Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2003 18:13:48 +0200 From: "Mark Gerritsma" <nl.autonopsamtmfweb.nld> Subject: Re: GM to increase SAAB lineup
davehinznopsamcop.net <davehinznopsamcop.net> schreef: >> Trains do not work well at all for commercial shipping in Europe. At >> every border the locomotive has to be replaced (different safety >> systems and overhead wire voltages) and especially at transit >> stations lots of time is lost. The extra costs of road shipping is >> usually far outweighed by the shortenend delivery time. > > That whole rail size and voltage thing hasn't been standardized _yet_? > I'm surprised at that. I believe you, mind you, but I'm just shocked. Rail size IS standardized (the same 4 ft 8.5" that you also use in the US if I'm correct), but just like there are different rail companies in the US, over here even every country may have more than one. The different voltages aren't that big a problem, as 4-voltage and even 5-voltage locomotives exist. (The French high speed TGV is 4-voltage for instance) The main problem are the totally incompatible safety systems (not being able to pass red signals, protection against speeding, etc). But their're working on introducing a Europe wide system based on third generation GSM (your DCMA is an improved version of second generation GSM). All this effort is made just because a passenger high speed rail link system does make sense in Europe. The US is indeed just to big to make this work. All destinations are just to far apart to make a train system work efficiently. That's not a problem because most interstates aren't congested. Here in Europe the politicians in the '70's though that if they just stopped building roads, the congestion would get worse enough for people to start taking trains. 30 years later that still hasn't happened. So now we have massive congestion everywhere and lots of plans to add extra asphalt. In those 30 years the circumstances have changed dramatically. But then again, politicians always seem to lag behind reality. The Dutch saying 'To govern is to look ahead' certainly doesn't apply to my government anyway. To get back to the original topic: If I read correctly the Saab 9-2 is to get a 2.5 and a 2.0 turbo engine. That sounds an awfull lot like the boxer-4's from Subaru as used in the Impreza. Or have I overread something? Also a possible look into the future: Saab to enter the 2006 World Rally Championship with the 9-2 turbo? Could just be. The Impreza is very good rally car and Saab does have a rally heritage. Who knows... Mark
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