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Showing posts from March, 2011

JR East Kiha E200

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The Kiha E200 a hybrid diesel-electric railcar operated by the East Japan Railway Company since 2007 on its existing narrow gauge (1067 mm or 3 and a half feet) railway network. It is based on the NE Train , an experimental hybrid railcar, developed by Tōkyū Car Corp. Lithium-ion batteries are fitted to the railcar to store electricity generated by regenerative braking and is used to start the railcar from standstill. A total of 3 Kiha E200 are built and can be used in multiple-unit operation. The output of a single railcar is 331 kW (444 hp) and has a top speed of 100 km/h (62 mph).

ONR Polar Bear Express

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The Polar Bear Express is a scheduled 5 times weekly passenger train operated by the Ontario Northland Railway . It connects Cochrane with the northern town of Moosonee . Although named the Polar Bear Express, there are rarely any polar bears in Moosonee or anywhere else along the train route. The Polar Bear Express is one of the only ways to access the outside from Moosonee since it does not have road access. As a result, the train not only carries passengers, it also carries canoes, ATVs, or cars passengers bring along. The Polar Bear Express usually carries a dining car and a full length dome car; there are amenities provided on board for children and families like the play area. In summertime, the ONR runs an additional train on Sundays. The Polar Bear Express leaves Cochrane in the morning and returns in the evening. Dining car on the Polar Bear Express Play area on the Polar Bear Express

ONR Northlander

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The Northlander is the namesake passenger train of the Ontario Northland Railway . It operates Sundays to Fridays between Toronto Union Station and Cochrane. The Northlander connects to the GO, Via Rail, Amtrak services at Toronto, and the ONR Polar Bear Express at Cochrane. ONR passenger station in Cochrane, Ontario The Northlander travels on the Canadian National Railway between Toronto and North Bay then continues northwards onto ONR’s own tracks. The northbound Northlander departs Union Station at 08:40 and arrives in Cochrane at 19:25; southbound train departs Cochrane at 08:00 and arrives in Toronto at 19:15. The Ontario Northland Railway provides periodic train status update online throughout the day. Northlander blowing snow in Muskoka

The Hayabusa

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The Hayabusa (peregrine falcon in Japanese) is the newest addition of train services on East Japan Railway Company ’s Tōhoku Shinkansen (Tōkyō and Shin-Aomori). It is the new flagship limited-stop express train to enter service on 5 March 2011 initially running 3 trips daily in each direction. The fastest of Hayabusa, No. 1, 3, and 6, calling only at 3 intermediate stations, take 3 hour and 10 minutes to complete the 675 km (419 miles) Tōkyō-Aomori trip, 10 minutes faster than the current flagship, the Hayate (violent wind in Japanese). The fastest segment of the Hayabusa’s entire journey is between Utsunomiya and Morioka with a top speed of 300 km/h (187 mph). This speed will increase to 320 km/h (199 mph) in 2013. Hayabusa's debut television advert The first train to serve on the Hayabusa service is the Series E5 built by Kawasaki and Hitachi. It is the first train in Japan to feature a new luxurious class accommodation dubbed the Gran Class . Evolution of railway tra