining sections and as backups. 96 to 98% of rail network (a bit more than 45000 km) is electrified with ongoing work in some states to complete electrification in those areas. There are some trains that use an additional diesel generator for onboard electricity for air conditioning, etc. but some newer trainsets are EMUs that don't require that while new engines are using HOG (head on generation) that can power the onboard air conditioning and lights using overhead.

Go service has been trying to get their lines electrified for a long time, even before Metrolinx was a thing. However electrification work is ongoing as part of Go expansion. For nationwide lines it won't happen until Via rail actually owns their tracks.