French order too wide passenger cars

[blue streak 1]

A change in loading gauge started 30   50  years ago in France lead to ordering 2000 passenger cars that were too wide for older train platforms.  Biting the bullet all older station platforms will be widened.   2000 cars ? gosh wouldn't Amtrak like just 500 ? 

 

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/20/us-france-trains-idUSKBN0E021720140520

 Edit changed to 50 years ago wider platforms started building.

 

[dakotafred]

Sounds like it's going to be a tighter fit yet!

[BaltACD]

Let the finger pointing begin!

Transport Minister Frederic Cuvillier blamed an "absurd rail system" for the problem, referring to changes made by a previous government in 1997. "When you separate the rail operator (RFF) from the user, SNCF, it doesn't work," he told BFMTV.    ($1 = 0.7302 Euros)

[NKP guy]

If memory serves right, didn't something similar happen c1865 when George Pullman brought out the sleeping car (?) that was initially used to carry President Lincoln's casket back home to Springfield?  I believe the car was a bit too wide for some station platforms and they had to be modified for the Lincoln funeral train.

Or am I meshuganah on this?

[Paul of Covington]

NKP guy

If memory serves right, didn't something similar happen c1865 when George Pullman brought out the sleeping car (?) that was initially used to carry President Lincoln's casket back home to Springfield?  I believe the car was a bit too wide for some station platforms and they had to be modified for the Lincoln funeral train.

Or am I meshuganah on this?

   I remember reading the same thing, but it was a calculated move on Pullman's part.    The only way he could be satisfied with the sleeping car's arrangement was to make the car wider than standard, but he figured it would be desirable enough that the railroads would be willing to make the necessary changes to the platforms.   Lincoln's funeral train came along to give them a little more incentive.

[blue streak 1]

Now I suggest that we take a longer look at this happening.  Misread the article saying wider started later than the actual 50 years.  That time would be when the first TGVs were built.  So all stations built after that time were for wider trains.  The narrower platforms have prevented TGVs to be either scheduled by those stations or the few times a diverted train could not use those platforms ?

Now new wider trains will be the standard and of course older narrower trains could use the wider platforms ( mind the gap ).  Since the widening has been going on for at least 6 months maybe there is more to the story than has been admitted.  Wouldn't you prefer to have all your rolling stock able to  serve more locations ?  Look at the problems in the USA because of limited loading gages at some locations.

Examples  1. Va avenue tunnel, Hudson river tunnels, Siskiyou route, NS & CSX tunnel enlargements,  NEC route, etc 

y 

 

[BaltACD]

blue streak 1

Now I suggest that we take a longer look at this happening.  Misread the article saying wider started later than the actual 50 years.  That time would be when the first TGVs were built.  So all stations built after that time were for wider trains.  The narrower platforms have prevented TGVs to be either scheduled by those stations or the few times a diverted train could not use those platforms ?

Now new wider trains will be the standard and of course older narrower trains could use the wider platforms ( mind the gap ).  Since the widening has been going on for at least 6 months maybe there is more to the story than has been admitted.  Wouldn't you prefer to have all your rolling stock able to  serve more locations ?  Look at the problems in the USA because of limited loading gages at some locations.

Examples  1. Va avenue tunnel, Hudson river tunnels, Siskiyou route, NS & CSX tunnel enlargements,  NEC route, etc 

 

 

Platforms are easily reconfigured when compared to tunnel and/or other capacity improvement projects in the US.  Costly, yes; but no significant engineering has to take place to change the platforms.

[blue streak 1]

BaltACD

Platforms are easily reconfigured when compared to tunnel and/or other capacity improvement projects in the US.  Costly, yes; but no significant engineering has to take place to change the platforms.

 Agree other clearance problems take more effort but the point is that it is time for the French to have one national platform clearance.  Also do their clearance = other countries ?  Realize Euro tunnel is a different animal.

Platforms are easily reconfigured. 

 

Yes and no.  Some French platforms all it will take is a concrete / rock saw to widen.  However some of the older platforms do not have any overhang with fully perpendicular walls and will either require moving tracks or if moving not possible then cutting all the way down.   Another site mentioned that many locations will require relocation of electrical items and other utilities that are too close.  All in all a mess that is being rectified.