WMATA

WMATA takes a little time to report some accomplishments for 2006; that taking delivery of the 6K series and 2/3K series cars. Makes me wonder what part of the word accomplish accounts for any delays in the original delivery schedule of all three series cars? And what about the 5K's make me wonder if all the open issues have been closed on that accomplishment?

Budd Company

Wikipedia has a nice history of the Budd Company, including notes on the Silverliners, the RDC's etc. If you have any additional information go to Wikipedia and add it, the next one to read it, will appreciate it.

SEPTA Silverliner V

http://www.railway-technology.com/contractors/hvac/westcode/press6.html

Westcode to supply HVAC to the new SEPTA Silverliner's from ROTEM. Is this the same Westcode that supplied the original door systems for the SEPTA M4's built by ABB/Adtranz in the mid 90's? I believe the original door contollers for the M4's where replaced on the entire fleet with door controllers from Faievely even before the end of the warranty on the M4's.

I wrote the original post well over a year ago, where to we stand on the building of the cars today?

Phoenix Light Rail

Railway Technology reports that 1.7 billion will be needed to "speed Up" construction of added route extensions comes in at 75 million/mile thats more than the starter route of 70 million/mile. Sooner or later it will encroach on 90 million.
http://www.railway-technology.com/news/news858.html

Rail Transit consulting

There are a lot of rail transit commuter projects that have lost and continue to loose hundreds of millions of dollars in delays, faulty equipment, poor design, rail car builders being overwhelmed and mis management etc, all the while there are high priced consulting groups involved on every side of the project. What value do these consulting groups bring to the table with the money involved? Where do the interests of the public stand when public rail authorities hire high paid groups to push their cause and whose watching the hen house while there are few if any milestones to be met in consulting?

Tampa Rail

Rich Shopes writes an article for the Tampa Tribune on the benefits of new rail for Tampa Florida. Nice, except he weighs the idea of a new rail system for the Tampa area on getting federal money. Now tell me, if new rail could only benefit a community why wouldn't that community go head first into raising taxes and building the new rail, and if the federal money came along, that would only be icing on the new rail cake? The article can be seen at;http://www.tbo.com/news/nationworld/MGB2E0GV3YE.html

SEPTA Silverliner V

Silver Liners, SEPTA is looking to ROTEM to come through on time and on budget. Where would Kawasaki be today if they had won the Silver Liner contract?