Quote:
Originally Posted by Kilocharlie
Where do you get the 25% to 40% faster times?
Most DARTs take 9 mins, one or two take 10. Most Intercitys take 9 mins with one at 8 mins. Take the slowest DART and fastest Intercity you get a ratio of 10:8 which could be argued that the DART is 25% slower or the Intercity 20% faster. Where is the 40%?
For the vast majority both DART and Intecity take the same 9 mins.
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In my experience DART never takes less than 9 minutes and not infrequently takes 9'-30" or more while a diesel railcar running on clear signals typically takes about 7½ minutes and sometimes as little as 6'-45"
without exceeding any posted speed limits.
DART running time 9'-00", Diesel running time 7'-30", Diff 1'-30"/7'-30" represents a 20% premium.
DART running time 9'-30", Diesel running time 7'-30", Diff 2'-00"/7'-30" represents a 27% premium.
DART running time 9'-30", Diesel running time 6'-45", Diff 2'-45"/7'-30" represents a 41% premium.
I think 25% to 40% is a good approximation of relative performance. The bottom line is that DART is significantly slower than a diesel in this section and consequently reduces line capacity.
DART underperforms diesels elsewhere, another example being Portmarnock to Malahide where DART typically takes 50" to 60" more than a diesel stopping at the same two stations.