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$2.3 billion goof: New commuter trains too wide for tunnels
wnd.com ^ | 3/14/2018 | Unknow

Posted on 03/15/2018 9:22:54 AM PDT by rktman

No one disputes this Australian state’s 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 NSW’s 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 don’t fit through the tunnels,” said state opposition leader Luke Foley.

(Excerpt) Read more at wnd.com ...


TOPICS: Australia/New Zealand; Business/Economy; Foreign Affairs; Government
KEYWORDS: australiatrains; choochoo; engineers
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Duh! and DOH! Dumbasses. They missed the obvious. The tunnels are too small for the new rolling stock. See it's not the train's fault. Apparently the tunnels dispute the need to upgrade. Thinkin' jerry browns bullet(? offensive word) train.
1 posted on 03/15/2018 9:22:55 AM PDT by rktman
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To: rktman

Oopsie.


2 posted on 03/15/2018 9:25:54 AM PDT by Jeff Chandler (President Trump divides Americans . . . from anti-Americans.)
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To: rktman

Whenever I read stories like this I’m always mildly surprised it didn’t happen here.


3 posted on 03/15/2018 9:27:42 AM PDT by DoodleDawg
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To: rktman

Sounds like a government program alright!


4 posted on 03/15/2018 9:28:35 AM PDT by Mr. K (No consequence of repealing Obamacare is worse than Obamacare itself.)
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To: rktman

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?


5 posted on 03/15/2018 9:31:31 AM PDT by Defiant (I may be deplorable, but I'm not getting in that basket.)
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To: rktman

The wall will scrape the excess off in no time.


6 posted on 03/15/2018 9:31:43 AM PDT by rjsimmon (The Tree of Liberty Thirsts)
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To: rktman

1/100th of an inch.
They’ll adjust the spec for the spacing.
No big deal.


7 posted on 03/15/2018 9:32:11 AM PDT by toast
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To: rktman

Ha! My boss busts my hump if I put a period upside down ....


8 posted on 03/15/2018 9:32:48 AM PDT by SMARTY ("Nearly all men can stand adversity...to test a man's character, give him power." A. Lincoln)
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To: rktman

To fix the problem, couldn’t the trains self-identify as being skinnier?


9 posted on 03/15/2018 9:33:19 AM PDT by Flick Lives
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Another thread, different source with some 50+ comments if
anyone cares to scan thru them.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3639754/posts
NSW’s $2 billion new trains are too wide to get through tunnels ( Australia )


10 posted on 03/15/2018 9:34:37 AM PDT by deport
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To: rktman

Apply grease. Problem solved.


11 posted on 03/15/2018 9:37:23 AM PDT by Fresh Wind (Hillary: Go to jail. Go directly to jail. Do not pass GO. Do not collect 2 billion dollars.)
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To: rktman

You just can’t make this stuff up!


12 posted on 03/15/2018 9:37:34 AM PDT by immadashell (Save Innocent Lives - ban gun free zones)
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To: deport

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.


13 posted on 03/15/2018 9:38:18 AM PDT by DaveA37
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To: rktman

"...crykies"

14 posted on 03/15/2018 9:39:45 AM PDT by Doogle (( USAF.68-73..8th TFW Ubon Thailand....never store a threat you should have eliminated)))
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To: rktman

Paging Matt Damon....


15 posted on 03/15/2018 9:41:45 AM PDT by mewzilla (Has the FBI been spying on members of Congress?)
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To: rktman; All

Measure twice, cut once, or do it California style.


16 posted on 03/15/2018 9:44:33 AM PDT by Amendment10
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To: rktman

“It takes a special type of incompetence to buy trains that don’t 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.


17 posted on 03/15/2018 9:52:29 AM PDT by eyeamok (Tolerance: The virtue of having a belief in Nothing!)
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To: rktman
Whereas Transport for NSW’s current trains are 114.17 inches wide, the replacement trains on order are 122.05 inches in width.

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?

18 posted on 03/15/2018 9:53:45 AM PDT by IYAS9YAS (There are two kinds of people: Those who can extrapolate from incomplete data.)
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To: rktman

19 posted on 03/15/2018 9:56:10 AM PDT by Delta 21 (Build The Wall !! Jail The Cankle !!)
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To: rktman

While reasonable effort has been made to assure the accuracy of this product, specifications and measurements are subject to change without notice...


20 posted on 03/15/2018 9:57:57 AM PDT by Dixie Yooper (Ephesians 6:11)
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