by mdvle
The RFQ submission deadline should have passed a couple of hours ago, the short list of qualified applicants and the RFP should all be announced sometime this month.
Railroad Forums
Moderator: Ken V
mdvle wrote: Similarly, it wouldn't surprise me if much of the planned electrification by Ontario gets shelved / postponed.Yeah VIA has committed to continuing at least some service on the existing Corridor even if their hypothetical new corridor is built. Electrification carries enormous capital costs for which recovery at a reasonable return on capital probably would prove impossible. Any hypothetical savings at the engine maintenance shops will easily be consumed by additional costs of maintaining electrical systems out in the field.
Backshophoss wrote:Don't Think BBD will win after what happened with TTC light rail and the London(UK),NYCTA contracts/deliveries.Siemens have probably the best equipment on the shelf, and can leverage Alstom Quebec for Canadian content, but I doubt anyone in VIA HQ (in Montreal) cares what happened in Toronto. It's just... how things work.
Siemens the best bet to win!
Tadman wrote:When they say they want the ability to convert modes, what does that mean? I'm not the brightest man on the block, but wouldn't it make sense to use that old trick known as the "coupler" and buy new straight electrics or bi-modes? Rather than buy something that might never be used?The Request for Proposals (section 1.2(3)) says
the initial order of 32 trainsets will be diesel powered only, with a required provision for future diesel and electric operationMy guess - even though VIA apparently has a preference for a loco / coach solution I don't see anything in the RfP that states that. Thus by putting that requirement in they are simply preventing someone from submitting a diesel only DMU as an entry.