mtuandrew wrote:BrianLM: not if they put the wire high enough. CSX runs double-stacks under live SEPTA wire in Philadelphia, so CN and NICTD shouldn't have a problem.I was wondering if a double-stack clearing high wire would lead to a speed restriction on the trains ... Searching around for some information on the topic it seems Amtrak runs the Northeast Corridor with wire heights of 22ft-24ft ... the Acela engine roof height is 14ft with a reach up to 24ft. And even with that much pantograph reach they manage to maintain decent speeds.
Nippon Sharyo lists the single level cars as 15' 11" tall and the gallery cars as 15’ 10 13/32” tall (the equipment on the roof of the single level cars must be adding height). So they would be closer to the wire. They should be able to maintain 79 MPH between stations (top speed for the current car design).
If CSX and eventually CN allow a wire over their rails catenary seems to be the way to go. Keeping the equipment consistent would certainly be a bonus.
(BTW: NICTD is looking to replace their 41 "1982" rail cars starting in 2019 and their 17 "1992" rail cars in 2029. An equipment order for the West Lake Line planned to open in 2023 would fit in nicely.)