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Cruising power can be almost zero. Trains run on shallow gradients, and most of the power is used to climb them.

When the gradient is negative trains freewheel down the slope, and the power source is only used to keep the lights, heating, and electronics running.



>Trains run on shallow gradients

This is genius. But could anyone confirms this. I try to do some google search and nothing useful or related came up.

Does that mean Trains are constantly running downhill? Because that doesn't seems to be the case long distance rails.


It means an ascent or descent of less than 1.5% is normal for railways, and there's so little friction a train can coast downhill without power.

They obviously need power to maintain speed going uphill.




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