Discussion related to commuter rail and rapid transit operations in the Chicago area including the South Shore Line, Metra Rail, and Chicago Transit Authority.

Moderators: metraRI, JamesT4

  by eolesen
 
Really? The F40PH variants with 3200 hp are the mainstays of commuter service for over 40 years. They handle 79mph nicely enough with seven to nine cars.

>3600 hp is a luxury.

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  by RandallW
 
As far as I can tell, most of the F40PH variants still in use have a 3000-3200 HP engine with separate HEP (I can't find specifics easily, but it appears to be between 500-1000 HP), to give a total output of 3500-4200 HP. The MPI locomotive used by agencies running longer trains are also almost all 3600 HP engines with separate HEP. These numbers are similar to the 4400 HP of the SD70MACHs without separate HEP.

I think that claiming that high horsepower is a luxury is also stating that faster / shorter time journeys and more frequent services are also unneeded luxuries. Note that Caltrain's EMUs are ~8000 HP and have allowed an effective service increase by running local trains with more station stops and a shorter overall journey time merely by being able to accelerate faster.
  by Nasadowsk
 
The improvement on Caltrain is a 25 or so minute reduction in the running times for locals.

I suspect most folks would rather leave home a bit later and get home a bit earlier, than have trains "that are the mainstay of service for over 40 years".
  by eolesen
 
Of course an EMU will have faster acceleration. But that faster acceleration came at an average cost of $50M per mile when you look at the Caltrain project.

Few of these systems can cover their costs as it is. And now you want to add $2M per mile in capex assuming a 30 year amortization on the work?....

As someone who actually pays into Metra as a taxpayer, I'm more than happy with their approach. It fits the market, and isn't breaking the bank in the process.
  by Tadman
 
Seems to be status quo in Chicago - most everything has a 710 or 645 making 3000-4400hp other than the electric lines.
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