Universities Advance Progress of Road and Rail Transport

University research is vital to the advancement of clean technology and transport management systems. This latest piece for Road Traffic Technology and Railway Technology focuses on some fascinating university research projects in the UK, USA and South Africa and reveals some of the innovative technologies being developed to improve the future of our road and rail transportation networks.

According to the Environmental Defense Fund, the average diesel locomotive in the US emits more than 40t of pollutants a year, affecting health (at a cost of around $23bn a year) and the environment. In what US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood described as "the new direction", September 2009 saw rail company Norfolk Southern unveil a prototype 1,500hp switching locomotive – the only all-electric, plug-in locomotive in the world.

When fully charged, its batteries can operate the engine for three shifts, but the Larson Institute at Pennsylvania State University has been working with Norfolk Southern on the development of a longer-lasting battery pack.

Click here to read the rest of the article on Road Traffic Technology and here to read more on Railway Technology.