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Re: SMART real target of Novato lawsuit?
Author: OldPoleBurner
Date: 07-30-2008 - 20:26
>>> WHICH OF COURSE will be rebuilt to FRA Class 5.
Mike, is this hyperbole or what?
There is absolutely no reason whatsoever (economic or otherwise) for most of the NWP to be maintained to any higher standard than Class 3 - curvature being the limiting factor on speed, regardless of "Class". Perhaps Santa Rosa Area and south - maybe Class 4 to allow the DMU's 79mph. To go any faster would also require the installation of cab signaling and automatic train control, not just class 5 track.
Not that cab signaling / automatic train control isn't a good idea at any speed, for public safety. Its just not commonly done. Salt Lake City's new commuter train system did do just that though (Electrocode I believe). - Good for them!
Now - If there was ever a place where you would have thought that heavy commuter trains would just plain flop - bigtime, Salt Lake City just has to be it; where there are more grunt grunt ruff ruffBig He-Man Four Wheelers than thare are automobiles - and more of those even than there are people! But the people are flocking to it in droves anyhow - already overloading it!
So the question remains, are the people of Utah smarter than those in Novato? Probably - a lot! Actually, the taxes to pay for it did pass - in Sonoma county and parts of Marin - but lost bigger in certain (nameless) areas of Marin County.
So this thing is going to get built - its just a matter of time. The only thing not certain is will it be after economic calamity hits the area, or before. It would seem fitting to run it right on THRU Novato non-stop for the first few years - until they cry uncle - or otherwise repent!
OPB
Mike, is this hyperbole or what?
There is absolutely no reason whatsoever (economic or otherwise) for most of the NWP to be maintained to any higher standard than Class 3 - curvature being the limiting factor on speed, regardless of "Class". Perhaps Santa Rosa Area and south - maybe Class 4 to allow the DMU's 79mph. To go any faster would also require the installation of cab signaling and automatic train control, not just class 5 track.
Not that cab signaling / automatic train control isn't a good idea at any speed, for public safety. Its just not commonly done. Salt Lake City's new commuter train system did do just that though (Electrocode I believe). - Good for them!
Now - If there was ever a place where you would have thought that heavy commuter trains would just plain flop - bigtime, Salt Lake City just has to be it; where there are more grunt grunt ruff ruffBig He-Man Four Wheelers than thare are automobiles - and more of those even than there are people! But the people are flocking to it in droves anyhow - already overloading it!
So the question remains, are the people of Utah smarter than those in Novato? Probably - a lot! Actually, the taxes to pay for it did pass - in Sonoma county and parts of Marin - but lost bigger in certain (nameless) areas of Marin County.
So this thing is going to get built - its just a matter of time. The only thing not certain is will it be after economic calamity hits the area, or before. It would seem fitting to run it right on THRU Novato non-stop for the first few years - until they cry uncle - or otherwise repent!
OPB
