12-20-2018, 07:34 AM
(12-19-2018, 11:57 PM)jason897 Wrote:(12-19-2018, 11:37 PM)Spokes Wrote: What's the maximum number of LRVs that can be out on the tracks testing at once?
There's plenty of space to test all of them at once, right?
Unless the question is suppose we have an infinite number of LRVs, how many can be out on the line at once... that could be more complicated
14 is only 2 more than the planned maximum service level, so I’d be pretty surprised if they couldn’t have them all running.
As to the actual maximum, I understand a round trip is supposed to take about 90 minutes. If we assume 2 minute headway, which should be achievable, that would be 45 vehicles. Providing actual service on this frequency might be an issue at the ends of the line, where the time required to arrive, drop off and pick up passengers, depart, and reset the crossover for the next vehicle might push the 2 minute headway. Even some intermediate stops might act as bottlenecks. Also at some point the impact on traffic (both vehicles and pedestrian) at crossings and elsewhere starts to become excessive.
If we use 2-car trains, that would double to 90 vehicles, although the concerns with loading/unloading and with operating the interlockings at the ends of the line would be amplified somewhat. I suspect the pedestrian accesses to our stations are not all planned to support a crush load of 2-car trains every 2 minutes.
But this does illustrate the enormous capacity of LRT. My guess is that we could run 2-car trains every 4 minutes by just doing it. Past that and you would have to look at improving some stations and at least optimizing and possibly grade-separating some of the crossings.