Some years ago London Transport, who run the Underground system, were approached by a team of VPs from a Metro Corporation, I think from Japan, anxious to sell a retro-fit multi-million £ regenerative-braking system to the Underground trains. They were politely informed that the Underground had fitted regenerative braking from inception, 100 years earlier. The system had never cost one penny in maintenance charges or capital repayments for a century, it had cost practically nothing to build and it was nearly 100% efficient. The designers had simply built all the stations 10 feet higher than the rest of the track! Trains coast uphill to stop, and get a downhill boost as they leave. Don't Work Hard, Work Smart!
Alan
