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Alaska Railroad Passenger Service Diesel Multiple Unit Self-propelled Railcar (DMU) Train Passenger Service — Alaska Train Day Tours — Alaska Train Vacations
The bi-level DMU is one of about a dozen such railcars in the country that meet stringent federal crash worthiness design standards required of passenger cars that operate on tracks shared with freight trains. The DMU measures 89 feet long, 19 feet 9.75 inches tall, and weighs 225,000 pounds. Capacity is 90 seats upstairs and 20 seats downstairs. Two additional non-revenue seats are Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant. Exits on either side of the car are equipped with a wheelchair lift. The car features a full service galley to support onboard food service. Two 600 horse-power engines enable the DMU to pull two additional rail coaches. The DMU has been clocked as fast as 110 mph, but will operate at maximum speeds of 60 mph on the Alaska Railroad. Commuter rail service in Southcentral Alaska would require a minimum of four DMUs. The likely manufacturer is US Railcar, Inc., which aquired CRM. Project Cost and Funding The Chugach Explorer was funded primarily by a $4.7 million USFS grant administered through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) in 2007. An additional $648,000 was funded by FTA and ARRC. The total cost was $5.35 million. The next national surface transportation authorization is expected to emphasize transit, trains and trails. ARRC continues to seek programs to fund the purchase of additional DMUs.
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by David Miller
by James A. Michener
by Claus-M Naske and Herman E. Slotnick
by Robert H. Armstrong
by John G. S. Trelawny
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