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What is an EMU?
EMU stands for Electric Multiple Unit and is a type of passenger train where most or all of the carriages has its own electric motor negating the need for a regular locomotive to provide traction.
EMUs have been around since the late 1800s and have played an important role on the railway network ever since. Compared to traditional locomotive-hauled consists, EMUs are lighter, less polluting, have a simpler motor, are more reliable due to multiple motors per consist, offer operational flexibility as train lengths can be tweaked by adding more or removing additional units and do not require a locomotive to run around the coaches at a terminus thanks to a driving cab located at each end saving on time and infrastructure.
EMU types vary tremendously, the most obvious difference is between those that draw an AC power supply from cables suspended above the tracks (known as catenary) and those that draw a DC power supply from an electrified rail (known as the third rail) placed next to the regular tracks.
Another difference between EMUs is the number of motors they have with some designs opting for more but less powerful motors attached to most bogies while some of the more powerful high-speed EMUs feature larger motors but less of them and often have unpowered trailing cars as part of their consist.
Although EMUs have never been of real interest to rail enthusiasts due to their lack of ability to please many of the human senses, they are here to stay and are significantly growing in numbers thanks to their operational, speed, environmental and cost advantages meaning many railways and governments around the world are placing them high on their priority list. This is sad to see for a lot of railfans and begs the question will the humble rail enthusiast die out along with the very pleasing sound, smells and visual splendour of traditional steam and diesel locomotives.
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