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 ...
I have to disagree on the metric versus imperial — Why would anyone intentionally spec a train’s width at 122.05 inches rather than 122 inches? Ten-foot wide objects aren’t measured with micrometers.
The town where I live constructed a runway at the airport and on completion discovered a water tower in the flight take-off path - - - one proposed solution(believe it or not) was to either raise or lower the water tower so planes could either fly under or over - - - at least they were thinking(?) out of the box -
Bonuses, pay raises, and promotions to all involved.
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