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Railroad Forums
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Tadman wrote:I'd believe it. Compare how Amtrak handled Nippon Sharyo's struggles with the nu-superliners vs how they coddled CAF through all the issues they had with the viewliners. Something doesn't quite add up.charlesriverbranch wrote:There are FRA-compliant DMU's; if I'm not mistaken, SMART, the new commuter rail service running north of San Francisco, uses them.I think the builder, Nippon Sharyo, is done for the US market after the Amtrak fiasco. They declined to bid the recent NICTD/South Shore tender, and that's their oldest customer in the market with an install base of about 85 cars. The plant in rural Illinois is closed, too.
It's a shame, too. Until the Amtrak fiasco, their equipment has been really solid performers. I think there is more to that story than we are hearing.
Bramdeisroberts wrote: I'd believe it. Compare how Amtrak handled Nippon Sharyo's struggles with the nu-superliners vs how they coddled CAF through all the issues they had with the viewliners. Something doesn't quite add up.Amtrak had nothing to do with Nippon Sharyo, that was the purview of the CA/IL/MO/MI consortium.
Bramdeisroberts wrote:Honestly, if the T was really serious about electrification, they could do far worse than to piggyback on to the MTA's Kawasaki orders, buy a slew of simplified M8s set up solely for 25kV running, and run them as 10-car consists on the Providence line.There's far better choices if they're actually serious about electrics.
troffey wrote:Not to dispute your position, but rather out of curiosity, what leads you to this conclusion?M8's a barge. The SL V is a bit lighter, but still a barge. Admittingly, if you dump the 25Hz operation and useless resistor grids, it's weight gets close to being decent, but it's still hobbled by a long outdated truck design and not enough door area.
Nasadowsk wrote:I disagree with that, the ALP46 was designed for commuter service and runs in daily service with heavier trains vs the T and even the ACS will beat the pants off any diesel on dry rail. My only concern is Sharon hill during leaf season or light rain on an 8 car all doubles set.troffey wrote:Not to dispute your position, but rather out of curiosity, what leads you to this conclusion?Realistically, they'd trial and ALP-46 or ACS-64, find the performance barely better than a diesel, and forget about electrification for the next decade or two. Both are good locos, but neither are designed for commuter service....