technology, popular in a variety of applications including marine propulsion, has
seen limited use in rail systems due in part to potentially higher fuel consumption rates in
comparison to diesel-electrics. This is changing with the current development of this technology,
which has advanced dramatically in recent years with its use in both helicopters and fast ferries.
As a result, the American Flyer/Advanced Turbine Locomotive offers higher commercial speeds
(150+ mph) and acceleration rates than diesel-electrics, making it more suitable for high-speed
passenger service. In the future, this technology may also feature flywheels and other energy
storage systems that will make the unit more energy efficient.