Solar Powered Tourist Train in Australia

[AngusH]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-...e-brainchild-of-byron-bay-millionaire/9265522

What is claimed to be the world's first fully solar-powered train is operating on the New South Wales North Coast.

It looks like this probably isn't going to be much use in the uk, but it seems like it is a 100% solar/battery combination.

 

[Adlington]

It looks like this probably isn't going to be much use in the uk

Due to a lack of millionaires (a) owning a seaside resort (b) willing to cough up some £2m for the project.
Of course there are other reasons, too

 

[Aussie_Rail]

While its a step in the right direction and could set a precedence somewhere, I'd be surprised if it really takes off any time soon. The concept could work for that type of railway, but for major Metro systems? Maybe not, unless its tied in with some sort of Nuclear or Thorium based power, then that would be a cleaner energy source than coal, which pretty much supplies most of Australia with power. Wind and solar are still very new concepts here which shares a small portion of the energy market.

 

[AngusH]

Due to a lack of millionaires (a) owning a seaside resort (b) willing to cough up some £2m for the project.

Your comment made me think if Billy Butlin was still around he might have built something like this, although I don't think as much as 2m would have been spent.

Though I wonder if something like this might be useful for the Isle of Wight line somehow? (Small/self contained, short distances)

 

[Adlington]

Short periods of bright sunshine....