VIA Rail

[cplchanb]

Indeed, despite railfans advocating for yet another rebuild, these dinosaurs have already endured almost twice their intended useful life (30-40 years) and are in desperate need of replacement, not refurbishment…

Another problem is that the industry is too afraid, cheap or broke to develop a new dmu to replacement. I dont understand why they dont see the merits of a dmu for routes that dont require a huge honking diesel loco pulling just 2 cars and wasting resources.

 

[Bordercollie]

Another problem is that the industry is too afraid, cheap or broke to develop a new dmu to replacement. I dont understand why they dont see the merits of a dmu for routes that dont require a huge honking diesel loco pulling just 2 cars and wasting resources.

DMU's are considered locomotives and so they have a more rigid maintenance schedule.
So when you have a fleet of a lot of vehicles, it's more work to maintain. The only benefit is that they can be joined together to form a longer or shorter train without the additional axles of a locomotive hauled train.

 

[cplchanb]

DMU's are considered locomotives and so they have a more rigid maintenance schedule.
So when you have a fleet of a lot of vehicles, it's more work to maintain. The only benefit is that they can be joined together to form a longer or shorter train without the additional axles of a locomotive hauled train.

Also the performance improvements and redundancy. It won't have the issues the seimens are having now

 

[Bordercollie]

Also the performance improvements and redundancy. It won't have the issues the seimens are having now

Well they could have designed it as two locomotives per trainset but they decided not to....

 

[lenaitch]

Well they could have designed it as two locomotives per trainset but they decided not to....

For the amount of power required for a fixed trainset, two prime movers seems a waste of money and weight.

 

[Bordercollie]

For the amount of power required for a fixed trainset, two prime movers seems a waste of money and weight.

At least it won't leave you stranded. Or less likely to.