Comments on: Who Wants to Buy a New Locomotive? General Electric Hopes Amtrak Does http://dc.streetsblog.org/2009/12/01/general-electric-enlists-pa-lawmakers-to-help-push-for-new-locomotives/ Your daily source for national transportation policy news and analysis. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 23:57:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Adron http://dc.streetsblog.org/2009/12/01/general-electric-enlists-pa-lawmakers-to-help-push-for-new-locomotives/comment-page-1/#comment-97281 Adron Sat, 12 Dec 2009 21:04:25 +0000 http://dc.streetsblog.org/?p=54151#comment-97281 Electrification would be nice, as Steve S made note. However, what is the cost of electrification? It would be a nice national goal, except I honestly don't think the nation can afford it at the moment. The freight railroads could be encouraged over time to do so, especially in higher density freight corridors. The problem is, getting the capital outlay would be very intense. The primary corridors need electrified also, I'd say more so than the freight lines. In and around all major corridor pairs outlaid in the HSR plan the administration put forth. That's something that could be done NOW and should already be started on. Electrification would be nice, as Steve S made note.

However, what is the cost of electrification? It would be a nice national goal, except I honestly don’t think the nation can afford it at the moment. The freight railroads could be encouraged over time to do so, especially in higher density freight corridors. The problem is, getting the capital outlay would be very intense.

The primary corridors need electrified also, I’d say more so than the freight lines. In and around all major corridor pairs outlaid in the HSR plan the administration put forth. That’s something that could be done NOW and should already be started on.

]]> By: David Gunn http://dc.streetsblog.org/2009/12/01/general-electric-enlists-pa-lawmakers-to-help-push-for-new-locomotives/comment-page-1/#comment-92851 David Gunn Sun, 06 Dec 2009 03:06:13 +0000 http://dc.streetsblog.org/?p=54151#comment-92851 The real irony here is that Amtrak's diesel loco fleet is young and healthy, and the engines they propose would have no track where their higher speed would be useful. Amtrak needs new electrics in the NEC, and if Congress sinks the money into this boondoggle, I suspect it will be at the expense of that real need. The real irony here is that Amtrak’s diesel loco fleet is young and healthy, and the engines they propose would have no track where their higher speed would be useful. Amtrak needs new electrics in the NEC, and if Congress sinks the money into this boondoggle, I suspect it will be at the expense of that real need.

]]> By: Steve S http://dc.streetsblog.org/2009/12/01/general-electric-enlists-pa-lawmakers-to-help-push-for-new-locomotives/comment-page-1/#comment-89601 Steve S Thu, 03 Dec 2009 00:36:30 +0000 http://dc.streetsblog.org/?p=54151#comment-89601 We should not be using diesels. All new rail should be electric. Long distance or short distance. Quieter, cleaner. I'm sure G.E. could turn out a few thousand electric engines and make a lot of money, maybe even get into the business of electrifying the railroad lines. Diesels are not green, no matter the publicity, they produce a lot of smog, they are noisy. Go electric rail! We should not be using diesels. All new rail should be electric. Long distance or short distance. Quieter, cleaner. I’m sure G.E. could turn out a few thousand electric engines and make a lot of money, maybe even get into the business of electrifying the railroad lines. Diesels are not green, no matter the publicity, they produce a lot of smog, they are noisy. Go electric rail!

]]> By: Steve http://dc.streetsblog.org/2009/12/01/general-electric-enlists-pa-lawmakers-to-help-push-for-new-locomotives/comment-page-1/#comment-89291 Steve Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:28:08 +0000 http://dc.streetsblog.org/?p=54151#comment-89291 Ironic that you're using a picture of McCain, noted for his anti-Amtrak stance, to report a story on Amtrak getting increased funding. Ironic that you’re using a picture of McCain, noted for his anti-Amtrak stance, to report a story on Amtrak getting increased funding.

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