Lighter Trains Favoured.

The day of the long and heavy passenger train now definitely appears to be numbered. Everywhere, lighter trains and railcars are being pressed into service, and in Switzerland there has just been brought into use a new lightweight streamlined railcar of really novel design. Fitted with driving motors deriving current from the overhead transmission lines that are already provided over most of the Swiss main-lines, the new electric railcar has a driving compartment at each end, and seating accommodation for 100 persons. The unique point about the car is that the driver's cab closely resembles that of a motor lorry. A hand-wheel (similar to the steering-wheel of a motor-car) when turned to the right, gives ten running positions, and when turned to the left, eleven braking positions. To crown all, the railcar has a streamlined bonnet, almost identical in exterior appearance to the bonnet of a modern racing motor-car. Speeds of up to 90 m.p.h. are being attained by the new Swiss railcar, which is proving a big business-bringer, and a very convenient means of providing fast and frequent service on main-lines of relatively light traffic density.