EuroStar wrote:This is interesting. If it is a single self propelled vehicle, then it will likely be a cross between an ALP46 and an MLV car. One could likely take the scaled down guts of an ALP46 (transformer, control hardware and such) and stuff them in the lower level of an MLV car, plus of course change of the bogies to ones with electric motors. These things will be somewhat smaller than their counterparts in an ALP46 if the requirement is to haul no more than 3 trailers. With the control cabs not part of this, passengers can use the upper level to pass through. It should be noted though that the seating capacity of this thing will be basically half of the capacity of an existing MLV, but for the lines where they need short 3-4 car trains that will be fine. I have a suspicion that NJT will end up not operating these things as EMUs because EMU operation will require the coaches in between to properly pass the EMU controls which means that the existing coaches will need rewiring (or keep the fleets separate which is a major pain). NJT will definitely need more MLV cabs though as the current roaster is about right for the current fleet.
Now of course, one needs to ask the question: is this any cheaper than just buying more straight MLVs and more ALP46? I have no idea what the answer is. Also, what exactly is the operational benefit that makes this worth it over more MLVs and ALP46s? An ALP46 with 3 MLV coaches will accelerate reasonably well even with tight stop spacing and curves (such as on the Gladstone branch), probably not as well as married pair EMUs, but at least as well as this proposed "thing". So why?
Request to the Administrator: Please consider merging this thread with the one about Bombardier: "Bombardier to bid on New Jersey rail contract: sources".
Its acceleration tbf, an EMU even a porky one will out accelerate a power car (as the M8 and M7 both show). Also, the perverse nature of EMU vs power cars means 3 car and below trains do not make much sense for power to weight ratios (its absurd to do).
he Fleet Strategy provides for the
purchase of 58 Multilevel EMU power units to replace Arrow III power units. The new units
represent an efficiency improvement in that one unit will provide sufficient power to pull two
non-powered units – effectively creating a three car sub-consist. This compares favorably with
the two-car “married pair” Arrow III EMUs which have drive components in both units. Instead of
replacing every Arrow III with a new powered unit, NJ TRANSIT will only need to replace every
third Arrow III unit with a powered unit. This approach also allows NJ TRANSIT to use Multilevel
coaches that were previously purchased to expand service to instead serve as the second and
third non-power unit in a new three car sub-consist. The propulsion technology to be utilized is
similar to that contained in NJ TRANSIT's ALP46 and ALP45-DP locomotive
https://www.njtransit.com/AdminTemp/njt ... et2014.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;