An electro-diesel multiple unit (EDMU) or bi-mode multiple unit (BMU) is a form of a

multiple unit A multiple-unit train (or multiple unit (MU)) is a self-propelled train composed of one or more Coach (rail), carriages joined, and where one or more of the carriages have the means of propulsion built in. By contrast, a locomotive-hauled ...

train that can be powered either by electric power picked up from the

overhead line An overhead line or overhead wire is an electrical cable that is used to transmit electrical energy to electric locomotives, Electric multiple unit, electric multiple units, trolleybuses or trams. The generic term used by the International Union ...

s or

third rail A third rail, also known as a live rail, electric rail or conductor rail, is a method of providing electric power to a railway locomotive or train, through a semi-continuous rigid conductor placed alongside or between the rails of a track (r ...

(like an

electric multiple unit An electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple-unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a number o ...

– EMU) or by using an onboard

diesel engine The diesel engine, named after the German engineer Rudolf Diesel, is an internal combustion engine in which Combustion, ignition of diesel fuel is caused by the elevated temperature of the air in the cylinder due to Mechanics, mechanical Compr ...

, driving an

electric generator In electricity generation, a generator, also called an ''electric generator'', ''electrical generator'', and ''electromagnetic generator'' is an electromechanical device that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy for use in an externa ...

, which produces

alternating current Alternating current (AC) is an electric current that periodically reverses direction and changes its magnitude continuously with time, in contrast to direct current (DC), which flows only in one direction. Alternating current is the form in w ...

(AC) or

direct current Direct current (DC) is one-directional electric current, flow of electric charge. An electrochemical cell is a prime example of DC power. Direct current may flow through a conductor (material), conductor such as a wire, but can also flow throug ...

(DC) electric power (like a diesel-electric multiple unit – DEMU).

List of EDMUs

Asia

China

China Railway CR200J-SG Fuxing high-speed train is a power-concentrated electro-diesel (bi-mode) multiple unit specifically designed for plateau operation. Each train consists of HXD1D-J electric locomotive (

power car In rail transport, the expression power car may refer to either of two distinct types of rail vehicle: *a vehicle that propels, and commonly also controls, a passenger train, potentially a multiple unit train, often as the lead vehicle; *a veh ...

) at one end, FXN3-J two-unit diesel locomotive (two power cars) at another end, and 9 25-T passenger coaches between them. Electric and diesel power cars have their own independent

traction motor A traction motor is an electric motor used for propulsion of a vehicle, such as locomotives, electric vehicle, electric or hydrogen vehicles, or electric multiple unit trains. Traction (engineering), Traction motors are used in electrically powe ...

systems, but can be operated from cabs of each other. HXD1D-J is a special version of HXD1D electric locomotive manufactured by

CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive Co., Ltd. is one of the electric locomotive manufacturers in China. It is one of the subsidiaries of CRRC. History Predecessor Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive Works was founded in 1936. CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive Co., ...

and FXN3-J is a special version of a FXN3 locomotive manufactured by

CRRC Dalian CRRC Dalian Co., Ltd. (), often abbreviated as DLoco, is a company located in Dalian, Liaoning Province, China, producing railway locomotives, multiple units and diesel engines. The factory was established in 1899 during the period of constructio ...

– both of them have changed body design and are adapted for joint operation as part of a train. These trains are served on Sichuan–Tibet railway.

Oceania

Australia

NSW TrainLink Regional Train Project is building 117 bi-mode R set carriages (1.5kV DC) to replace its diesel fleet of interstate and regional XPT, Xplorer and Endeavour trainsets to be delivered by CAF from 2023.

Europe

France

Bombardier has built dual-mode variants of its AGC series for the French operator

SNCF The Société nationale des chemins de fer français (, , SNCF ) is France's national State-owned enterprise, state-owned railway company. Founded in 1938, it operates the Rail transport in France, country's national rail traffic along with th ...

; the electricity is collected by means of a

pantograph A pantograph (, from their original use for copying writing) is a Linkage (mechanical), mechanical linkage connected in a manner based on parallelograms so that the movement of one pen, in tracing an image, produces identical movements in a se ...

. * B 81500 –

trains using

catenary In physics and geometry, a catenary ( , ) is the curve that an idealized hanging chain or wire rope, cable assumes under its own weight when supported only at its ends in a uniform gravitational field. The catenary curve has a U-like shape, ...

. In service since 2005. * B 82500 – multiple unit trains using both and AC catenary. In service since October 2007. * Alstom Régiolis (B 83500, B 84500, B 85000, B 85900). In service since April 2014 (B 83500 and B 84500).

Italy

* BTR 813, first electro-diesel version of the

Stadler Flirt Stadler FLIRT (, ) is a passenger multiple unit trainset made by Stadler Rail of Switzerland. The baseline design of FLIRT is an electric multiple unit Articulated car, articulated trainset that can come in units of two to twelve cars with two t ...

, service in the

Valle d'Aosta The Aosta Valley ( ; ; ; or ), officially the Autonomous Region of Aosta Valley, is a mountainous Regions of Italy#Autonomous regions with special statute, autonomous region in northwestern Italy. It is bordered by Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Fr ...

region since October 2019.

Netherlands

* 18 bi-mode units of the Stadler WINK have entered service in 2021 with Arriva Netherlands. In addition to electric and diesel propulsion, these trains can also run on battery power.

