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Electrification in the U. S.
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[quote]QUOTE: <i>Originally posted by 440cuin</i> <br /><br />I think the biggest problems with electrification is the higher ongoing maintanance of the right of way wich would matter alot on the long isolated distances in North America.[/quote] <br /> <br />America is a cozy place in comparsion to Siberia. Transsib is electrified at 25kV/50Hz <br /> <br />[quote]QUOTE: Especialy with secondary main lines wich feed into the system. Maintanance of electric locos is less then deisels, but you have to weigh it against each other. In Europe they have many more trains running shorter distances and the savings in easier to maintain straight electrics outways the heavier maintance of deisels, especialy with the need for lighter but more horse power units for high speeds and the shorter route miles of electrification. So to them electric may be more cost effective on the long run.[/quote] <br /> <br />Everything costs money. The only benefit of electrification _right now_ would be energy savings in uphill/downhill railroading. That would require bidiriectional substations, but is really no biggie. <br /> <br />The problem is: UP is 33000 miles. Wires cost 1mil/mile. At 50% electrification it is about 17 billion - or half of the value of the railroad. That is a BIIIG pill to swallow, and without govt money I say its probability is about not bloody likely. <br /> <br />For starters - 100 billion gets you whole american railroad system, shortlines, commuter agencies and amtrak included. Electryfiyng the system would cost just as much. <br /> <br />[quote]QUOTE: Other major risks are if one railroad electrifies and then 10 years later another electrifies with an improved but incompatable system, this problem exists all over Europe now. <br />[/quote] <br /> <br />No problem at all. I bet that from 2008 (when pan-european open acces should be actually excercised) you'll see locos that run at 1.5/3/15/25 kV at DC or 15/16.6/25/50 Hz AC without problems. Of course they will have 4 or so pantographs, but really, what's the problem? <br /> <br />Quad voltage locos (1,5/3/15/25 kV DC/16.6/50 hz) are avalible off the shelf from bombardier, alstom, siemens and ABB...
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