VIA Rail

[robmausser]

Another problem is that the industry is too afraid, cheap or broke to develop a new dmu to replacement. I dont understand why they dont see the merits of a dmu for routes that dont require a huge honking diesel loco pulling just 2 cars and wasting resources.

The reason is because of FRA crashworthiness requirements.

You have to overbuild the DMU's so much that it becomes just as heavy as a train with a prime mover and with engines tucked under the train that are hard to access, maintain and are often underpowered for the weight and structural stregth needed to survive a collision with a freight train.

You can get exceptions, but those are more for branch lines or lines not even connected to mainline freight, like the Ottawa Trillium line or the San Diego Sprinter, for example.

Via deals with almost exclusively freight shared tracks.

 

[reaperexpress]

The reason is because of FRA crashworthiness requirements.

You have to overbuild the DMU's so much that it becomes just as heavy as a train with a prime mover and with engines tucked under the train that are hard to access, maintain and are often underpowered for the weight and structural stregth needed to survive a collision with a freight train.

You can get exceptions, but those are more for branch lines or lines not even connected to mainline freight, like the Ottawa Trillium line or the San Diego Sprinter, for example.

Via deals with almost exclusively freight shared tracks.

No, in the US you don't need to meet the antiquated strength tests anymore. You can certify EU trains for US mainline use via Alternative Compliance with minor modifications like thicker windshields. That's how most of the Stadler FLIRT and Stadler KISS trains are certified. It's not like they're all on dedicated lines without freight trains and they definitely aren't built for the old FRA regulations.

In Canada, you do need to meet the US-style strength tests unless you get a waiver like OC Transpo did, because Transport Canada doesn't have a mechanism to accept EU certification like the US does.

 

[Dono]

Robmausser, the aussies have VLocity 160 diesel multiple units (DMUs) which look almost like the Via RDC. They are used in multiple situations, metro areas, and from city to city.

 

[cplchanb]

No, in the US you don't need to meet the antiquated strength tests anymore. You can certify EU trains for US mainline use via Alternative Compliance with minor modifications like thicker windshields. That's how most of the Stadler FLIRT and Stadler KISS trains are certified. It's not like they're all on dedicated lines without freight trains and they definitely aren't built for the old FRA regulations.

In Canada, you do need to meet the US-style strength tests unless you get a waiver like OC Transpo did, because Transport Canada doesn't have a mechanism to accept EU certification like the US does.

In this political climate I think its time to decouple ourselves from the american requirements and decide for ourselves what is suitable when it comes to rolling stock. Why must we be subject to American regulations when they dont even run south of the border?