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| Re: LIRR DE/DMS Some reasons why (578353) | |||
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Re: LIRR DE/DMS Some reasons why |
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Posted by trainsarefun on Fri Feb 29 11:14:37 2008, in response to Re: LIRR DE/DMS Some reasons why, posted by Broadway Lion on Fri Feb 29 10:44:50 2008. Many questions, but the LION will not *give* you the fact of wire being cheaper than rail.Nor should you, really. I think it's all a matter for lots of investigation and analysis, but so far at least, I'm inclined to think that as to the costs of electrification alone, the AC overhead job might be cheaper than the DC third rail job. But this is an empirical question, so our answer can change as does technology and know-how. The substations are a non-issue issue. They are not all that expensive. Not individually, given the other costs involved, e.g., rolling stock purchases, indeed. But there will be many more substations required, relative to AC electrification. And they *could* be supplied by the power company. If LIRR tells LILCO (or its successor or whatever it is you guys use out there now) that they want 750 volts DC delivered in these places, they will, like good business men, sell them the power that they want to buy the way they want to buy it. Obviously at a slightly higher $/KWH, since they are also in the business of making money. That's an interesting proposal. I don't know enough about the cost that LIPA would charge for such a service, assuming they were willing to supply it, to know whether it makes fiscal sense. BNSF does it this way. Long gone are the "telegraph" poles and the DC transmission service that maintained the signal batteries. They buy voltage from the power company on the locations where they want it, AND will not even allow the utility to run its wires along the RR ROW. The lines must come in across country, and the utility will have to gain easements across private properties to get it to them. In places where *that* is too costly, BNSF simply sets up solar grids to maintain the signal batteries. It's an analogy, but it's a bit strained, since LIRR's power demands for EMUs will be quite great in comparison, I think. Actually, LIRR may be able to make money by giving LIPA access to string up its own power lines too across LIRR ROW, since here where people aren't outnumbered by cows, people seem to mind power line easements. :) |
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