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| Re: American Railcar gone (1005735) | |||
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Re: American Railcar gone |
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Posted by Jersey Mike on Mon Nov 22 00:53:06 2010, in response to Re: American Railcar gone, posted by AEM-7AC #901 on Sun Nov 21 22:46:17 2010. Given that FRA regs (and union rules and conservative transit planning) make it nearly impossible to run a fast and frequent railway network on the mainline, we're left with "light rail" systems at 15 minute off-peak headways. To a certain extent, it's also why BART is a half-assed American S-Bahn, and why WMATA reeks of being a Berlin S-Bahn clone. Both systems could have been done with mainline trackage and new tunnels being built for the connective links, but instead we ended up re-inventing the wheel to get OPTO & high acceleration.Because railroads are able to operate with relaxed technological safety standards there has to be increased regulatory oversight. It is far less expensive to operate commuter rail than it is a Metro or S-Bahn. All those escalators, faregates and ATO systems don't maintain themselves. Some have could argue that most American systems aren't that different, except that the workers make far more than their European counterparts... European train DRIVERS operate on the same skill level as domestic transit operators. Railroad jobs are high skill activities because the system hasn't been nerfed. In other words, I want a usable network for both peak and off-peak riders. With a little proper planning even an hour headway is perfectly workable. Oh boo hoo, the government doesn't subsidize your ability to roll out of bed and randomly decide to catch a train downtown. Learn how to read a schedule and plan your day accordingly. Be on top or be left behind. At minimum, a heated canopy, some CCTV, and a sign telling me when my next train will arrive will suffice. Who's going to pay for it? You know in China they don't need those creature comforts and that is why they are kicking our asses. Austerity means you have to give up the less important "nice to haves". Why should SEPTA provide canopies and heaters? Wear a fucking coat. |
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