4 ms·

Same! Glad to see it wasn't just me. Trains here have been electric since 1920… EMU units have been a staple since 1990, though some routes still have locomotiv

by grvbck 2y ago

Same! Glad to see it wasn't just me. Trains here have been electric since 1920… EMU units have been a staple since 1990, though some routes still have locomotives of course. There is no lack of stupidity, however, at the system level. The state owns the rails and procures service from private actors who then manage the traffic more or less successfully. The booking systems are chaotic, the prices are high. It is sometimes cheaper to fly domestically, even though the door-to-door time is longer. Imagine if the U.S. could get their rail network together... Like really invest in proper, normal, modern trains. Not the tech bro vacuum tube nonsense.

inferiorhuman 2y ago
Where's here? The UK and most of Europe, for instance, still has plenty of diesel service.
- genewitch 2y ago
  Are they diesel electric? I think that's what parent meant. Diesel engine driving electric motors (for torque and efficiency)
  - inferiorhuman 2y ago
    I think that's what parent meant. Doubtful. Electric in EMU or in the context of Caltrain electrifying means pure electric traction power. In the United Kingdom I think they make some differentiation between a DMU (diesel-hydraulic, like an automobile with an automatic transmission) and DEMU (diesel-electric like a locomotive). There were diesel-hydraulic locomotives along the west mainline for a bit, but in general diesel-hydraulic locomotives were fairly uncommon. If it's being called electric it's not going to have a diesel engine of any sort.
- hashmush 2y ago
  Sounds like Sweden, except the chaotic booking system. I don't think I've ever seen a diesel train, ever. In fact, for a long time I was (blissfully) unaware of their existence and the fact that they do exist still surprises me...
  - inferiorhuman 2y ago
    Sure, but that's helped by things like the biogas train that's fueled with confiscated alcohol instead of diesel.
kasey_junk 2y ago
Of course you understand that electric trains exist in the US right? The Chicago area (where I live) is serviced by electric train lines that go back at least 100 years. The issue that the US faces is that Americans prefer private travel and that the demographics make that hard to overcome. Our tax policy doesn’t make it easier but frankly there is no economic reason to extend our electric train infrastructure further than it exists. [edit] that’s without mentioning that the US has the most highly developed rail infrastructure in the world. We choose to put freight on it…

by grvbck 2y ago

inferiorhuman 2y ago

Where's here? The UK and most of Europe, for instance, still has plenty of diesel service.

genewitch 2y ago
Are they diesel electric? I think that's what parent meant. Diesel engine driving electric motors (for torque and efficiency)
- inferiorhuman 2y ago
  I think that's what parent meant. Doubtful. Electric in EMU or in the context of Caltrain electrifying means pure electric traction power. In the United Kingdom I think they make some differentiation between a DMU (diesel-hydraulic, like an automobile with an automatic transmission) and DEMU (diesel-electric like a locomotive). There were diesel-hydraulic locomotives along the west mainline for a bit, but in general diesel-hydraulic locomotives were fairly uncommon. If it's being called electric it's not going to have a diesel engine of any sort.
hashmush 2y ago
Sounds like Sweden, except the chaotic booking system. I don't think I've ever seen a diesel train, ever. In fact, for a long time I was (blissfully) unaware of their existence and the fact that they do exist still surprises me...
- inferiorhuman 2y ago
  Sure, but that's helped by things like the biogas train that's fueled with confiscated alcohol instead of diesel.

kasey_junk 2y ago

Of course you understand that electric trains exist in the US right? The Chicago area (where I live) is serviced by electric train lines that go back at least 100 years. The issue that the US faces is that Americans prefer private travel and that the demographics make that hard to overcome. Our tax policy doesn’t make it easier but frankly there is no economic reason to extend our electric train infrastructure further than it exists. [edit] that’s without mentioning that the US has the most highly developed rail infrastructure in the world. We choose to put freight on it…