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Old 16th March 2018, 07:17
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aussiesteve aussiesteve is offline
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Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Bathurst
Posts: 577
G'day BW and all,
I have been trawling through a myriad of Contract documents available at the Transport NSW web site.
Yes, today I was perched at the local library googling with the freebie www.
We must be at war, as much of the material has been redacted and censored with that big black pen.
Anyhoo, I have gleaned sufficient info to get a picture of the newbie interurban fleet being built by Hyundai Rotem.
The proposed car width is indeed Medium body emu being 10 foot, with car length of 67 feet approximately.
So, while shorter than current V set cars, the newbie cars are indeed wider.
The contract calls for two set formations to be supplied, Short set (4 cars) and Long set (6 cars).
These sets to combine to create two train formations during peak commuting periods.
A Short train will comprise two short sets, thereby 8 cars, and a Long train will comprise 10 cars.
A current 8 car V set being a length of 629 feet, the Long version of the newbie train will be 670 feet, approx.
Seating is via 4 across the aisle (2+2) in FIXED arrangement, aka no flip over seats.
I can imagine this facet going over like a Led Zeppelin with Mountains commuters forced to face each other.
A folding table will exist between each pair of facing seats.
An existing 8 car V setter can cram in 832 cattle perched in comfy leather, plus a small number of standees.
Though, I have squizzed heaps of standees crammed into every nook and cranny on the arvo Mount Vic job.
The newbie Long train will perch 820 cattle in face to face fixed seating, but with a whopping 410 standees.
You had better get to the station early and hope to snag a seat, 12 missing out compared to a V setter.
The Short train version will not require any platform stretching, however, the Long train version does.
Howsoever, current Mountains platforms are a variety of lengths.
Many platforms require cattle to detrain from the rear portion of an 8 car V setter.
The front portion hanging off the end of such platforms, the train stopping at appropriate car markers.
A facet of the newbie fleet will be individual locking of doors where cars are not positioned on platforms.
Currently, cattle could accidentally attempt to exit into the atmosphere from 8 car V sets.
BUT, fair dinkum, you would hafta be an idiot to not constumble the guards announcement prior to arrival.
Thusly, it is not programmed to lengthen many platforms to fit the newbie Long train.
Terminal and major platforms will need to be stretched to so encompass.
The current access ramp at Lithgow will be demolished to accommodate the stretching process.
OK, nobody dares use that ramp during winter due to potential ice.
And, most stations now possess lift access as well as stairs.
Due to the width of the newbie trains, track slewing aka re-alignment will be accomplished.
Where track slewing cannot be accomplished then the platform coping will need shaving.
Driver to all cattle, Please all lean to the left, the track ain't been slewed here yet.
The Ten Tunnels track will be slewed and walls NOTCHED to permit the wide cars to squeeze through.
Notching being removal of a course of bricks along the inward curved tunnel walls.
The newbie trains will be capable of 130 kph, but with a maximum potential of 160 kph.
WHERE the heck is it gunna do 160 kph ?
Only a brief section of the speedway in smog hollow is capable of 160 kph within the electrified network.
OK, 130 kph, yeh that is more possible at certain locations within the metrop.
BUT, with some all stopper squirt ahead of it doing a max of 115 kph, WHAT, is it gunna lift off and go over the top ?
The newbie trains will be capable of DOO (driver only operation).
Incab CCTV monitor screens will display the train side along platforms.
That camera had better hang out a long way on outward curved platforms for ten cars.
OOPs, I forgot to retract the camera, I'll pick it up when I come back tomorrow.
I snicker and scoff at the demand that the newbie train must possess a body counter dingus.
To count the number of cattle getting on and off.
Does this mean that the seats will be electrified ?
OOPs, forgot to unlock the front car doors, no wonder that the head count don't jive.
Ah well, they can continue to the next long platform and come back on the next service.
Sorry, but I am a cynic by nature.
I remember watching gob smacked at the antics of teenagers back in the 1970s red rattler days.
All doors flapping open in the breeze, kids would grab hold of the exterior handrails and jump out onto platforms.
The train not stopping at such platforms, they would run along while holding on, and then jump back in before the end of the platform.
Now in future, we will hafta lock doors so that idiots don't fall out at short length platforms.
AH, bring back the good ole days.
Steve.
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