tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post2397208779532334390..comments2024-03-25T08:35:51.364-07:00Comments on Caltrain HSR Compatibility Blog: Core Capacity MathClemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01374282217135682245noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-74397254182177654572017-05-19T00:38:46.405-07:002017-05-19T00:38:46.405-07:00Indeed, 10-car trains are coming on Sunday for Bay...Indeed, 10-car trains are coming on Sunday for Bay To Breakers. In fact, Caltrain is running two of them in the morning. Since the pick up passengers only, the probably stagger their stop locations so either front-5 or rear-5 cars stop at alternating stations.Martinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-36392177396949575802017-05-17T11:42:04.556-07:002017-05-17T11:42:04.556-07:00Of course, performance of post-electrification bab...Of course, performance of post-electrification baby-bullets would improve as well if Caltrain uses the AEM-7 it plans to buy from Amtrak as back-ups on these trains, as they are approximately 1.5x more powerful than MP36s.Williamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14234802218858306443noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-30756742031606053582017-05-15T21:09:05.889-07:002017-05-15T21:09:05.889-07:00Thanks Clem for the great SMA+partner link. Looks ...Thanks Clem for the great SMA+partner link. Looks like of the existing bullet stops only 22nd St. is less than 600 feet, but plenty of stops are just over. Pretty sure they can make 2tph 7-car bullets work. Most likely the schedule would be quite different than the current one due to the very different acceleration profiles of the EMUs and 7-car Bombardiers.jpk122snoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-80357218828165368792017-05-12T22:12:25.274-07:002017-05-12T22:12:25.274-07:00Lengths of all the Caltrain platforms are document...Lengths of all the Caltrain platforms are documented in <a href="http://www.sma-partner.com/images/Downloads/201608_California_Rail_Network_Schematics.pdf" rel="nofollow">this awesome California rail network schematic</a> from SMA+partner, made with Swiss precision and information design.<br /><br />A seven-car bullet would need at least 600 feet of platform length, and mini-highs may need to be re-arranged. Probably figure a bit longer to account for stop point accuracy, which isn't a local specialty. My wag is 700 feet to make it work in daily practice.Clemhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01374282217135682245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-28933946182847182792017-05-12T20:04:05.418-07:002017-05-12T20:04:05.418-07:00Based on the Seamus Murphy Memo, it seems indeed ...Based on the Seamus Murphy Memo, it seems indeed most likely that 7 car diesel bullets is the plan. Any idea which current stations don't have platforms long enough to support this? Not much loss anyway as EMUs better acceleration means the difference in run time between limited and bullet will be a lot less than it is now. That's also the reason they can run 6tph vs. 5tph for diesel, while still maintaining reasonable service patterns.jpk122snoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-47839975046147318852017-05-12T01:47:30.812-07:002017-05-12T01:47:30.812-07:00Over the years, Caltrain has occasionally run spec...Over the years, Caltrain has occasionally run specials as long as <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6vzjxh1fFc" rel="nofollow">10 cars long</a> (and not always as "double-headers"). Reality Checkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06974156676436895262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-14569294072740389042017-05-11T18:13:33.348-07:002017-05-11T18:13:33.348-07:00Hi Morris, indeed it would be nice if they showed ...Hi Morris, indeed it would be nice if they showed their math behind their 3705/4112 figures.<br /><br />Another conceivable "cheat" to get to 4112 would be to add 1 car each to the 2tph of diesel bullets, for a total of 7 cars or ~920 seats/train, although that would start to exceed the platform lengths at several stations (not to mention taxing the poor diesel locomotives)Clemhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01374282217135682245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-34947707217396851502017-05-11T08:32:56.350-07:002017-05-11T08:32:56.350-07:00At the May 4th, Caltrain Board meeting, CEO Jim Ha...At the May 4th, Caltrain Board meeting, CEO Jim Hartnett promised to send to the Board data to explain the passenger capacity issue. <br /><br />In a letter to the board, Seamus Murphy has sent out a memo, which can be viewed at:<br /><br /> https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B9m407yyFerMWUlVLUlzcUU1WTA<br /><br />The problem remains since although this note gives numbers, it fails to say how these numbers are derived.<br /><br />The new website<br /><br />www.calmodtrains.com<br /><br />shows only 2 x 2 seating for the EMUs, thus presumably eliminating using 3 x2 seating to increase capacity.<br /><br />The EMUs have less capacity in a 6 unit train sets then the Metrolink cars they are replacing. How is this magic of increased capacity achieved. <br /><br />As Clem as postulated above, it would seem Caltrain will have to start running 7 or 8 car EMUs to get the increase they are showing in this memo.<br /><br />This then indeed brings up the funding issue; where is the extra funding going to be found?<br /><br />Caltrain has said they don't plan on submitting a new grant application showing these numbers, but maybe they have now changed their stance on this.