Speed

[Vigrass, Bill]

Speeds: Norristown High Speed Line is considered lilght rail by SEPTA, and
the new N-5 cars are rated for 70 mph.  They have four 208 hp motors, the
most powerful car of its catagory.

St. Louis BiState Siemens cars were specified with 65 mph capability but I
believe they operate at 55 mph. By having 65 capability, their acceleration
up to 55 is better than if they had a 55 mph max.

Los Angeles Blue Line Siemens 200 and 300 class (301,302 have ATO equipment
for demonstration purposes only), 52 cars, were specified to have 70 mph
capability with 65 mph normal operating speed.  Since this line is
functionally a rapid transit line, fully grade separated, mostly in the
median of I-105, this is entirely appropriate.  The first cars were
delivered Jan. 98, but none are yet in service.  I heard that software in
their AEG propulsion system has been troublesome.  Also LA Metro doesn't
need them, doesn't want to pay for them, so finds reasons to not accept
them. I found it odd that Siemens used AEG (Westinghouse) propulsion, but
evidently Siemens did not have a system suitable for that application at the
time.

So there are at least three LRT (incl. Norristown, a special case) lines
that have 65 or 70 mph capability.  I am all for it.  Speed sells.  There
are constant improvements in the highway system and in automobiles.  Transit
must keep up or get ahead, and for the most part, it is not doing so. In my
opinion, most LRT lines are too slow to attract many motorists.

	That is what I like about Tren Urbano of San Juan, PR, my primary
project. It is real rapid transit, with cars specified for 100 kmh (62 mph),
rapid acceleration (3 mphps, or 1.35 m2 I think is the equivilent).  Married
pair one, cars 1-2, are aabout 80% complete, will be "substantially
complete" by our next meeting, Oct. 26-8, and are to be shipped Nov. 1 to
PR, by road to JAX, thence roll-on roll-off ferry to the Port of San Juan,
then by road to the yard and shop at Los Lomas.  The stainless steel bodies
were built in Vienna, Austria, by Semmering-Graz-Pauker (a Siemens comany)
went by road to Bremerhaven, by ship to Port Hueneme, CA and by road to
Sacramento.  How's that for travel?  I think these will be the Greatest Cars
Yet Built, with four 167 hp motors (125 kw), inverter/a.c. drive.  Two
complete HVAC units each with two compressors, per car (no floor heaters
needed). Width at floor 10' 3", at belt rail 10' 6", length 75 ft, height
12' 6", A Big People Hauler, 72 seats, nominal capacity 180.  The cross
section is about the same as a LIRR M-1 car (which are 85 ft long). I just
hope they pass their track tests.    Bill V.----------
> From: 	Jim Holland[SMTP:pghpcc at pacbell.net]
> Reply To: 	pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
> Sent: 	Thursday, October 14, 1999 7:14 PM
> To: 	pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
> Subject: 	Re: Speed
> 
> Greetings!
> 
> > > From:         Kenneth and Tracie
> Josephson[SMTP:kjosephson at sprintmail.com]
> 
> > > To get back on topic, when I was in Pittsburgh last month, the buzz
> was
> > > the governors on the LRVs were reset to 31 mph. . . Scott Davis showed
> > > me signalling hardware which indicated that some sections of the
> system
> > > *could* support 70 mph operation. I see no reason why the line isn't
> > > operated in the 40-60 mph range.
> 
>         W-H-E-R-E-?-!  Forget it thru Dormont and Beechview.  From Dormont
> 
> Junction to Cape May trestle there is either too much actual street
> running, too 
> many curves, or too many grade crossings.
> 	Also, too many curves on the prw from Palm Garden to Beechview
> Streets 
> in addition to grades.  Any speed approaching 40 mph between Dormont
> Junction and 
> Palm Garden seems way out of line.
> 	The only section for any speed is between Mt. Lebanon and the
> Village, 
> and that is severely limited.  And the best place in this section for any
> real 
> speed is from the Village to Washington Junction.  There is or was a good
> open 
> stretch between Mt. Lebanon and CS but there are several grade crossings
> to 
> contend with.  One near CS might warrant crossing arms but the others are
> smaller 
> and less used crossings.
> 	Maybe 40 mph, but I have an extremely difficult time visioning 70
> mph.  
> Outer Library if upgraded and then for maybe one second at 70 mph!  There
> isn't 
> any light rail today running that fast.  Most new systems held top speed
> to 50 
> mph; Portland was the first with 55 mph - don't know if others have
> followed!
> 
> > > Seriously, I would like a comparison of present running times between
> > > Downtown and Mt. Lebanon and the best schedule of the 42/38 before
> > > rebuilding. I have PAT schedules of the line from 1972, 1975, 1979 &
> > > 1982. What I need is the current schedule. Ken J.
> > >
> 
> James B. Holland
> ------- -- ---------
>         Pittsburgh Railways Company (PRCo), June of 1949 -- June of 1953
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