A Rail Drone can include: a payload interface, a drivetrain, and a rail platform 515. The Rail Drone can additionally or alternatively include any other suitable set of components. The Rail Drone can integrate a standardized payload interface and an autonomous electric road vehicle platform into a rolling stock architecture. The Rail Drone can be a stand-alone, payload-agnostic, motive element which can be independently or cooperatively capable of carrying heavy loads across long distances at various cruising speeds.

A Rail Drone can include: a payload interface, a drivetrain, and a rail platform 515. The Rail Drone can additionally or alternatively include any other suitable set of components. The Rail Drone can integrate a standardized payload interface and an autonomous electric road vehicle platform into a rolling stock architecture. The Rail Drone can be a stand-alone, payload-agnostic, motive element which can be independently or cooperatively capable of carrying heavy loads across long distances at various cruising speeds.

A semiconductor device of an embodiment includes an element region and a termination region surrounding the element region. The element region includes a gate trench, a first silicon carbide region of n-type, a second silicon carbide region of p-type on the first silicon carbide region, a third silicon carbide region of n-type on the second silicon carbide region, and a fourth silicon carbide region of p-type sandwiches the first silicon carbide region and the second silicon carbide region with the gate trench, the fourth silicon carbide region being deeper than the gate trench. The termination region includes a first trench surrounding the element region, and a fifth silicon carbide region of p-type between the first trench and the first silicon carbide region, the fifth silicon carbide region same or shallower than the fourth silicon carbide region. The semiconductor device includes a gate electrode, a first electrode, and a second electrode.

The use of short consists of powered and unpowered freight cars for moving cargo from its source to transfer facilities is described. The use of short consists of powered and unpowered freight cars can enable the efficient operation of unit trains. Single self-powered rail cars or short consists (up to about 25 cars) can overcome a number of problems associated with long unit trains such as dynamic instabilities, inability to stop quickly if needed and long headway time required between trains. A system of feeder trains (aggregators) to facilitate keeping unit trains in more or less constant motion is described. The use of gearing and shafts for power transmission from traction motors installed on various types of freight cars using the structure of the existing freight car truck is also described.

The use of short consists of powered and unpowered freight cars for moving cargo from its source to transfer facilities is described. The use of short consists of powered and unpowered freight cars can enable the efficient operation of unit trains. Single self-powered rail cars or short consists (up to about 25 cars) can overcome a number of problems associated with long unit trains such as dynamic instabilities, inability to stop quickly if needed and long headway time required between trains. A system of feeder trains (aggregators) to facilitate keeping unit trains in more or less constant motion is described. The use of gearing and shafts for power transmission from traction motors installed on various types of freight cars using the structure of the existing freight car truck is also described.

A wheel arrangement for a rail vehicle, such as a light rail vehicle, can include a wheel unit and an axle unit. The axle unit can be connected to a running gear structure of the rail vehicle. The axle unit can rotatably support the wheel unit. The axle unit can have a wheel bearing unit that forms a bearing for the wheel unit and defines a wheel axis of rotation of the wheel unit during operation of the rail vehicle. The axle unit can also have a wheel support unit and a primary suspension unit. The primary suspension unit can be located kinematically in series between the wheel support unit and the wheel bearing unit such that the wheel support unit supports the wheel bearing unit via the primary suspension unit in a manner resilient in at least two mutually transverse translational degrees of freedom.

A semiconductor device of an embodiment includes: a silicon carbide layer including a first silicon carbide region of n-type containing one metal element selected from a group consisting of nickel (Ni), palladium (Pd), platinum (Pt), and chromium (Cr) and a second silicon carbide region of p-type containing the metal element; and a metal layer electrically connected to the first silicon carbide region and the second silicon carbide region. Among the metal elements contained in the first silicon carbide region, a proportion of the metal element positioned at a carbon site is higher than a proportion of the metal element positioned at an interstitial position. Among the metal elements contained in the second silicon carbide region, a proportion of the metal element positioned at an interstitial position is higher than a proportion of the metal element positioned at a carbon site.

A rail transport system 10 has at least two load carrying bodies 12 which are arranged end to end. Mutually adjacent bodies 12 are coupled together by respective coupling systems 14. The rail transport system 10 further includes a plurality of axles 16 each provided at opposite ends with respective rail wheels 18 which support the bodies 12. A flexible liner 20 is supported by the bodies 12. The liner 20 is configured to span respective coupling systems 14. In this way the bodies 12 and the flexible liner 20 form a continuous load carrying structure 22. The continuous load carrying structure 22 is arranged so as to be able to pivot about an axis perpendicular to the axles 16 to facilitate unloading of cargo from the bodies 12.

A rail transport system 10 has at least two load carrying bodies 12 which are arranged end to end. Mutually adjacent bodies 12 are coupled together by respective coupling systems 14. The rail transport system 10 further includes a plurality of axles 16 each provided at opposite ends with respective rail wheels 18 which support the bodies 12. A flexible liner 20 is supported by the bodies 12. The liner 20 is configured to span respective coupling systems 14. In this way the bodies 12 and the flexible liner 20 form a continuous load carrying structure 22. The continuous load carrying structure 22 is arranged so as to be able to pivot about an axis perpendicular to the axles 16 to facilitate unloading of cargo from the bodies 12.

The present invention concerns a railway power car comprising: A body (12) extending in a longitudinal direction (X) and defining a technical room (22); and cabinets (15) accommodated in the technical room. The power car comprises at least two rails (28) disposed on the floor, each of said rails extending in the longitudinal direction, an upper part (42) of each of said rails forming a first means of joining with a cabinet; each cabinet comprises at least one foot (56), said or each foot comprising a second means of joining (60, 62) capable of mating with the first means of joining of one of said rails, each first means of joining and each second means of joining being configured so that each cabinet can be fastened to said corresponding rail at an infinite number of positions along said rail.