<br /><br />All of this within the context that the grant application showed 6 trains per hour for EMUs, while limiting existing diesel powered trains to 5 trains per hour. I would think the FTA will find all of this very interesting. morris brownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-57953266246192320382017-05-08T13:49:18.455-07:002017-05-08T13:49:18.455-07:00Makes sense. While I was sitting at the Jack-in-th...Makes sense. While I was sitting at the Jack-in-the-Box three UP 9-44s moved by at 1200 today.Aarondnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-22554336442527906342017-05-08T02:14:34.022-07:002017-05-08T02:14:34.022-07:00GATX is a leasing company- likely UP is using the ...GATX is a leasing company- likely UP is using the locomotive to fill in for a motive power shortage.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-67444236784308824852017-05-07T20:23:20.820-07:002017-05-07T20:23:20.820-07:00While driving to Lowe's I spotted a freshly pa...While driving to Lowe's I spotted a freshly painted blue GATX locomotive parked in San Bruno. Do you know if this a recent thing (ie, involved with UP leaving) or was it always there? <br /><br /><br /><br />Aarondnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-51300620566710432732017-05-02T05:21:08.469-07:002017-05-02T05:21:08.469-07:00With regards getting a FTA FFGA grant approved, th...With regards getting a FTA FFGA grant approved, the FTA is not interested in counting "standees". The FTA wants "seated passengers" increases and insists that there funding buy increases in "seated passengers"morris brownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-80541464254529571682017-05-01T22:56:18.800-07:002017-05-01T22:56:18.800-07:00Caltrain's new numbers do need justification, ...Caltrain's new numbers do need justification, although they're hammering the right message: there's more to capacity than counting seats.<br /><br />4112 minus 4 tph of 6-car EMUs at 93 seats/car leaves (4112 - 4*6*93) = 1880 seats to spread across two diesel trains, which is not plausible.<br /><br />If the EMUs can seat 5-abreast on the upper deck, each 6-car EMU can seat another 64 passengers, leaving (1880 - 6*64) = 1492 seats to spread across two diesel bullets, or 746 each. That seems quite plausible.<br /><br />I do think they've gone five abreast!Clemhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01374282217135682245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-669532483889221142017-05-01T20:19:17.711-07:002017-05-01T20:19:17.711-07:00House transportation bill includes $100 million fo...House transportation bill includes $100 million for electrification.<br /><br />https://twitter.com/Caltrain/status/859159233127895040<br /><br />Drunk Engineerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08818695817782985523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-63779626892772835152017-05-01T19:44:18.200-07:002017-05-01T19:44:18.200-07:00I see there is updated capacity information (dated...I see there is updated capacity information (dated 4/19/2017) at:<br /><br />http://www.caltrain.com/projectsplans/CaltrainModernization/Modernization/PeninsulaCorridorElectrificationProject/Capacity.html<br /><br />Looks like current seated capacity has been increased to 3705 - close to Clem's estimate, and future 8-car all-electric seated capacity to 4560 or 95/car. Initial post-PCEP capacity (25% diesel/75% electric) has been listed as 4112, but not sure how they got to this given Clem's analysis above. <br /><br />Anyone have any ideas how they came up with this number?jpk122snoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-91392803862335282942017-05-01T13:29:48.655-07:002017-05-01T13:29:48.655-07:00We all know that PCEP only gives us 6-car EMUs, st...We all know that PCEP only gives us 6-car EMUs, still some diesel trains and no level boarding. The root cause here is cost, and I think we can understand the pressure in keeping costs in line with funding that can be obtained. We might not like it, but it's the state of the world. <br /><br />With that said, I think I found the first estimates of level boarding, extended platforms (where needed) and 100% 8-Car EMU fleet. Buried deep in meeting notes are initial discussions for raising the bridge tolls as part of RM3. Caltrain is suggesting the following projects (with price tags) for possible consideration:<br />* Full conversion to 100% EMU + capacity increase: $440m<br />* Level boarding & platform extensions: $250M<br /><br />These are not fully scoped, but had they been included in original PCEP, the current $2.0 billion budget would be $2.7 billion, and larger projects are even harder to pass. Anyway, this is probably going too far into the political side of things.<br />Martinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-70333645530650074552017-04-27T16:02:29.829-07:002017-04-27T16:02:29.829-07:00Agreed that people MIGHT have to wait longer at a ...Agreed that people MIGHT have to wait longer at a railroad crossing, but on the Peninsula the number of freight trains is VERY low (and they're quite short), so it's much less of an issue there.<br /><br />Compare that to San Diego, where sometimes freight trains are being assembled while blocking several crossings at a time, leading idiot pedestrians to climb over and under freight cars to cross the tracks (Padres fans are notorious for doing so).Peterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00326948451529910432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-54389163850004819462017-04-26T08:14:14.792-07:002017-04-26T08:14:14.792-07:00First of all, plenty of people do get irritated an...First of all, plenty of people do get irritated and complain about stoplights. All the time. How many times have I heard somebody say "If only those stupid traffic engineers would TIME THE LIGHTS on this road! They're clueless." Meanwhile these complainers are completely ignorant of the fact that they are not the only person on the road: although the stoplights may not be timed to optimize THEIR journey time, they are often quite well tuned for maximum network throughput.