MARC diesels on the Penn Line

[aegrotatio]

I heard that MARC is planning and/or has already started to run diesels on the Penn Line. Won't MARC diesels on the Penn Line cause congestion problems? How fast do they go? MARC Penn Line electric AEM-7 and HHP-8 pulled trains routinely run 121 MPH.

[NorthWest]

The MP36PH-3Cs have a top speed of 108 MPH. MARC is trying to standardize their locomotive fleet? 

[LNER4472]

Diesels have always run MARC trains on the Penn Line since MARC began acquiring its own fleet for commuter services.  With closely-placed station stops (compared to Amtrak trains), what matters is acceleration ability, not maximum speed.
MARC rosters a couple AEM7's and HHP-8's, but these electrics have proven just as problematic for MARC as they are now for Amtrak, and Amtrak charges MARC for electric consumption.  The MP36's are new and under warranty, so it behooves MARC to use them as much as possible.

[matthew.brandley]

From what I have read  in press releases the hhp are gone as soon as the new mp diesels are in for  the new order to replace to older gp 38 and 40 on the  camden and brunswick /hagerstown lines.  Amtrak will be charging such a exorborant rate it will not be worth the state to keep the few electrics they have on the penn line. Also  by the end of april all gallery cars on all lines should be gone with the arrival of multi level cars from  bambardier in n y. Camden and brunsick lines will be replaced first . Again this is by press releases and also posted on the MARC  site

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

I would think that both standardization and flexibility are involved here.  The AEM7's and HHP8's are tied to the Penn Line while the MP36's can be used anywhere.