Mass_Transit_June_2021 - 24

S P E C I A L R E P O R T : P A S S EN G ER R A I L
Rail Vehicle Fleet
FLEET REPLACEMENTS MOVE FORWARD; HEAVY RAIL LOOKS TO GREENER POWER OPTIONS
With budgets growing tighter from the impacts of the pandemic,
rail transit providers remain committed to their fleet
renewal strategies.
In April, the Chicago Transit Authority began to introduce
its new 7000-series railcars into service on the Blue Line.
The new cars incorporate additional safety and comfort
amenities such as an active vehicle suspension system,
new passenger information displays and a new interior
seating configuration.
Sound Transit in Seattle, Wash., put its first Series 2 cars
into service in May. The Series 2 cars have larger windows,
wider center aisles, more room to stow luggage, seating for
70 and dynamic information displays.
In Canada, funding from the federal government, as well
as the province of Ontario, will allow the Toronto Transit
Commission to purchase 60 zero-emission streetcars, as
well as expand its Toronto Hillcrest storage facility. The new
streetcars will help TTC match capacity of customer demand.
Metra in Chicago is challenging the industry to create a
zero-emission commuter locomotive by converting an older
engine from diesel to one powered solely by batteries. The
Miles per Major Mechanical Failure
Cable Car -
Directly Operated
Heavy Rail Passenger Car
Commuter Rail -
Directly Operated
Commuter Rail -
Purchased Transportation
Heavy Rail -
Directly Operated
Heavy Rail -
Purchased Transportation
Light Rail -
Directly Operated
Light Rail -
Purchased Transportation
Street Car Rail -
Directly Operated
Street Car Rail -
Purchased Transportation
2019 NTD Breakdowns
24 | Mass Transit | MassTransitmag.com | JUNE 2021
2,085.6
1,698.0
17,003.4
Aerial Tramway
Streetcar
Inclined Plane
Cable Car
Monorail
2019 NTD Vehicles
0%
70.3%
0%
61.2%
81.4%
7,013.0
2,680.8
Guideway Vehicle
Locomotive
Vintage/ Historic Trolley
Automated
0%
89.3%
18,936.9
7,775.2
13,844
Light Rail Vehicle
Commuter Rail
Passenger Coach
Commuter Rail
Self-Propelled Passenger Car
10.2%
22.9%
21.3%
22.7%
14.9%
270
railroad issued the Request for Proposals for the battery electric
conversion and says the proposal " could be game-changing. "
Metra also issued an RFP for six switch locomotives that
will, at minimum, meet EPA Tier IV standards.
Two new EPA Tier IV locomotives entered Northern
California's Capitol Corridor fleet, replacing two Tier 2
locomotives. The new locomotives will provide a 90-percent
reduction in particulate matter emissions and 80
percent NOx reduction compared to the older locomotives
they replace.
Agencies have also been trying to address what to do with
retired railcars. In New York State, rail cars are strategically
deployed to grow the state's artificial reef network. In
October, 16 rail cars were deployed to the Atlantic Beach
Reef to bolster fishery resources and improve marine habitat.
Portland State University's Center for Public Interest Design
in Oregon hosted a MAX Reuse Design Challenge competition
to re-envision the use of TriMet's oldest light-rail vehicles.
The winning concept imagined a MAX village with four
vehicles stretched along a sidewalk next to a park; each
with a different community-focused purpose.
Percent of Active Vehicles
Beyond Their Useful Life
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