04-04-2021, 10:26 PM
(04-04-2021, 10:04 PM)tomh009 Wrote:(04-04-2021, 09:49 PM)jwilliamson Wrote: I ran some number with our existing rolling stock (50 tonne bi-level coaches and a 130 tonne, 2700 kW locomotive). It looks like a 10 coach train should be able to accelerate to 160 km/h in about 100 seconds, and decelerate in 80. A 6 coach train only needs 70 seconds to accelerate and 60 to decelerate.
So, that's about two minutes extra per station, for a 10-car train. (Are the FLIRT numbers for a similar 10x 50t cars?) About 18 minutes for the current set of stations, on top of a super express service with no stops. 1h15 from Kitchener to Union Station -- I would personally be quite happy with that.
If the Stadler FLIRT specs are for the electrified version, the upgrade price tag would be substantial.
The FLIRT is a EMU (each car has its own onboard motor), so the number in a train has a very marginal impact on performance. There's a decrease in wind resistance per unit power, but the main component of acceleration time is tonnes per kilowatt.