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Is it true that train diesel engines are always kept running and not completely shut down? If yes, why?

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Is it true that train diesel engines are always kept running and not completely shut down? If yes, why?

This is actually not surprising when you think about it. Most large engines are left running even when their power output is unneeded as they have long periods of time to start from a cold start. Most power plants take somewhere between quarter to half a day to get up to speed, some coal or nuclear plants take multiple days to reach speed. Cold starts are rough on engines, large engines take a lot of time to evenly heat the block and fully lubricate the engine before they can be loaded.

After Tokyo Commuter Train Leaves 20 Seconds Early, Company Apologizes

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After Tokyo Commuter Train Leaves 20 Seconds Early, Company Apologizes

"Passengers on a morning train on the Tokyo region's Tsukuba Express line might not have noticed anything was amiss Tuesday. But when their train left Minami-Nagareyama station, it did so 20 seconds ahead of schedule — and when the company noticed, it issued an apology to customers."

"The train was traveling northbound on the line that connects Tokyo's Akihabara station with Tsukuba to the northeast — a trip that takes less than an hour. After passengers had boarded, the crew didn't check the time, resulting in the slightly early departure "around" 9:44 a.m., the company said."