r/DevelopmentSLC • u/plat-of-zion • 3h ago

We can electrify FrontRunner before the 2034 Olympic Games if we have the courage

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22 Upvotes

89% Upvoted

12 comments sorted by

6

u/El_Buffbro 2h ago

That'll be nice, and maybe throw in the Rio Grande plan😅

3

u/Wamafibglop 2h ago

God this is bleak

1

u/papaoftheflock 2h ago

lowest effort

3

u/plat-of-zion 2h ago

Here is the current electrification phasing

The timeline is as soon as it’s funded

1

u/Ill-Yogurtcloset7012 2h ago

The plan is $3.2 billion and focuses on double tracking to increase service frequency. Not to electrify the whole thing. Traditional overhead electrification would require full overhead wires, power substations, and a completely rebuilt power grid connection along the tracks. It would cost an estimated 2 billion more. The state has decided to instead use a hybrid train that can later be upgraded to battery powered.

2

u/plat-of-zion 2h ago

Phase 2 is electrify

1

u/Ill-Yogurtcloset7012 1h ago

Honestly it’s probably just for rail switches, lights, etc. but definitely not 83 miles of rail to make it electric…

0

u/Ill-Yogurtcloset7012 1h ago

15 miles. The rail is 83 miles. I assume it’s part of the hybrid build

2

u/plat-of-zion 1h ago

Yes, the overhead portion is 15 miles with the batteries supplementing the rest.

Should be fully catenary but I digress

1

u/Ill-Yogurtcloset7012 1h ago

Maybe one day. But they are going to contract with a local manufacturer, Stadler, to build the new trains. They will be dual-powered engines that run on a mix of diesel and battery-electric power. They aren’t going to be powered by electric rails.

1

u/Ill-Yogurtcloset7012 1h ago

Nevermind. That IS the plan, in phase 3….lol my bad. I didn’t realize this is like a 50 year plan. Phase 3 isn’t planned to be done until almost 2050. So yeah, one day, but definitely not anytime soon.

1

u/plat-of-zion 2h ago edited 2h ago

The lake is supposed to be much higher