Size and costs of traction equipment

The development of cost efficient EMUs was made possible by a substantial reduction of the size of traction equipment allowing for a decentralised under-floor lay-out. Advances in traction technology (e.g. medium-frequency transformers) could drive this trend even further. However, two short train-sets are more expensive than one long train-set since two entire power trains are installed. This effect could be reduced if cheaper power electronics or transformers become available.

Investment costs

Increased seat-specific costs, cf. Economic criteria – vehicle fix costs.

Coupling

Adapting train length to actual demand increases the train formation costs due to coupling processes.

Passenger mobility

In main-line service, passenger mobility along the train plays an important role (e.g. to access dining-car etc.). If train is composed of several train-sets coupled together, this mobility is limited.

Passenger mobility along the train

In main line service, passenger mobility plays an important role for service quality. A joint effort between railways and manufacturers could generate satisfying solutions involving coupled train-sets with passenger transitions between the sections. The Danish IC3 shows that such solutions are not altogether impossible.