A well car, also known as a double-stack car, is a type of railroad car specially designed to carry intermodal containers used in intermodal freight transport. The "well" is a depressed section that sits close to the rails between the wheel trucks of the car, allowing a container to be carried lower than on a traditional flatcar. This makes it possible to carry a stack of two containers per unit on railway lines wherever the structure gauge assures sufficient clearance. The top container is secured to the bottom container either by a bulkhead built into the car — possible when bottom and top containers are the same dimensions, or through the use of inter-box connectors (IBC). Four IBCs are needed per well car. In the terminal there are four steps: unlock and lift off the top containers of an inbound train, remove the bottom containers, insert outbound bottom containers, lock assembly after top containers emplaced. Generally this is done car-by-car unless multiple crane apparatus are employed.
40 foot containers in well cars on the BNSF line through La Crosse
53 ft, 48 ft, 45 ft, 40 ft and 20 ft containers stacked
A train of well cars in Arizona carrying double-stacked containers
A 53-foot well car also fitted with a fifth-wheel coupling to allow semi-trailer transport as well
Railway electrification is the use of electric power for the propulsion of rail transport. Electric railways use either electric locomotives, electric multiple units or both.
Electricity is typically generated in large and relatively efficient generating stations, transmitted to the railway network and distributed to the trains. Some electric railways have their own dedicated generating stations and transmission lines, but most purchase power from an electric utility. The railway usually provides its own distribution lines, switches, and transformers.
The Mantes-la-Jolie–Cherbourg railway in France connects Grand Paris and Normandy, and is electrified using overhead lines at 25 kV AC 50 Hz
The South Eastern Main Line in England connects the London metropolitan area with the Strait of Dover, and is electrified using third rail at 750 V DC
The LGV Sud-Est in France is electrified using 25 kV 50 Hz overhead lines
The Angers tramway in Angers, France uses 750 V DC overhead lines, in common with many other modern tram systems