How to save money on passenger equipment

[blue streak 1]

Australia's NSW government is putting out for bid a large number of EMUs that will be an off the shelf  presently constructed equipment.  Although whether any units would   meet FRA standards =====

certainly is not a novel idea !  And the money saved ? ?

http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/rolling-stock/new-south-wales-to-invest-$a-28bn-in-new-trains.html?channel=542

http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/traction-rolling-stock/single-view/view/new-south-wales-to-order-new-intercity-fleet.html

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

It sounds good on paper except that there aren't any off-the-shelf passenger equipment designs that meet FRA standards.

[henry6]

I really don't think the US has ever really had an off the shelf passenger car since Pullman stopped manufacturing.   Perhaps the Metroliner styles may fit the description and maybe the Bombardier commuter coaches and cab cars used by MNRR,  ConnDot, NJT, Septa do.   Back when, each railroad had its own specs and designs to be different than other roads and each commuter agency has felt their needs are that much different than others.  From a railfan's perspective  it would be as dull as if all locomotives looked the same. Oh, yeah, that's right......

[oltmannd]

We do risk based routing for TIH/PIH traffic so why not have risk-based standards for crashworthiness based on the overall nature of the traffic the equpment operates with.  The LIRR does not mix with long, heavy freights ever, so why wouldn't the Euro standards be good enough?  NEC equipment has little mixing except between Newark and Baltimore.  LD trains have lots of mixing, so current stds may be appropriate.  etc. etc.

[BaltACD]

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the trainavan part 3 series 17 episode 4