Re: Why not just the TGV?

[mauried@commslab.gov.au (Maurie Daly)]

In article <35ac5796.1219097@news.ozemail.com.au> ajwright@ozemail.com.au (Ashley Wright) writes:
>From: ajwright@ozemail.com.au (Ashley Wright)
>Subject: Re: Why not just the TGV?
>Date: Wed, 15 Jul 1998 07:18:21 GMT

>On Wed, 15 Jul 1998 13:52:42 +1100, revdoc@uow.edu.au (Phil Herring)
>wrote:

>>In article <6ogslj$md9@inferno.mpx.com.au>, "Tanner" <tanner@mpx.com.au> wrote:
>>
>>> Why can't the TGV just run down to Wollongong from Moss Vale and up to
>>> Sydney from there?
>>
>>In three words: the Illawarra line. It's far from straight, far from
>>smooth, and far from stable. It's why it takes about 90 minutes to go from
>>Wollongong to Central. If the TGV is run on it, it will be become the same
>>sort of VST (very slow train) that is currently run by the SRA :)
>>
>>
>Not to mention the fact that it would have to get up the hill after
>wollongong to get to Goulburn and onwards!!

>--------------------------------------------------------
> Ashley Wright, Canberra, Australia 
> ajwright@ozemail.com.au                                                                           
> www:  http://www.ozemail.com.au/~ajwright                         
>---------------------------------------------------------


Hills are not a problem to VFT type trains.
The original VFT proposal allowed for 1:25 grades.
The single biggest source of drag is wind resistance , and the installed 
tractive power is high to overcome this load.
The existing TGV trains have HP/weight ratios of 16 to 20 HP/tonne.
A 1:33 grade like the grade from Unanderra to Summit Tank would have a 
negligible speed effect.
Curves are however a major problem?

cheers
MD