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Re: Are Caltrain's F-40PH's slower than the 101 at rush hour??????
Author: BOB2
Date: 02-25-2017 - 10:02
Commuter like to be able to board the trains, and capacity is critical. And, these trains are filling up, as fast as they add cars, because, even with an underpowered F-40PH the speeds are still competitive with the 101 corridor at rush hour.
And, since the purpose of this whole enterprise is to provide mobility to those travelers as efficiently as possible, maximum theoretical acceleration rates, is probably pretty low on the priorities, than being able to provide more cars to board more passengers on already overcrowded trains.....?????
I've seen diesel powered 15 car trains, with an engine on each end operating overseas, with enough HPT to do the job.
Higher gearing and higher horsepower per ton that could be provided by the Siemens engines, would definitely allow for the better speeds, without the enormous capital costs of electrification.
As I've said, I am not against electrification of Caltrain, as far as I can see it is the only HSR money we will have spent on anything real in CA. But, for the costs, the capacity increase from electrification alone are marginal, compared to the ability to add more cars. Yes, electrification can allow for higher horsepower higher adhesion engines with faster acceleration, and higher horsepower does allow for more cars, but it is not "necessary", only more desirable.
Caltrain really does need to look at double engine (on each end) ten car rush hour consists, for future capacity needs, regardless of the electrification, or incorporation of the HSR operations.......
And, since the purpose of this whole enterprise is to provide mobility to those travelers as efficiently as possible, maximum theoretical acceleration rates, is probably pretty low on the priorities, than being able to provide more cars to board more passengers on already overcrowded trains.....?????
I've seen diesel powered 15 car trains, with an engine on each end operating overseas, with enough HPT to do the job.
Higher gearing and higher horsepower per ton that could be provided by the Siemens engines, would definitely allow for the better speeds, without the enormous capital costs of electrification.
As I've said, I am not against electrification of Caltrain, as far as I can see it is the only HSR money we will have spent on anything real in CA. But, for the costs, the capacity increase from electrification alone are marginal, compared to the ability to add more cars. Yes, electrification can allow for higher horsepower higher adhesion engines with faster acceleration, and higher horsepower does allow for more cars, but it is not "necessary", only more desirable.
Caltrain really does need to look at double engine (on each end) ten car rush hour consists, for future capacity needs, regardless of the electrification, or incorporation of the HSR operations.......
