tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.comments2024-03-17T12:42:36.234-07:00Caltrain HSR Compatibility BlogClemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01374282217135682245noreply@blogger.comBlogger11303125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-84884154510856119132024-03-17T12:42:36.234-07:002024-03-17T12:42:36.234-07:00Caltrain EMU emergency braking video clip
Impress...<a href="https://youtu.be/ZNMzFEGe854" rel="nofollow">Caltrain EMU emergency braking</a> video clip<br /><br />Impressive! … but did it cause any flat spots?Reality Checknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-13697776180957082662024-03-13T14:18:57.213-07:002024-03-13T14:18:57.213-07:00@MiaM: where are you that you don’t know that UP h...@MiaM: where are you that you don’t know that UP has & daily exercises its “perpetual and exclusive right” to provide freight service on the Caltrain line? And that Caltrain’s line is shared with ACE, Amtrak, and Capitol Corridor trains between its Santa Clara & San Jose Diridon stations. So there can be no FRA-exempt “Metro.”Reality Checknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-80525872355782667332024-03-13T02:03:26.840-07:002024-03-13T02:03:26.840-07:00In general I would think that it would only be in ...In general I would think that it would only be in very specific circumstances that permanently coupled cars are decoupled. Like for example if there were to be a severe accident where one end of one train collides with the other end of another train it might be worth joining the undamaged ends from both trains to form one working train while the other parts are being repaired or perhaps even scrapped (i.e. used to scavenge parts if this happens when the production run of that train type or part wise compatible trains are over).MiaMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-22354287645947169672024-03-13T02:01:00.069-07:002024-03-13T02:01:00.069-07:00Re regularly coupling/decoupling: The experience f...Re regularly coupling/decoupling: The experience from Sweden is that staff will give up immediately and blame the trains for the smallest possible problem, unless you can prove that exactly the same trains work elsewhere. Specifically this means that in Sweden you can only regularly couple/decouple trains that are also used in Denmark, where staff will actually do their job in this regard.<br /><br />Not sure if this would be relevant for Caltrain if they were to have shorter trains. Just bringing this up as a possible problem.<br /><br />Re crashworthiness: Could the Caltrain section between SF and SJ be classified as a "metro" and thus have lower requirements for crashworthiness? Sets of two coupled trains could have regular rail crashworthiness on it's end cabs (without doors for passengers) for running south of SJ.<br /><br />All this is of course purely hypothetical; the likelihood of any change what's been already bought seems to be more or less zero.<br /><br /><br />Re fare evasion: There is of course a cost-benefit balance between a certain percentage of fare evasion and the cost of combating fare evasion. (In that cost I think we should not neglect any discomfort imposed upon paying passengers, i.e. cumbersome gates and whatnot). MiaMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-14447923395350393062024-03-13T00:30:06.954-07:002024-03-13T00:30:06.954-07:00@Nick: yes, under warranty … but I’ve yet to see o...@Nick: yes, under warranty … but I’ve yet to see one that covers crashes. But it’d likely go back to Stadler for repairs even if it wasn’t.Reality Checknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-6030910631351258522024-03-12T22:56:58.893-07:002024-03-12T22:56:58.893-07:00@William:
Note that the existing cab car design la...@William:<br />Note that the existing cab car design lacks a pass-through door. If two train sets are coupled together, passengers and crew can't move between them while the train is in motion. Stadler could no doubt come up with a new mid-train cab car design for Caltrain's bespoke double decker sets that meets US crashworthiness requirements, but only at a cost that Caltrain can't possibly afford. <br /><br />BTW, I've been commuting on Caltrain for 15 years and I'm not convinced that there is all that much of a "crime" or "fare evasion" problem, even late at night (in fact, the only times I've had to switch cars is when I've found myself amongst too many drunken Giants fans). Caltrain is not Muni or BART. If the primary reason to shorten the train is for passenger "safety", they can turn off the lights and lock the doors in half of the train.Marchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13554637052654741365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-47896616706106649872024-03-12T21:02:26.150-07:002024-03-12T21:02:26.150-07:00The train is probably still under warranty so that...The train is probably still under warranty so that's probably why they sent the whole thing back.Nicknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-56236704666421132182024-03-12T11:24:53.090-07:002024-03-12T11:24:53.090-07:00It is not too late to order shorter trains, but al...It is not too late to order shorter trains, but almost certainly won't be cheaper per-car comparing to exercise existing options. It is also unknown how integrated is the KISS that Caltrain ordered. To make shorter trains out of existing types of cars, it may be as simple as rewriting some software, to as complex as new car types needed in order to shuffle traction and control hardware around a set, and this can be very expensive.