Light Rail Vehicles - LRT, ICTS, Monorail, and more

[Smore]

I'll just leave this here for you Canard...

http://www.thewhig.com/2016/04/21/bombar...m-kingston

https://twitter.com/Elliotatthewhig/stat...4147863552

[Canard]

Just lovely Thank you!

I've been to the Millhaven site many times, ever since I was a kid and watched the ICTS prototype vehicles zip around the test loop... But have never been able to get a tour.

[KevinL]

KC Streetcar is launching in Kansas City. Their vehicle is an Urbos 3 by CAF.

Here's a promo vid, with EPIC MUSIC pushed perhaps a bit too hard...

[Markster]

They've got nothing on the infamous UP Express promo video!


The KC Streetcar, as its name implies, is different from our LRT.  It's mixed traffic, and a much shorter line, only 2.5km long.  Not much longer than the A-Line stub proposed as part of Hamilton's LRT.

At least this one is a straight line, and connects several major destinations on the way.  It's just a downtown shuttle, but as far as downtown shuttles go, it looks pretty good, and could conceivably be extended south, eventually joining some old streetcar right-of-ways for faster travel.

   

The Hamilton A-Line stub (red) is about 2km long.
   

[BuildingScout]

KC Streetcar is launching in Kansas City. Their vehicle is an Urbos 3 by CAF.

In my opinion street cars are an inferior solution as compared to buses. This is why LRT critics @RoW keep on calling it a tram, because a tram is an inferior piece of technology. And LRT with right of way on the other hand is much better than a tram.

In my opinion Toronto should seriously consider making its tram lines LRTs. The city grid is dense enough to move car traffic to parallel streets.

[KevinL]

In my opinion Toronto should seriously consider making its tram lines LRTs. The city grid is dense enough to move car traffic to parallel streets.

Agreed in principle, particularly on busy routes like King. The issue is how much the conversion of St. Clair polluted the argument.

[DHLawrence]

Even if they did convert there's no guarantee the TTC would do it right. Spadina has had priority signals for its cars since day one but they've never been turned on. Cars turning left always get dibs.

[jamincan]

Can't remember if there is a thread for the Confederation Line on here, but this seems like a suitable thread anyway and I want to beat Canard to the punch.

The first of the Alstom Citadis Spirits for Ottawa came out of hiding. Most of the exterior panels still need to be installed it seems, but exciting moment for Ottawa regardless!

https://twitter.com/jimwatsonottawa/stat...7296280577

[Canard]

Over the coming weeks, it'll start doing test runs out on the main line.

I didn't post it on Friday because I don't like those trains. The articulation geometry isn't symmetric and it bothers me. The faceted nose cone is cute, but other than that they're actually really ug. Ours will be leagues better!

[jamincan]

I don't mind the Citadis Spirit, but I think OCTranspo went with a terrible livery.

[KevinL]

Terrible news in London - one of their trams derailed and overturned onto its side, leaving 5 dead, 50 injured, the driver arrested, and concerns of excess speed.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-37919658

[Markster]

tram derailed as it was negotiating a "sharp, left-hand curve" which has a speed limit of 12 mph.

Uh oh, don't let Canard see the speed limit sign for that.

[Canard]

He was probably going 13 mph

[KevinL]

Open, sleepered track in that area from the photos in the article - likely no restraining rails like we are putting in...

[Canard]

Restraining rail is only used to balance wear between wheels and prevent climbing - would not have helped here at excessive speeds required. Talk of driver asleep. ATP would have been more helpful and wouldn't have permitted an overspeed condition.