Home
»
Trains Magazine
»
Forums
»
General Discussion
»
2006 - The Year of Re-Regulation of Railroads?

Edit post

Edit your reply below.

Post Body
Enter your post below.
LC, I will just reiterate as I did for Tom - the railroads don't need to increase track speed limits per se (which are fine being between 40 mph and 79 mph for most mainlines), they need to increase average train speed above the pathetic 25 mph average now at the fore. The problem with HAL as it relates to lowering average train speeds lies mostly with the elimination of superelevation around curves. Trains have to (1) slow down for the curve (2) go slow through the curve, and (3) try to accelerate back up to the posted speed afterward. The move from 25 tons per axle to 35 tons per axle has corresponded with the loss of speed-friendly curvature. Railroads are the only mode I know of that have in many respects gotten slower over the years, while airlines, trucks, and even ships have gotten faster. This relative slowing of the system is THE major contributor to the current capacity crunch, not the increase in traffic. The current network would be just fine for current traffic conditions if only they'd get the trains accross the system in a more expedient fashion. Now the "Crunch of 2006" will be heard around the world. The railroads' modus operandi is already causing them to fall behind the demand curve, and there is no reason to believe things will get better anytime soon. As coal plants are forced to shut down due to lack of coal supply, possibly triggering major blackouts this summer, politicians will be getting an earfull, and the buck will stop right at Ft. Worth and Omaha.
Tags (Optional)
Tags are keywords that get attached to your post. They are used to categorize your submission and make it easier to search for. To add tags to your post type a tag into the box below and click the "Add Tag" button.
Add Tag