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That's categorically untrue. Diesel-electric trains are not uncommon, but there are many, many trains driven directly mechanically or hydraulically by the diesel engines.

Nearly rode on one these just yesterday: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_150

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I stand corrected: some really backwards countries still have crappy old trains that run purely on diesel.

In America, all the freight trains and diesel passenger trains are diesel-electric, and have been for many decades. And America isn't even much of a leader in passenger rail.

I guess I shouldn't be too surprised about the UK; this is a country that still doesn't know how to make a single water faucet that combines hot and cold water.

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