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0 pointsdehrmann10mo ago0 comments

Makes it even crazier that Bart would choose a non-standard gauge 75 years later. And now they're stuck paying for custom trains with less flexibility and longer lead times.

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wbl10mo ago

BART was always going to need custom trains for other reasons beyond track gauge. Electric third rail at those speeds isn't standard. 125kV pantagraph would mean big expensive tunnels and stations due to clearance requirements.

badc0ffee10mo ago

Electric third rail at 130 km/h? The LIRR does it, with standard gauge: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Island_Rail_Road

I also don't know where you're getting 125kV from. Many trains throughout the world use 25kV, especially high-speed ones (actually high speed, like 200+km/h), but BART uses 1000V, which is closer to a typical subway system.

fanf210mo ago

Third rail lines south of London often run at 90mph and up to 100mph in places. BART’s top speed is 80mph.

LargoLasskhyfv10mo ago

12.5kV?

wbl10mo ago

Thank you!

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

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wbl10mo ago

badc0ffee10mo ago

Electric third rail at 130 km/h? The LIRR does it, with standard gauge: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Island_Rail_Road

fanf210mo ago

Third rail lines south of London often run at 90mph and up to 100mph in places. BART’s top speed is 80mph.

LargoLasskhyfv10mo ago

12.5kV?

wbl10mo ago

Thank you!

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse