Posted on 03/15/2018 9:22:54 AM PDT by rktman
No one disputes this Australian states need to upgrade its rail-transit fleet after 40 years of service.
The New South Wales regional train system in and around Sydney operates with a variety of trains, the oldest rolling stock called V-sets and newer XPT longer-distance carriers. After four decades, purchasing 512 new carriages at a cost of $2.3 billion had become a necessity. And with the purchase, commuters can look forward to mobile-phone charging stations, accessible toilets and more space for bike racks and luggage.
All good except for one rather major problem.
The new trains are too wide for existing tunnels, reports News.com.au.
Whereas Transport for NSWs current trains are 114.17 inches wide, the replacement trains on order are 122.05 inches in width. Because trains sway and tilt, particularly when rounding curves, TfNSW set a minimum clearance, or kinematic envelope, of 7.88 inches around the current rolling stock. That, coincidentally, is only one-hundreth of an inch wider than the increased width of the new trains. New trains tilting inside tunnels are expected to experience scraping on portions of the roof and base as they make contact with the rock walls.
It takes a special type of incompetence to buy trains that dont fit through the tunnels, said state opposition leader Luke Foley.
(Excerpt) Read more at wnd.com ...
Oopsie.
Whenever I read stories like this I’m always mildly surprised it didn’t happen here.
Sounds like a government program alright!
No problem. The Government Solution is easy: develop a new train, at great cost, that just goes through the tunnels. The passengers disembark at the tunnel, get on the tunnel train, go through, and then get on a regular train on the other side. Perfect! And best of all, government contractors can design it all and kick back some of the profits to the politicians. What’s not to love?
The wall will scrape the excess off in no time.
1/100th of an inch.
They’ll adjust the spec for the spacing.
No big deal.
Ha! My boss busts my hump if I put a period upside down ....
To fix the problem, couldn’t the trains self-identify as being skinnier?
Another thread, different source with some 50+ comments if
anyone cares to scan thru them.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3639754/posts
NSWs $2 billion new trains are too wide to get through tunnels ( Australia )
Apply grease. Problem solved.
You just cant make this stuff up!
So what’s it going to be boys, a new tunnel or narrow train cars? No matter what you decide, it’s going to be costly. Yes, they are dumb asses.
"...crykies"
Paging Matt Damon....
Measure twice, cut once, or do it California style.
It takes a special type of incompetence to buy trains that dont fit through the tunnels,
I heard Jerry Brown was in talks with Australia to buy them for 1/2 price, even though they won’t fit on our tracks either, it is still a step forward for our Bullet Train to Fresno.
Okay, so this is a 7.88 inch total width difference.
Because trains sway and tilt, particularly when rounding curves, TfNSW set a minimum clearance, or kinematic envelope, of 7.88 inches around the current rolling stock. That, coincidentally, is only one-hundreth of an inch wider than the increased width of the new trains.
No, that's exactly the difference, based on the reporting here - 122.05 minus 114.17 = 7.88. However, that doesn't mean the new trains take up the whole envelope. This measurement is for each side and the top, to it would be a total net difference between train and tunnel of 15.76" for the old trains. Half that for the new trains.
That's the recommended envelope. The real question is, are their tunnels actually limited to 122.05 inches anywhere? Or is that just the margin of safety recommendation? What's the real-world actual measurement here?
Are the tunnels really too narrow? Or are they plenty wide, and someone's just looking at numbers on a document?
While reasonable effort has been made to assure the accuracy of this product, specifications and measurements are subject to change without notice...
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