Design, Dimensioning and Analysis of a novel, locally emission-free Propulsion Concept for Regional Trains on non-electrified Railway Lines

Abstract

This paper describes a novel, locally emission-free propulsion concept for regional trains on non-electrified railway lines. The propulsion concept is designed and dimensioned for the Next Generation Train – LINK (NGT LINK) train concept, a fast, double deck feeder train developed by German Aerospace Center (DLR). First, the NGT LINK is introduced and a novel propulsion concept based on on-board energy storage units (ESU) and inductive energy transfer system (IETS) is developed. For the dimensioning of the components a round-trip on the modified German relation Ulm - Oberstdorf - Ulm is considered as a non-electrified reference route. Furthermore an implementation strategy pictures out, how the transition from current status quo to complete implementation of the novel propulsion concept may be achieved.