Norway

* 14 bi-modal variants of the

trains, called in Norway, held by the state owned Norske Tog and operated by the line operator

SJ AB SJ is the primary passenger train operator in Sweden. A wholly List of government enterprises of Sweden, state-owned company operated for-profit under market conditions, SJ operates various services across Sweden. SJ's operations include High-spee ...

(as SJ Nord) entering service in 2021. This class is used on the regional train services around

Trondheim Trondheim ( , , ; ), historically Kaupangen, Nidaros, and Trondhjem (), is a city and municipality in Trøndelag county, Norway. As of 2022, it had a population of 212,660. Trondheim is the third most populous municipality in Norway, and is ...

Poland

Newag Impuls Newag Impuls is a family of Standard-gauge railway, standard-gauge Electric multiple unit, electric, Diesel multiple unit, diesel and Electro-diesel multiple unit, bi-mode (''hybrid'') multiple units manufactured by Polish railway rolling stock m ...

is offered in electro-diesel (''hybrid'') version. The first units were delivered to

West Pomeranian Voivodeship West Pomeranian Voivodeship is a Voivodeships of Poland, voivodeship (province) in northwestern Poland. Its capital and largest city is Szczecin. Its area equals , and in 2021, it was inhabited by 1,682,003 people. It was established on 1 Janua ...

and started regular revenue service in early 2021.

Russia

* DT1 (ДТ1) Russian-gauge multiple unit. In service since 2009.

Spain

Renfe Class 730 – a bi-mode subversion of Renfe Class 130, a dual-gauge, dual-voltage high-speed power-concentrated electric multiple unit, a part of Talgo 250 family. In 2012, 15 original Class 130 trainsets were modified to Class 730 by replacing their end passenger coaches with diesel-generator cars. Each train consists of 13 cars, including 2 electric locomotive-like

s, 2 diesel-generator cars and 9 passenger coaches. One train crashed in 2013, another 14 are still in use on

Alvia Alvia is a High-speed rail, high-speed train service in Spain offered by Renfe Operadora on long-distance routes with a top speed of . The trains have the ability to use both Iberian gauge and standard gauge, which allows them to travel on the rece ...

services.

United Kingdom

Westbury_-_GWR_802021%2B802014_leaving_for_London

Electro-diesel multiple units whose electricity source is

include: *

Hitachi () is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational Conglomerate (company), conglomerate founded in 1910 and headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo. The company is active in various industries, including digital systems, power and renewable ener ...

-built

British Rail Class 800 The British Rail Class 800, branded as the ''Intercity Express Train'' (IET) by Great Western Railway (train operating company), Great Western Railway (GWR) and ''Azuma'' by London North Eastern Railway (LNER) is a type of bi-mode multiple uni ...

, Class 802, and Class 805 – high-speed multiple unit used by multiple train operating companies * British Rail Class 768 – multiple unit converted from Class 319 (with external dual-system/voltage support), for use by Rail Operations Group on parcel services. *

British Rail Class 769 The British Rail Class 769 ''Flex'' is a class of tri-mode multiple unit (BMU) converted by Brush Traction, and running in service with Northern Trains. The train is a conversion of the existing electric multiple unit (EMU), a conventional u ...

– multiple unit converted from Class 319 (with external dual-system/voltage support), for use on, Northern and

Transport for Wales Transport for Wales (TfW; ; ) is a not-for-profit company owned by the Welsh Government and managed at arms length by its appointed board. TfW oversees the Transport for Wales Group (TfW Group) consisting of itself and its subsidiaries: Trans ...

regional services. In service since November 2019. * Stadler-built British Rail Class 755 – multiple unit for use on

Greater Anglia Greater Anglia (legal name Transport UK East Anglia Limited) is a British train operating company owned as a joint venture by Transport UK Group and Mitsui & Co. It operates the East Anglia franchise, providing the commuter and inter-city se ...

regional services. In service since July 2019 (755/4).

North America

United States

The following were retired from New York City service: * "

Roger Williams Roger Williams (March 1683) was an English-born New England minister, theologian, author, and founder of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Providence Plantations, which became the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Pl ...

" – streamlined 6-car lightweight DMU passenger train, built by

Budd Company The Budd Company was a 20th-century metal fabricator, a major supplier of body components to the automobile industry, and a manufacturer of stainless steel passenger rail cars, airframes, missile and space vehicles, and various defense produ ...

in 1956 for

New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad , commonly known as The Consolidated, or simply as the New Haven, was a railroad that operated principally in the New England region of the United States from 1872 to 1968. Founded by the merger of ...

; primarily diesel-hydraulic, third-rail electric mode for short-term use only. Three cars preserved. * GE/Garrett gas turbine MUs – primarily electric, but built with

gas turbines A gas turbine or gas turbine engine is a type of continuous flow internal combustion engine. The main parts common to all gas turbine engines form the power-producing part (known as the gas generator or core) and are, in the direction of flow: ...

to allow operation outside of third rail electrification. All scrapped.

Mexico

* X'Trapolis Tsíimin K'áak – 42 trains ordered for

Tren Maya Tren Maya (Yucatec Maya: , sometimes also Mayan Train or Maya Train) is a inter-city railway in Mexico that traverses the Yucatán Peninsula. Construction began in June 2020 and the Campeche–Cancún section began operation on December 15, 202 ...

, 32 of which are EDMU

References

Multiple units Hybrid_multiple_units {{train-stub