Development of Hybrid Rail Brake

In Japan three types of rail brake were tested in the field. They were the eddy current rail brake, the electromagnetic rail brake, and the hybrid rail brake. The eddy current type, which does not come into contact with rails, needs high current and greatly increases the temperature in rails. The electromagnetic type which attracts rails and achieves braking by frictional force cannot generate a stable braking force. Therefore the authors developed a hybrid rail brake, which has advantages over the other two types. This type does not need as much current, and keeps rail temperature low.