American freight trains-59 mph....German Freight Trains-80mph The FRA is FAXing US railroads over.

[Junctionfan]

In European countries and in Japan, the lines are electric and so most of thease high-speed freight is electric. You have to keep in mind that thease countries are far smaller than ours and so to electrify our countries would be quite expensive. Some of the existing lines such as the North East Corridor is a start but it will be difficult for the railroads to contiplate undertaking such feat of investment unless the government does some big time investing. I think it will happen sooner or later but for now, trying to get the U.S government in particular to spend alot of money that will benifit the transportation infrustructure and not on frivilous things like missle defence system to protect against non existant ememies who are at peace with you. Lets face it, when it comes to the rails, congress can barely find the interest to fund amtrak never mind something this big; and the Canadian government is no better. If this is to happen we will need to vote in governments who are interested in doing this and we of course as voters of our respected countries, must support the party that will do this other wise the railroads are quite content on using diesels that they have already spent a fortune on.

[jeffhergert]

Do the Germans run 16000 ton coal trains at 80MPH? I doubt it.
If we had a government owned, nationalized primarily passenger railroad with some relatively small and light freight trains, we too would probably run 80mph freight trains.
Even when the railroads had 90mph passenger train speeds, most freight trains ran normally in the 40 to 50 mph range.
Jeff

[Anonymous]

How heavy are these trains that they can achieve such high speeds

[athelney]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Junctionfan

I don't think Canada's freight could do it unless they started using a large consist of P-42s or F40PHs. I don't think engines for freight service can go beyond 70 or 75mph.

Think that is the point - we have to start thinking in terms of faster freight trains - we have to plan for 90mph plus freight now - especially with increasing intermodal traffic . In Canada we have long sections of fairly straight track (except in the west) Now is the time to upgrade to faster track like the Europeans .

[Junctionfan]

I don't think Canada's freight could do it unless they started using a large consist of P-42s or F40PHs. I don't think engines for freight service can go beyond 70 or 75mph.

[Anonymous]

Was talking to a german rail fan at a yard in ohio today. He told me that german freight trains do 80 MPH (But passenger trains get priority). The FRA is hancapping freight railroads by limiting there speed if we have faster freight we could have faster passenger. In Canada i was told 90 MPH freights were not that uncommon and this was before CTC.