I would not think maintaining to class 5 would be that big of a deal. The former Santa Fe line south of Santa Anna (or Fullerton) is 90 mph, and I understand (from Wiki) that large parts of former LA to Chicago are still maintaned for 90, even though the SW Chief is the only passenger train on the route, and its pounded by lots of freight traffic.
Of course, it may be that even for the baby bullets, the schedule difference would not be enough to be worth the trouble. It might allow flexibility to make up time from delays. Also, the faster accelleration from electric traction would make a higher speed limit more useful.
A larger question is why, more generally, with PTC installed on passenger routes, that did not result in kicking 79 limits up to 90.
I admit I like trains to be fast!
How much of a time difference can there be between 79 MPH and 90 MPH on a 47 mile (SF-San Jose) suburban service?
Have wondered about the 79 MPH as well. Route has PTC so no constaint there. Baby bullets have and probably will skip many stations so no 80+ problem there. The only testing to 79 requires some independent testing to 10% of route's max authorized speed which would be 87 - 88 MPH. Maybe tests at Pueblo satisfied that requirement?
Brightline and Amtrak's AX-2s were tested to 138 & 176 respectively on their own tracks. Pueblo's tracks not capable of those speeds.
Maybe Caltrain does not want to maintain tracks to the class 5 -- 90 MPH standard Now if the EMUs were tested to say 100 MPH at Pueblo then maybe 90 MPH down the road? What speeds will be on those tracks when CA HSR operates on them is another question?
J. Bishop Does anyone know why they are limiting to 79 mph? Surely the track is good enough for 90.
Does anyone know why they are limiting to 79 mph? Surely the track is good enough for 90.
Groud breaking for construction started mid 2017, Final pole just installed. Have to wonder if the persons overseeing the installation of the OCS (overhead contact system [CAT]) had any idea it would take so long to do all the potholing for the poles?
Any electrification planned in future needs to remember this is a hard limitation. Remember the New Haven - Boston electrification was also delayed for poles not installed. Then time from first electric motor to final activation of both tracks came much later.
Caltrain completes installation of poles for electrification project - Trains
Electrification | Caltrain
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