<br /><br />The capability to regularly coupling/decoupling of the train needed to be specified at the time of rolling-stock order, even more so if gangway connection is desired. <br /><br />As for Gilroy and future services to Monterey county, if Battery KISS doesn't work out, perhaps Caltrain can borrow a few of Caltrans' hydrogen FLIRT that's currently on order. However, the best case scenario is for CHSR to build the San Jose to Gilroy section after Central Valley section is done, and Caltrain can run its trains using HSR electrified tracks.Williamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14234802218858306443noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-8190003892944002372024-03-12T09:19:53.381-07:002024-03-12T09:19:53.381-07:00Interesting that they return the whole set. How in...Interesting that they return the whole set. How inseparable are these things?InfrastructureWeakhttps://bsky.app/profile/infrastructureweak.bsky.socialnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-79271380566993050142024-03-12T00:01:55.417-07:002024-03-12T00:01:55.417-07:00Entry via level crossings should ideally be contro...Entry via level crossings should ideally be controlled by CCTV. Caltrain needs CCTV anyways as it needs detection of stuck vehicles and thus a way for the dispatchers to check what's going on (i.e. either malfunctioning detection or a vehicle actually stuck on the tracks).<br /><br />William: The third option is fare dodging fines that are high enough that they deter fare evasion. I don't like this option, but it's an option some transit agencies use. (And then there is a somewhat softer approach where first offenders get a way less fine than series offenders. Germany has this, not sure if "first offenders" refer to during a persons life or during a certain time period, and I'm also not sure if it refers to all of the country or each transit agency separately.<br /><br />Note that I'm not taking a stance in what I just wrote, just noting that there are options to choose from. Also I repeat that what I wrote about having one of the conductors hang out in a "safer car" during the times with the least amount of passengers was just my suggestion of good use of staff that would otherwise hardly be needed. Like it can't be necessary to have two conductors just to be able to check the tickets of ten people entering the train at times with low ridership, but I get that it might be a good idea for safety reasons to have two conductors anyway, and then the second conductor can be useful by hanging out in a dedicated car.<br /><br />Side track: Are there any rules against having "danish" train ends in USA? Thinking about the type of trains that are common in Denmark and the southern parts of Sweden, with a flat front with a rubber thing around the edges. When coupling trains the rubber thing is first deflated, the trains couple, the rubber is inflated again and the front of the train with the drivers controls and whatnot is simply folded to the side, creating a relatively wide walk way between the cars, and the folded away drivers compartment looks just like any other equipment cabinet from the passengers point of view. I think these aren't allowed for new constructions in Denmark/Sweden due to them being more dangerous for the drivers in accidents (in particular a danish driver died in a shunting accident where two trains tried to couple at too high speed and the front fell in and crushed the driver of one of the trains).<br /><br />Also there is the french solution where the drivers compartment is on a cramped top floor, kind of like the top floor on certain panorama passenger wagons, while the passenger walkway is on the bottom floor. That would likely not have any safety problems. Can't remember which french rail vehicles had this, I think it was something they did many many years ago... MiaMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-13285741896058947982024-03-11T18:58:53.642-07:002024-03-11T18:58:53.642-07:00The name of my forthcoming soft-jazz single will b...The name of my forthcoming soft-jazz single will be "Casual Shunting". If I made you hurt, it was only an accident. Michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-37924083409032198122024-03-11T17:48:51.518-07:002024-03-11T17:48:51.518-07:00@kiwi.jonathan:
Well, you trade station agents in...@kiwi.jonathan: <br />Well, you trade station agents in a close-system for a few extra conductors in an open-system. If you cut a conductor in an open-system like Caltrain, do you couple that with more frequent Police or, at minimum, security guard patrols, so passengers would feel safe, and thus more willing to ride?<br /><br />Police-power means arresting power and not necessary associate with guns. Stun-guns would suffice. Thank you.Williamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14234802218858306443noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-68075886307195834132024-03-11T16:56:00.489-07:002024-03-11T16:56:00.489-07:00William,
