Light Rail Systems And Routes In Other Cities

[49r]

Lyle Lanley: Well, sir, there's nothing on earth
Like a genuine,
Bona fide,
Electrified,
Six-car
Monorail!
What'd I say?
Ned Flanders: Monorail!
Lyle Lanley: What's it called?
Patty+Selma: Monorail!
Lyle Lanley: That's right! Monorail!
[crowd chants `Monorail' softly and rhythmically]
Miss Hoover: I hear those things are awfully loud...
Lyle Lanley: It glides as softly as a cloud.
Apu: Is there a chance the track could bend?
Lyle Lanley: Not on your life, my Hindu friend.
Barney: What about us brain-dead slobs?
Lyle Lanley: You'll be given cushy jobs.
Abe: Were you sent here by the devil?
Lyle Lanley: No, good sir, I'm on the level.
Wiggum: The ring came off my pudding can.
Lyle Lanley: Take my pen knife, my good man.
I swear it's Springfield's only choice...
Throw up your hands and raise your voice!
All: Monorail!
Lyle Lanley: What's it called?
All: Monorail!
Lyle Lanley: Once again...
All: Monorail!
Marge: But Main Street's still all cracked and broken...
Bart: Sorry, Mom, the mob has spoken!
All: Monorail!
Monorail!
Monorail!
[big finish]
Monorail!
Homer: Mono... D'oh!

[DaveKCMO]

i was waiting for someone to make reference to the monorail episode...

[49r]

It put Ogdenville, North Haverbrook, and Brockway on the map by gar...

[bahua]

You know a town with money is a lot like a mule with a spinning wheel. Nobody knows how he got it and danged if he knows how to use it!

[KCMax]

We're twice as smart as the people from St. Louis! Just tell us your plan and we'll vote for it!

[49r]

OK

We got *that* outta our systems.  Felt good.


Now, back to Light Rail...


Does anyone know roughly the difference in cost for the different types of rolling stock?  Like, are the trains in KC's proposal much more expensive (or cheaper) than the more traditional type trolleys in St. Louis, SLC and Denver?

[DaveKCMO]

pretty much all rail cars are custom in some way and cost depends largely on the system configuration. however, traditional overhead electric catenary cars that aren't designed to go underground and run on standard gauge rail are cheapest (see st. louis). the french system in the plan is more expensive, for sure, but it has the priceless benefits of no overhead wires and much quieter operation. in fact, bordeaux is even growing grass inside some of their track bed, so the aesthetic of the surrounding area is not disturbed... hence chastain's insistence that it go through PVP. also, you can equate higher speeds with higher prices (most LRT runs between 20-25 mph if not grade separated).

basically, the real cost comes down to engineering, construction, right-of-way clearance, and operation.

[kard]

link / info on this system in Bordeaux?

[bbqboy]

pretty much all rail cars are custom in some way and cost depends largely on the system configuration. however, traditional overhead electric catenary cars that aren't designed to go underground and run on standard gauge rail are cheapest (see st. louis). the french system in the plan is more expensive, for sure, but it has the priceless benefits of no overhead wires and much quieter operation. in fact, bordeaux is even growing grass inside some of their track bed, so the aesthetic of the surrounding area is not disturbed... hence chastain's insistence that it go through PVP. also, you can equate higher speeds with higher prices (most LRT runs between 20-25 mph if not grade separated).

basically, the real cost comes down to engineering, construction, right-of-way clearance, and operation.

But when BART goes under the bay, and the Portland Max goes under the West Hills,
Wow! It's an Amusement Park ride and Transit all in one. High speed Tunnels rock. Can We add one somewhere, so we can go go reallly fast?

[DaveKCMO]

link / info on this system in Bordeaux?

http://www.humanhub.nl/innorail.html

you can just google "bordeaux", "transit", and "innorail" to find more. you can also search on the manufacturer, alstom. coincidentally, they also built the acela system used on amtrak's northeast corridor.

[tat2kc]

the that system has never been implemented in the U.S., can we just import it and start using it? Doesn't it need to be tested for use in the United States?

[Brodees]

http://www.humanhub.nl/innorail.html

It made the light rail only marginally more expensive.

Replacing existing tramways will remain costly. But cities that still have to start investing in a new light rail system can immediately jump to the next level. Forget about those ugly twentieth century cables and support systems. It's a new age! Go wireless!

Sounds promising...

[kcmetro]

It made the light rail only marginally more expensive.

Replacing existing tramways will remain costly. But cities that still have to start investing in a new light rail system can immediately jump to the next level. Forget about those ugly twentieth century cables and support systems. It's a new age! Go wireless!

Sounds promising...

That's pretty cool. Is this Innorail system what Chastain is proposing for KC?

[warwickland]

link / info on this system in Bordeaux?

heres more info

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ground_level_power_supply

from this page, it sounds like bordeaux has had a few issues with this technology since they were the first to really use it...however, it looks like more french cities will be coming online with this as well, and so more bugs will probably be worked out by the time kc makes the purchase of his technology.

[kard]

heres more info

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ground_level_power_supply

Ok, I'm sold.  Do it.

[anniewarbucks]

It looks a lot like a Lionell o scale track. I do like the idea of it being turned on and off as the train passes over it. This aleviates the safety issue that I had before this was voted in.

[49r]

I'm ambivalent.  The wireless technology seems cool and all, but there is a romantic association with the trolley wires too.

[ddw334umkc]

The wireless rail system is somewhat similar to the MagLev technology, in terms of electricity.  The track is live and powered in isolated sections, so in essence, the power current moves as the train moves.

[DaveKCMO]

check this out: LA's metro has a program called "fly away" that offers check-in for LAX flights when you arrive at LA's union station (regardless of mode -- LRT, subway, commuter rail, and amtrak are all options!) to board a dedicated express bus. if we couldn't afford our stretch to the airport, this would be an awesome alternative.

http://www.lawa.org/flyAway/

there has been talk of extending one of the LRT lines all the way to LAX, but it's stuck in NIMBY-land.

[Marreekarr]

^LA Times had and article claiming that officials were planning a subway line in that direction.