RYBO
Thu Jul 26th, 2007, 04:22 PM
Hi All,
I'm posting this up in interest of generating some support for rail based public transportation in the Denver area. Now before I go any further, I work for one of the companies that is bidding on the project, so my position is biased. I encourage you to read through the proposals and learn what you can and then write a letter to the RTD board of directors to support the project as a whole and voice your opinion about what vehicle you think would be best. I believe the product we are making here in Fort Lupton to be an excellent choice for this application and hope after reviewing the information you agree.
The RTD board is meeting tomorrow to make a decision regarding the type of vehicle they are going to use on the FasTracks project.
If you feel so inclined, please write a letter to the RTD Board of Directors regarding rail vehicle selection for the proposed RTD FasTracks program.
Here is a link to their page and what they are about:
http://www.rtd-fastracks.com/main_1 (http://www.rtd-fastracks.com/main_1)
Here is the contact info for the RTD Board Secretary: Please send all correspondence to her and she will distribute it to the board.
Paula.perdue@rtd-denver.com (javascript:webmailto('Paula.perdue@rtd-denver.com');)
Paula Perdue
Executive Manager to the Board RTD
1600 Blake Street, Suite 36
Denver, CO 80202
Finally, in order to get you guys the best info possible about our product I've consulted with some of our engineers regarding some of the reasons to select the Colorado Railcar DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit) to another company's EMU (Electric Multiple Unit). Here is what I came up with:
Compatibility with existing infrastructure:
Our DMU can run on existing lines as they are. Most of the FasTracks project proposes to use existing freight lines and our cars can run on them with no modification. In order for an EMU to function these lines would need to be electrified. My number this AM was wrong, and the city of Denver is estimating that it costs 4 million a mile to electrify a line. (4X what I thought it was!). This is roughly equal to the cost of one of our railcars.
Cost per seat:
The seating capacity of our double deck cars makes them very cost efficient. Transit boards consider the cost per seat, not the cost per vehicle. The current crop of EMU's cost about $33,000 per seat to purchase. Our double deck DMU is about $22,000 per seat. (22K per seat x 180 seats = 3.9 million)
Local production:
All of the production for RTD's DMU's would remain in the state of Colorado.
Emissions:
Our cars were independently audited against EMU emissions based on the amount of electricity used and the amount of polution that electricity typically produces if coal is used to generate it. The auditor found that the DMU was superior in all but one category, and that was CO (carbon monoxide), where the Diesel produced more. In the cases of Particulate, CO2 and NOX the diesel actually did better than the coal plant.
Please let me know if you have any more questions. RTD is making their decision on the 27th of July and I hope you can get a letter sent off before then.
If you want to learn more about the company I work for please visit:
www.coloradorailcar.com
I'm posting this up in interest of generating some support for rail based public transportation in the Denver area. Now before I go any further, I work for one of the companies that is bidding on the project, so my position is biased. I encourage you to read through the proposals and learn what you can and then write a letter to the RTD board of directors to support the project as a whole and voice your opinion about what vehicle you think would be best. I believe the product we are making here in Fort Lupton to be an excellent choice for this application and hope after reviewing the information you agree.
The RTD board is meeting tomorrow to make a decision regarding the type of vehicle they are going to use on the FasTracks project.
If you feel so inclined, please write a letter to the RTD Board of Directors regarding rail vehicle selection for the proposed RTD FasTracks program.
Here is a link to their page and what they are about:
http://www.rtd-fastracks.com/main_1 (http://www.rtd-fastracks.com/main_1)
Here is the contact info for the RTD Board Secretary: Please send all correspondence to her and she will distribute it to the board.
Paula.perdue@rtd-denver.com (javascript:webmailto('Paula.perdue@rtd-denver.com');)
Paula Perdue
Executive Manager to the Board RTD
1600 Blake Street, Suite 36
Denver, CO 80202
Finally, in order to get you guys the best info possible about our product I've consulted with some of our engineers regarding some of the reasons to select the Colorado Railcar DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit) to another company's EMU (Electric Multiple Unit). Here is what I came up with:
Compatibility with existing infrastructure:
Our DMU can run on existing lines as they are. Most of the FasTracks project proposes to use existing freight lines and our cars can run on them with no modification. In order for an EMU to function these lines would need to be electrified. My number this AM was wrong, and the city of Denver is estimating that it costs 4 million a mile to electrify a line. (4X what I thought it was!). This is roughly equal to the cost of one of our railcars.
Cost per seat:
The seating capacity of our double deck cars makes them very cost efficient. Transit boards consider the cost per seat, not the cost per vehicle. The current crop of EMU's cost about $33,000 per seat to purchase. Our double deck DMU is about $22,000 per seat. (22K per seat x 180 seats = 3.9 million)
Local production:
All of the production for RTD's DMU's would remain in the state of Colorado.
Emissions:
Our cars were independently audited against EMU emissions based on the amount of electricity used and the amount of polution that electricity typically produces if coal is used to generate it. The auditor found that the DMU was superior in all but one category, and that was CO (carbon monoxide), where the Diesel produced more. In the cases of Particulate, CO2 and NOX the diesel actually did better than the coal plant.
Please let me know if you have any more questions. RTD is making their decision on the 27th of July and I hope you can get a letter sent off before then.
If you want to learn more about the company I work for please visit:
www.coloradorailcar.com