Police power? Including a gun? Who will...William,<br />Police power? Including a gun? Who will act as conductors for the ~7 months of police training? Or, if you want a closed system, who is going to fence off and grade-separate the entire ROW (or somehow block entry via level crossings?), and put security fare-gates around all the Caltrain stations? Who's going to *pay* for either one? (Don't even start budgeting for payouts for wrongful-death cases)<br /><br />IMHO it's statements like this which almost justify the "volatile" responses here. kiwi.jonathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18215458981556481196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-15241808631417130632024-03-11T15:41:58.938-07:002024-03-11T15:41:58.938-07:00On an open system like Caltrain, I would feel safe...On an open system like Caltrain, I would feel safer having two conductors instead of one. I would argue giving conductors police power aboard the train and Caltrain properties, with associate trainings of course, would more than justify the cost. Otherwise Caltrain can have a close system like BART, in which I am fine with no conductors aboard the trains with occasional ticket check by security guards. Williamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14234802218858306443noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-23334510605261655592024-03-10T21:24:24.811-07:002024-03-10T21:24:24.811-07:00And VTA and BART continue to make the worst local ...And VTA and BART continue to make the worst local undertaking look even worse, as expected.<br /><br />Cheer up, though, because old-time Caltrain atmosphere is included in the following article.<br /><br />More bad news, <a href="https://sanjosespotlight.com/cost-of-san-jose-bart-public-transit-light-rail-train-extension-balloons-again" rel="nofollow">again</a><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-25896027476078033192024-03-10T16:27:29.715-07:002024-03-10T16:27:29.715-07:00Yard mishap from what I heard. Worker accidentally...Yard mishap from what I heard. Worker accidentally ran a gallery car into the side of the trainset while shunting cars around.Nicknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-17393595573726959532024-03-10T14:06:28.043-07:002024-03-10T14:06:28.043-07:00Does anybody have the story on Caltrain's firs...Does anybody have the story on Caltrain's first EMU collision? On March 9th, EMU set 311/312, which had been delivered last November, was <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyKocB1qscM" rel="nofollow">spotted</a> in tow eastbound over the Sierra (presumably back to Stadler factory) with visible sideswipe collision damage on cars 3112 and 3113, see timestamp 6:15 in linked video. WTF?Clemhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01374282217135682245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-47997453038229450132024-03-09T20:36:56.319-08:002024-03-09T20:36:56.319-08:00Reality Check: Well, it's not my suggestion ha...Reality Check: Well, it's not my suggestion having two conductors. If you anyway somehow decide on having two conductors even with very few passengers then you might as well make both of them useful.MiaMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-12841374688715738412024-03-08T21:36:59.501-08:002024-03-08T21:36:59.501-08:00@MiaM: why stop at only 2 conductors!? You could h...@MiaM: why stop at only 2 conductors!? You could have 29: one that actually “works” while having the rest comfortably “reside” on every level of all 4 floor areas of every oversized 7-car lightly-patronized off-peak train? … you know, you just can’t put a price on safety. 🤦🏻Reality Checknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-53981730699553159542024-03-08T09:50:10.095-08:002024-03-08T09:50:10.095-08:00Are you actually presenting not merely one, but tw...Are you actually presenting not merely one, but <i>two</i> conductors, one of whom might be "residing" somewhere on the train, before at least one volatile person who is well-known here, including being touchy about those Caltrain conductors?<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-9906979680005746932024-03-07T19:37:56.542-08:002024-03-07T19:37:56.542-08:00Reality Check: Do Caltrain trains have security ca...Reality Check: Do Caltrain trains have security cameras on board? If not that would also be a way to decrease the risk of violence and whatnot on sparsely populated trains.<br /><br />Another would be that if the trains anyways have two conductors then one of them could for the most part reside in one of the cars, keeping an eye of things.<br /><br />Anonymous: Re possible mismanagement in the future: Given that HSR will also use the same tracks, at least the infrastructure and on-time performance of the Caltrain trains will also be an issue for HSR, which I would think or at least hope decreases the risk that any Caltrain mismanagement causing delays HSR trains would be able to continue. Sure, that won't fix everything, but it at least makes it a matter for a way larger amount of counties all the way to LA rather than the few counties that currently are served by Caltrain.