by Head-end View
Back in the 1990s, I remember seeing the 1800s being delivered on flat-bed trailer trucks too. I wondered at the time how that could be easier than by rail. Seems more complicated by truck.
Railroad Forums
Moderators: sery2831, CRail
Tobin Dax wrote:Do we have any sense of how well the tests of the new Orange Line cars are going? Have they picked up on any issues, or do the cars seem to be relatively clean?I've heard that the first four cars, from China, will be heading out to Springfield to get what ever mods they need to bring them up to operational standard. The second four cars from China are at Wellington undergoing testing and training runs and two to four Springfield cars are there or on their way.
Head-end View wrote:Back in the 1990s, I remember seeing the 1800s being delivered on flat-bed trailer trucks too. I wondered at the time how that could be easier than by rail. Seems more complicated by truck.
RenegadeMonster wrote:Wow, I thought for sure they would have delivered them by rail. Not by truck. That's a cool sight.A subway car is not up to the full FRA standard, so on their own wheels wouldn't happen. Also the wheels have a different profile, different couplers, clearance issues and would click off mileage.
csor2010 wrote:The OL connection at Wellington is actually off the old Medford branch, so assuming the track could handle it (questionable) and the clearances are sufficient, a delivery move wouldn't disrupt traffic any more than an ordinary freight on the Western Route.If the track can handle a locomotive and freight cars (which I've seen much worse track handle) there's no reason it couldn't handle much lighter subway cars. I don't know why clearances keep being mentioned as I already debunked that issue. They are not taller, wider, or longer than standard passenger railroad cars.
Michael Jonas, CommonWealth Magazine wrote:State Rep. Shawn Dooley says the T is jeopardizing the safety and personal information of riders by contracting with a Chinese-owned firm to build 400 new Orange and Red Line cars. With claims that sound straight out of an overwrought spy thriller, the Norfolk Republican says the state has been duped into providing a foothold for Chinese cyberattacks on a crucial part of the Greater Boston transportation infrastructure. He plans to file a bill next month that would cut off any further contracts for rail cars with the company.IMHO it sounds like mostly FUD, but as a technology professional I can say the chance of malware / spyware - or a security vulnerability - being in the CRRC cars is definitely not zero. It's likely going to be very, very, VERY low, but not an absolute zero percent chance. I think it is worth making sure all appropriate due diligence is done on the software / firmware of these new cars.
BandA wrote:MBTA owns Worcester to Boston, & Grand Junction... so mostly home rails.Also, wasn't CSX selling the line off as well? Has that happened yet.
StefanW wrote:I didn't see this mentioned previously, so...Does the MBTA have any secrets that would be valuable to foreign entities?
"Are Chinese rail cars a Trojan horse? MBTA’s contract with CRRC worries GOP rep"
https://commonwealthmagazine.org/back-story/are-chinese-rail-cars-a-trojan-horse/
Excerpt:Michael Jonas, CommonWealth Magazine wrote:State Rep. Shawn Dooley says the T is jeopardizing the safety and personal information of riders by contracting with a Chinese-owned firm to build 400 new Orange and Red Line cars. With claims that sound straight out of an overwrought spy thriller, the Norfolk Republican says the state has been duped into providing a foothold for Chinese cyberattacks on a crucial part of the Greater Boston transportation infrastructure. He plans to file a bill next month that would cut off any further contracts for rail cars with the company.IMHO it sounds like mostly FUD, but as a technology professional I can say the chance of malware / spyware - or a security vulnerability - being in the CRRC cars is definitely not zero. It's likely going to be very, very, VERY low, but not an absolute zero percent chance. I think it is worth making sure all appropriate due diligence is done on the software / firmware of these new cars.