The JetTrain features a power plant derived from a 5,000-hp Pratt & Whitney PW 150 engine. It is one-tenth the size and 20 percent lighter than a conventional diesel unit, with twice the acceleration. The lighter weight permits high-speed travel without producing damaging track forces.
Historically, only electric locomotives have been able to generate enough power to run consistently at speeds above 110 mph. For instance, the TGV rail system in France uses overhead catenary wires that deliver power as trains speed by at up to 186 mph.