<br /><br />Btw, re (mis)management and whatnot: I see way more distrust in various government functions and whatnot from people in the US than in other countries that at least have a somewhat functioning democracy.<br /><br />==================================<br />This might seem like the hottest take of all hot takes, but as you elect your politicians that in turn elect leaders of government functions, and you imply that they usually are incompetent and/or corrupt - you actually say that there are no people who are both honest and competent that you could elect as politicians. And that in turn means that you also think that there are no honest and competent people in the US. I find that super hard to believe. Maybe it's time for all those who voice this type of critique to rethink their stance? I know that it's more or less impossible for one random citizen to change things on their own, but if say half of the readers of this blog that live within the Caltrain area would join up and select suitable candidates for both the democrats and the republicans and do what they can to get people to vote for them rather than whoever people would otherwise vote for. Sure, I know that it's hard to find common grounds on everything and whatnot, but still worth at least having a think about.MiaMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-47390876832003516612024-03-07T16:06:03.868-08:002024-03-07T16:06:03.868-08:00Caltrain remains a decent ride and obviously is be...Caltrain remains a decent ride and obviously is better than nothing, especially to access downtown San Francisco, again, better than nothing or something that terminates even farther away(!). It's a real shame that Caltrain is showing the same kinds of dysfunction often found in other systems as well, however expressed in each system. It's also like two projects that both planned and have been constructed partially already. When you see other changes with transportation and other policies, it's part of a general decline in the state that has increased more recently.<br /><br />I hope as with other systems it's not mismanaged with not only blundering but worse misbehavior to risk of shutdown or closure.<br />There's still hope for recovery and even improvement, but trends now are working largely against that with transit and key cities in particular.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-11832997030255356572024-03-07T15:02:15.905-08:002024-03-07T15:02:15.905-08:00@Martin may also not be aware that apart from the ...@Martin may also not be aware that apart from the O&M cost savings, BART’s running right-sized (shorter) off-peak trains ironically also has do with increasing rider safety by reducing isolation, particularly for people who identify as girls or women, as part of their "<a href="https://www.bart.gov/guide/safety/gbv/phase-2#:~:text=Beginning%20September%2011%2C%202023%20BART,targeted%20for%20harassment%20and%20assault." rel="nofollow"><b>Not one more girl</b></a>" campaign.<br /><br />Riders on shortened off-peak trains report feeling safer from attack and harassment with more others sitting nearby that serve as a deterrent, and as witnesses and potential protectors.Reality Checknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-24899442681755485542024-03-07T14:22:09.015-08:002024-03-07T14:22:09.015-08:00Martin, unlike Richard you truly have no idea what...Martin, unlike Richard you truly have no idea what you're talking about.<br />But sure, believe Caltrain is winning the participation prize at the learning disabilities school if that makes you happy.<br />Sure, believe that Caltrain knows things about train procurement, operations, scheduling and maintenance that have entirely escaped the entire rest of the world if that makes you happy.<br />Everybody deserves to be able to pursue happiness in life. It's in the US Constitution after all.Richard Mlynarikhttp://www.pobox.com/users/mly/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-60283526154531404132024-03-07T13:10:11.635-08:002024-03-07T13:10:11.635-08:00FWIW, BART's new cars have 50% of their axles ...FWIW, BART's new cars have 50% of their axles powered to provide the trains with quick acceleration. "Each car has two trucks with one 194 HP motor per axle and two axles per truck." Caltrain stop spacing isn't much different, so unlike Richard, I'm happy that Caltrain focused on reducing trip times at the cost of interior space. <br /><br />I also don't have a problem with using 7-car trains, and as a rider, I prefer that because it allows both conductors to quickly reach any part of the train in case of an incident. While there would be savings with a 4-car consist, those savings would cost the riders decreased safety and likely longer delays from incidents. <br /><br />Overall, Caltrain does make poor decisions with things like CBOSS, but one would be hard-pressed to find an example of better service from a rider perspective in the US. Last year, I took LIRR from Grand Madison to Jamaica. The convenience was excellent, but the service was so slow. With Caltrain, the trains run at 79mph if the track is straight. It's quite a surprise to see that's not true for LIRR. The 12-mile journey takes 30 minutes on a non-stop train for an average speed of 24 mph. Martinnoreply@blogger.com