Irish DMU transmission replacement expected to save fuel

highdef

Interesting article:

http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/technology/single-view/view/irish-dmu-transmission-replacement-expected-to-save-fuel.html

tabbey

highdef wrote: »

Interesting article:

http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/technology/single-view/view/irish-dmu-transmission-replacement-expected-to-save-fuel.html

Reading the report, it seems to be an engine rebuild rather than a transmission replacement. Rolls Royce have the contract for a prototype.

It also refers to saving fuel while running between Dublin and Cork. Does this mean that the Mk IV pushpulls are to be cascaded to some other services A wheelchair bound RTE chap was on the radio yesterday complaining about the unsatisfactory ride on the Cork route, presumably a Mk IV set.

Why could CAF not have been made to rectify the problems with this fleet. It is not as if they are insolvent, they could have refunded IR for their investment in the 67 vehicles.

This raises another question; When TPE ordered their Mk V fleet from CAF, did they experience IR's fleet, and if so, did CAF promise a different bogey?

During the RTE interview, Barry Kenny (IR spokesman) stated that work was underway on the shock absorbers / dampers of the Mk IV bogies, as well as mentioning ongoing track improvements on the Cork line.
The disabled chap was sound in his criticism, saying he loves Inter-City trains on the continent, but after his journey to and from Cork, he is reluctant to return to IR.

Ce he sin

tabbey wrote: »

Reading the report, it seems to be an engine rebuild rather than a transmission replacement. Rolls Royce have the contract for a prototype.

The report is a little misleading. What's happening is that the Voith hydrodynamic transmissions in one train are being replaced by ZF ones. The Voith units change gear by draining and filling torque converters and fluid couplings, the ZF ones are conventional six speed automatics. In theory at least they should be more efficient as they lock their torque converters and transmit power mechanically. The engine and gearbox come as a package from MTU.

Jamie2k9

tabbey wrote: »

Reading the report, it seems to be an engine rebuild rather than a transmission replacement. Rolls Royce have the contract for a prototype.

It also refers to saving fuel while running between Dublin and Cork. Does this mean that the Mk IV pushpulls are to be cascaded to some other services A wheelchair bound RTE chap was on the radio yesterday complaining about the unsatisfactory ride on the Cork route, presumably a Mk IV set.

Why could CAF not have been made to rectify the problems with this fleet. It is not as if they are insolvent, they could have refunded IR for their investment in the 67 vehicles.

This raises another question; When TPE ordered their Mk V fleet from CAF, did they experience IR's fleet, and if so, did CAF promise a different bogey?

During the RTE interview, Barry Kenny (IR spokesman) stated that work was underway on the shock absorbers / dampers of the Mk IV bogies, as well as mentioning ongoing track improvements on the Cork line.
The disabled chap was sound in his criticism, saying he loves Inter-City trains on the continent, but after his journey to and from Cork, he is reluctant to return to IR.

The TPE bogies look different and lets not forget the ride quality for DMU and EMUs in the UK far superior to the network here. The new basalt on the Cork route is an improvement but honestly it falls way short.

marno21

One method of CIE Group reducing carbon emissions would to be incentivise travel by rail on the lighter used rail lines instead of expensive rail fares and half empty buses shadowing the rail services on congested roads.