<br /><br />Nevertheless, I do agree that most people feel a certain deeper sense of dread when they see those crossing gates go down. When a stoplight turns red, you can be relatively assured that it will turn green again in 2, 3, or at the ABSOLUTE worst case maybe 5 minutes. Whereas, with a railroad crossing, most people have had the experience of being stuck at a railroad crossing for 5 or 10 minutes while a mile long train slowly trundles by, only to have it STOP across the tracks and sit there with no indication at all of when it's ever going to move. I think it's the hair-pulling frustration caused by that worst-case scenario from RR crossings, combined with the unpredictability element (Will I be stuck here for 30 seconds or 15 minutes??) that drives it.<br /><br />Not rational, by any means, but it is what it is.Owen Evanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15934578266643759835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-52247163764263506952017-04-23T16:39:44.355-07:002017-04-23T16:39:44.355-07:00The typical and relatively infrequent RR crossing ...The typical and <i>relatively infrequent</i> RR crossing gate activation to allow a train to pass with several hundred (sometimes even a thousand!) people aboard lasts about a minute or so.<br /><br />The ubiquitous, <i>very frequent</i> and unavoidable red light activation at most any large and/or busy intersection to allow cars with far fewer people (dozens ... sometimes even a hundred!) aboard to pass almost always lasts <i>much</i> longer.<br /><br />Now can anyone explain why drivers complain loudly about the former while silently ignoring the latter? ... and, for extra credit, why so many intelligent seeming people, particularly transit advocates and elected officials, pay those complaints any attention without even a snicker (let alone with head-nodding agreement)?Reality Checkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06974156676436895262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-59519980557108146912017-04-23T13:13:21.669-07:002017-04-23T13:13:21.669-07:00Unfortunately there are many locations on the Peni...Unfortunately there are many locations on the Peninsula, not just Menlo Park, that are not grade separated. As the number of trains per hour increases, so does the gate down times and resultant traffic delays. There is also a limitation in the number of locomotives and passenger cars available. Currently at peak hours, most of the existing fleet is on the road.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11779154407024588438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-73648886958454311642017-04-22T10:44:12.129-07:002017-04-22T10:44:12.129-07:00Morris, that's not correct. Your link is to th...Morris, that's not correct. Your link is to the Samtrans Board meeting. According to the Joint Powers Agreement, Samtrans is the managing agent of Caltrain, and the General Manager of Samtrans is the General Manager of Caltrain. Jim Hartnett does not report to the Caltrain JPB. He reports to the Samtrans Board.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-49074242031651720172017-04-17T11:30:24.870-07:002017-04-17T11:30:24.870-07:00If there is platform length issue, just run short ...If there is platform length issue, just run short train more frequently. Caltrain can make differentiate between local and express train in term of train consist. 8 car Express train vs 4-car local train. This is win-win solution for express train's capacity while maintaining frequency of local train. If City of Menlo Park don't willing to pay for grade separation, they will not get express train.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-22951057526258583282017-04-17T11:23:09.770-07:002017-04-17T11:23:09.770-07:00Under SP era, there was more then 6 train/h during...Under SP era, there was more then 6 train/h during peak period. (I assume 8 trains) <br />Why do you think environmental clearance are needed for increase train?<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-74527603373968220582017-04-15T19:03:08.729-07:002017-04-15T19:03:08.729-07:00@Morris: I do appreciate the nakedness of your age...@Morris: I do appreciate the nakedness of your agenda, but bums in seats is not the only metric for what makes a good rail transit system. Average speed is another important metric, and Tier-whatever diesels will never fix that. Bear in mind that Caltrain locals average 29 mph on a good day. That must be greatly improved, and the best prescription for that is electrification (already being pursued) as well as level boarding (not quite on everyone's radar yet).Clemhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01374282217135682245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-77766451026662843182017-04-15T16:27:10.335-07:002017-04-15T16:27:10.335-07:00You have a problem with public transportation.
You...You have a problem with public transportation.<br />You "look to the UK".<br />Now you two problems. In fact, now you have dozens of problems.<br /><br />Why not look at things that <i>work well</i> from funny-language parts of the world that only deliver catastrophic budget and schedule and scope failure projects <i>sometimes</i>, rather than nearly always?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com