XPost: uk.railway   
      
   We have in the past spoken on this newsgroup about various solutions to   
   replace the Island Line' 38ts, such as further cascading older LUL stock   
   or even something new like the Class 132.   
      
   It seems that the problem is that many of these discussions look at the   
   domestic market for replacements. And it so far doesn't appear that   
   there are many feasible solutions.   
      
   What if DfT, TOC or whichever body responsible for addressing such   
   issues took a different approach and acquired cascaded equipment from   
   abroad?   
      
   One option might be to look across the Pond to New York City's   
   Metropolitan Transportation Authority and see if they have anything from   
   the Subway that would be easy to make compatible for the Island Line.   
      
   I was actually thinking of the R-62/R-62A, which runs on the Subway's A   
   division (IRT). They entered revenue service in the 1980s, they run   
   well and they have had a good service record.   
      
   The R-62/R-62A also have stainless steel bodies, fiberglass caps,   
   tripcocks, over-riding shoes, plus they runs off a similar DC voltage   
   and can easily achieve the 45 mile track speed.   
      
   There are differences that interested parties would need to keep in   
   mind, naturally; The helm is on the cab's right side and the controls   
   have a different configuration than what you normally see here, with   
   controller and brake valve respectively on the left and right.   
      
   I don't think that this really poses a problem, however, as they would   
   run on an isolate and not interact with anything else, thus avoiding   
   potential conflicts.   
      
   The R-62/R-62A's platform height of 1.11 metres also might pose a   
   challenge under the Island Line's current set up, though I understand   
   that they need to relay the entire ROW in any event.   
      
   The key question, of course, is whether such trains will get through the   
   tunnel unscathed. I don't know the tunnel's gauge, though the R-62/R-62A   
   have a respective length, width and height or 15.56m, 2,621mm and 3,624mm.   
      
   (I would certainly not recommend any rolling stock from the Subway's   
   B1-B2 (BMT/IND) divisions as they are wider and longer.)   
      
   Another alternative to the R-62/R-62A would be the PA4s on PATH, which   
   run between New York City and northern New Jersey. Those trains went   
   into service in the mid- to late-80s and are shorter height- as well as   
   length-wise, due to narrower gauges in their tunnels.   
      
   The PA4 also has stainless steel bodies and over-riding shoes.   
      
   It's also worth noting that PATH trains conform to FRA standards,   
   whereas NYC Subway trains do not.   
      
   The main problem with the PA4, however, is that PATH decommissioned them   
   between 2009 and 2011 in favour of the PA5s. I would imagine that they   
   sold some for scrap, but I wonder if they kept and mothballed some of   
   them. If the latter, then would there be enough for the Island Line? Are   
   those trains just stabled in the corner of some yard, neglected and   
   exposed to the elements, or are they under conservation of some sort?   
      
   PATH might even be willing to let the PA4s go for a modest fee, maybe to   
   even include FOB   
      
   I wonder if the MTA would be willing to sell any R-62/R-62A, however,   
   since the authority appear to actually like them. Cost could become an   
   issue in that case.   
      
   I think that homologation in any case would not be difficult.   
      
   Newly cascaded rolling stock for the Island Line does necessarily need   
   to come from North America; Does Berlin have any Giselas still running   
   around? The Stockholm T-Bana has some C-series trains, though they are   
   based on earlier R-series trains from the New York City Subway's A   
   divisions, and I don't know if they would clear the tunnel.   
      
   Giselas or a C-series trains also don't have trip cocks, AIUI, meaning   
   more installation work on the trains and/or a new train protection   
   system.   
      
   I have no personal interest in this. But I think that relevant parties   
   need to start thinking outside of the box if they are serious about   
   finding a solution to the the Island Line's current situation.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)