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Re: SMART goes Titanic - nothing can possibly go wrong
Author: synonymouse
Date: 10-21-2008 - 18:58
We are both wrong. BART gauge is indeed 5' 6", but that is not Russian gauge, as I had always thought. Indian gauge is 5'6". So maybe BART can get a bargain out of Mumbai. I don't know why BART stopped at 5'6" - the Erie RR found 6 feet an operational ideal but soon had to regauge to standard due to the need for interchange.
I think your figure of $2 million per BART car is pretty low. If I divided right Siemens light rail cars are going for about $4 mil. I am not sure that my idea of BART building its own equipment is all that crazy. Since their stuff is so unusual they should at least have a large stash of spare parts in case of trouble.
The last time I was in Europe was in 1975 but at that time they were ahead of where we are now. TGV's and ICE's had yet to make the scene. Of course their railways are nationalized and freight takes a back seat to passenger but we are still lagging behind more than we should. Overall the U.S. has not been spending enough on infrastructure, a sad fact that is finally drawing some attention. Of course all DC is talking about is blowing more money on roads.
I think your figure of $2 million per BART car is pretty low. If I divided right Siemens light rail cars are going for about $4 mil. I am not sure that my idea of BART building its own equipment is all that crazy. Since their stuff is so unusual they should at least have a large stash of spare parts in case of trouble.
The last time I was in Europe was in 1975 but at that time they were ahead of where we are now. TGV's and ICE's had yet to make the scene. Of course their railways are nationalized and freight takes a back seat to passenger but we are still lagging behind more than we should. Overall the U.S. has not been spending enough on infrastructure, a sad fact that is finally drawing some attention. Of course all DC is talking about is blowing more money on roads.
