east point wrote:EMUs can be used fairly well on routes with many speed changes with their total higher HP on powered axels. A Sprinter with 4 powered axels cannot compete with any EMU train same number of cars with more than say 6 - 8 EMU powered axels? As Amtrak keeps upgrading the slow spots that advantage will decrease over each year of ROW improvements . DMU s maybe but trying to get enough higher speeds may be problematic.
Some 0 to 60 mph figures from Britain's Rail Express magazine.
Class 345 EMU - 36 seconds- fastest A.C EMU
Class 220 DMU - 53 seconds - fastest DMU
Class 375 EMU - 70 seconds - fastest 3rd rail EMU
Class 57 loco - 76 seconds - fastest diesel loco
Class 90 loco- 87 seconds - fastest Electrric loco
Class 43 HST - 96 seconds- fastest HST125 , iconic HST from the 1980s.
Note , these are times recorded by the Magazines test. They are actual runs, but it doesn't mean each class can't go faster, just they may not have timed a faster run . I would expect a Electric loco to record a faster time than a Diesel for example. And the HST125 os probably derated and on a secondary train after 40 years service. But the thought of a EMU with nearly 3 times better Acceleration than a HST astounds me.
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