As a traveler on NYC-area commuter trains and the Northeast Corridor, I am surprised at how rough the tracks usually are. Metro-North's EMUs bounce around and sound like they're about to fall off the rails, and my last trip on the Crescent, in a sleeping car, was rough along the Northeast Corridor.
Conversely, once the Crescent reached Norfolk Southern rails, the ride was very smooth.
So:
1. Which passenger railroads (or lines) have the roughest and smoothest track?
2. Why is passenger train track in the Northeast so rough?
3. Are Class I freight railroad tracks generally smooth, or is the lower speed of a passenger train on them (vs. the Northeast Corridor) partially the cause of a smoother ride on freight rails?
Thanks.
Conversely, once the Crescent reached Norfolk Southern rails, the ride was very smooth.
So:
1. Which passenger railroads (or lines) have the roughest and smoothest track?
2. Why is passenger train track in the Northeast so rough?
3. Are Class I freight railroad tracks generally smooth, or is the lower speed of a passenger train on them (vs. the Northeast Corridor) partially the cause of a smoother ride on freight rails?
Thanks.
