'Real life Snowpiercer' as scientists announce 'infinity train' with gravity engine

dailystar.co.uk:

Fortescue Future Industries is developing a £38million ($50million) 'infinity train' which runs on a rechargeable electric battery powered by gravity.It will use the friction of downhill braking to charge the locomotive, meaning the train might never have to stop to refuel or recharge.The company says it will remove the need for diesel trains and work like a hybrid car.

It seems to be partly inspired by the post-apocalyptic Netflix series Snowpiercer, where the remnants of humanity survive the frozen remnants of Earth aboard an infinite globetrotting train.Dr Andrew Forest, Fortescue's founder, said: "The Infinity Train will join Fortescue's green fleet under development and will contribute to Fortescue becoming a major player in the growing global market for green industrial transport equipment, providing great value for our shareholders."He added: "To move business leaders and politicians globally to the realisation that fossil fuel is just one source of energy and there are others now, like gravitational energy, rapidly emerging, which are more efficient, lower cost and green."The company said that its train sets are around 1.7 miles in length and capable of hauling 34,000 tonnes of iron ore.

The trains currently use 82 million litres of diesel fuel each year, which the company hopes to dramatically cut with the Infinity Train.However, the Infinity Train might still be no match by one of National Rail's oldest enemies: leaves on the track.

National Rail currently has to treat around 1.04 million miles of track every year using 'leaf-busting' trains to ensure services can continue to run.