by Nasadowsk
The Arrows never had a top speed of 105 mph, it was always listed as 100. I don't know why people got so upset about the dropping of the top speed to 80 - there's practically NO track on or off the NEC where 100mph running is needed, or useful, and even with 80mph running, they're STILL faster than the 100mph ALP/Comets, because of their acceleration. I also don't get why ABB gets the blame, since it's pretty clear that the entire story isn't known by most, as NOBODY can say specifically what's wrong with the cars to prevent over 80mph operation, and the gearbox 'reason' makes no sense anyway.
SL Vs built from 100% Americans parts and labor? Not gonna happen, period. Nobody in the US makes an EMU propulsion system that's even remotely worth considering - GE's stuff is obsolete junk (DC traction? This is 2004, not 1974), Westinghouse is gone. Even the NYCTA doesn't buy GE stuff for new cars, it's all Alstom, ABB/Adtranz/whomeveritisthisweek, or Siemens. GE built the R-110A/B cars, but didn't get R-142. AFAIK, the only pending order of any real size is 100 or so CCMs for rebuilding the LIRR's M-3 fleet, which itself is questionable because there's no reaon to rebuild them as DC traction cars. The LIRR's M-7s are Mitsubishi.
Why should Septa limit itself to buying stuff from what's now an also-ran in the market (GE doesn't even build small inverters anymore)?
Don't get too excitecd about a Bombardier built M-7 knockoff. They're obnoxiously heavy cars (a touch less than an SL-IV, but without the 8,000 lb transformer, 1,000 lb pantograph, and misc switchgear), and passengers hate the seating, which is far more cramped than the M-1/3s are, plus there are far fewer due to the LIRR's inane decision to place an ADA bathroom in every other car. A 12 car M-7 is no faster than a 12 car M-1, and has nearly 1 car's worth fewer seats, and this is with 3+2, and only 3+2. They've been very reliable, though.
I question if the SL V will even perform better than the existing stuff. While it's technically possible, the FRA's regulations mean a very heavy car, meaning very high demands on the propulsion system. I'll be quite amazed if the final weight comes in under 130,000 lbs per car. I'm guessing more like 140,000 - 150,000, in which case they'll be as slow, or slower, and much more expensive to run than the existing fleet.
SL Vs built from 100% Americans parts and labor? Not gonna happen, period. Nobody in the US makes an EMU propulsion system that's even remotely worth considering - GE's stuff is obsolete junk (DC traction? This is 2004, not 1974), Westinghouse is gone. Even the NYCTA doesn't buy GE stuff for new cars, it's all Alstom, ABB/Adtranz/whomeveritisthisweek, or Siemens. GE built the R-110A/B cars, but didn't get R-142. AFAIK, the only pending order of any real size is 100 or so CCMs for rebuilding the LIRR's M-3 fleet, which itself is questionable because there's no reaon to rebuild them as DC traction cars. The LIRR's M-7s are Mitsubishi.
Why should Septa limit itself to buying stuff from what's now an also-ran in the market (GE doesn't even build small inverters anymore)?
Don't get too excitecd about a Bombardier built M-7 knockoff. They're obnoxiously heavy cars (a touch less than an SL-IV, but without the 8,000 lb transformer, 1,000 lb pantograph, and misc switchgear), and passengers hate the seating, which is far more cramped than the M-1/3s are, plus there are far fewer due to the LIRR's inane decision to place an ADA bathroom in every other car. A 12 car M-7 is no faster than a 12 car M-1, and has nearly 1 car's worth fewer seats, and this is with 3+2, and only 3+2. They've been very reliable, though.
I question if the SL V will even perform better than the existing stuff. While it's technically possible, the FRA's regulations mean a very heavy car, meaning very high demands on the propulsion system. I'll be quite amazed if the final weight comes in under 130,000 lbs per car. I'm guessing more like 140,000 - 150,000, in which case they'll be as slow, or slower, and much more expensive to run than the existing fleet.
