abqdave
Train Attendant
I love reading this site, I am learning possible solutions to railroading issues I never even knew existed before. Cab signaling, different classes of track, tensioned catenaries …from seeing trains on TV I thought you just put them on a track, moved that big lever toward you, and there you go (just make sure you don't fly off the track around corners).
I am still not sure I understand what is involved with making a high(er) speed line. So…
(1) most track in the US is class 4, which limits passenger trains to 80 mph (79 mph for Amtrack without a signaling system). (2) some of the SW Chief runs on class 5 track (primarily in NM it appears), so there it can go 90mph. Does this mean that if Amtrak installed a signaling system on class 4 track, its trains could only increase from 79 to 80mph? Not 79 to 90mph? Similarly, can you go 90 mph on class 5 track, even if you don’t have a signaling system?
Is the difference between class 4 and 5 track things like curves, or type of rail/ballast/ties used to construct it, or is it poor maintenance?
Jackal said CTC track cost $1m per mile. So now that I googled CTC and know it means Centralized Traffic Control, does that mean just adding a signaling system costs $1m per mile? If so, is there a general guide as to how much constructing new track on an existing line would cost? I know for urban light-rail systems, something like $25m per mile is often quoted.
And it doesn't matter whether your trainset has 'tilting' technology or not...it's just the class of track (and maybe a signalling system) that limits how fast the train can go?
I hope I am getting closer to understanding what is really involved with improving rail, so when I contact my elected representatives I can speak intelligently.
I am still not sure I understand what is involved with making a high(er) speed line. So…
(1) most track in the US is class 4, which limits passenger trains to 80 mph (79 mph for Amtrack without a signaling system). (2) some of the SW Chief runs on class 5 track (primarily in NM it appears), so there it can go 90mph. Does this mean that if Amtrak installed a signaling system on class 4 track, its trains could only increase from 79 to 80mph? Not 79 to 90mph? Similarly, can you go 90 mph on class 5 track, even if you don’t have a signaling system?
Is the difference between class 4 and 5 track things like curves, or type of rail/ballast/ties used to construct it, or is it poor maintenance?
Jackal said CTC track cost $1m per mile. So now that I googled CTC and know it means Centralized Traffic Control, does that mean just adding a signaling system costs $1m per mile? If so, is there a general guide as to how much constructing new track on an existing line would cost? I know for urban light-rail systems, something like $25m per mile is often quoted.
And it doesn't matter whether your trainset has 'tilting' technology or not...it's just the class of track (and maybe a signalling system) that limits how fast the train can go?
I hope I am getting closer to understanding what is really involved with improving rail, so when I contact my elected representatives I can speak intelligently.