busdude.com Posted October 17, 2015 Report Share Posted October 17, 2015 all the XDE60s seem to have the same basic features, even the 614xx series operated by PT have the yellow strobe light in the tailgate, metro spec door controls, etc. However, hush mode is a feature added by metro post-delivery. Not to mention that only metro operators are trained for operations in the tunnel, and the coaches have to be equipped with a separate 700mhz radio system for use inside the tunnel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atomic Taco Posted October 17, 2015 Report Share Posted October 17, 2015 800 MHz. Both PT and Metro have their primary systems on 700, whereas Link uses King County's 800 system. Here's 9654 in the tunnel: https://www.flickr.com/photos/atomictaco/20730781201/ And 9652 on the surface: https://www.flickr.com/photos/atomictaco/19765320455/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aznichiro115 Posted October 17, 2015 Report Share Posted October 17, 2015 all the XDE60s seem to have the same basic features, even the 614xx series operated by PT have the yellow strobe light in the tailgate, metro spec door controls, etc. However, hush mode is a feature added by metro post-delivery. Not to mention that only metro operators are trained for operations in the tunnel, and the coaches have to be equipped with a separate 700mhz radio system for use inside the tunnel. Interesting that everything is KCM spec but the tail lights are not they are PT spec. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busdude.com Posted October 17, 2015 Report Share Posted October 17, 2015 Ok, that's right. 700 is the newer system, whereas 800 is older... I was correct though that buses needed a separate radio for use in the tunnel. Do they still have the 2nd separate control head for the 800mhz radio or has that been integrated into the OBS/ORCA system as well? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atomic Taco Posted October 17, 2015 Report Share Posted October 17, 2015 Not sure exactly; I think they switched to dual band Moto APX radios, which should make it controllable on the DDU. Edit: Actually they'd have to have switched. I don't think the old XTL 5000s will do X2 TDMA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busdude.com Posted October 17, 2015 Report Share Posted October 17, 2015 The Tail lights are ST spec as most of their coaches (Gillig, MCI) have came with the 4" LEDs for the past several years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
punkrawker4783 Posted October 17, 2015 Report Share Posted October 17, 2015 Ok, that's right. 700 is the newer system, whereas 800 is older... I was correct though that buses needed a separate radio for use in the tunnel. Do they still have the 2nd separate control head for the 800mhz radio or has that been integrated into the OBS/ORCA system as well? The DDU handles the radios. When the bus approaches the tunnel on a tunnel route, the DDU automatically switches into DSTT Radio Mode, upon leaving the tunnel it automatically switches back. This also occurs when a tunnel route uses the surface when the tunnel is closed. There are ways to manually change it of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busdude.com Posted October 18, 2015 Report Share Posted October 18, 2015 I'm going to make a shameless plug for the new Facebook group i started, Northwest Bus Fans, Discussion about Buses, Light Rail, and other Public Transportation and Private carriers in the Northwestern United States. Covering current operations, historical, excursions, private coaches, etc. https://www.facebook.com/groups/NorthwestBusFans/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anonymous guy Posted October 18, 2015 Report Share Posted October 18, 2015 I recall hearing that there was hesitation in operating the XDE60 coaches in the tunnel due to the height of the wheelchair ramp and lower height of the Xcelsior coaches. It must not be as big of an issue, as I do see them in operation in the tunnel frequently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Puget Sound Rider Posted October 20, 2015 Report Share Posted October 20, 2015 Just thought I'd share this from last week. #922 seems to have a small problem... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maximase86 Posted October 21, 2015 Report Share Posted October 21, 2015 I wonder if it is losing a turbo. S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Bus Fan Posted October 23, 2015 Report Share Posted October 23, 2015 Sound Transit has magnetic field to help stop vibrations which seem to be working which on the U-Link and will be installed on Northgate link also: http://www.soundtransit.org/Rider-Community/Rider-news/st-spotlight-magnetic-fields-and-good-vibrations Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coordinator47 Posted October 24, 2015 Report Share Posted October 24, 2015 I recall hearing that there was hesitation in operating the XDE60 coaches in the tunnel due to the height of the wheelchair ramp and lower height of the Xcelsior coaches. It must not be as big of an issue, as I do see them in operation in the tunnel frequently. The Metro XDE60s are now configured with a separate switch to the left of the kneeling switch on the front panel, which will elevate the coach up to 4 inches if placed in the raise position. It works similarly to the leveling switch on the side panel in the Metro 3700s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Bus Fan Posted October 29, 2015 Report Share Posted October 29, 2015 Tacoma Link is one step closer to being fund because it has received a TIGER funding: http://www.masstransitmag.com/news/12130993/tacoma-link-expansion-gets-15-million-in-federal-money Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busdude.com Posted October 29, 2015 Report Share Posted October 29, 2015 You mean TIGER.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Bus Fan Posted October 31, 2015 Report Share Posted October 31, 2015 Sound Transit has put out a RFP for 122 low floor cars for all ST2 projects instead of ordering them different times, waste of time and money: http://seattletransitblog.com/2015/10/31/how-can-link-vehicles-be-improved Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busdude.com Posted October 31, 2015 Report Share Posted October 31, 2015 Sound Transit has put out a RFP for 122 low floor cars for all ST2 projects instead of ordering them different times, waste of time and money: http://seattletransitblog.com/2015/10/31/how-can-link-vehicles-be-improved Why is this a waste of time and money? Is there something i dont know? Generally, i thought that the larger your order, the better overall price you will get. Not to mention, from a maintenance standpoint its better to have one large fleet of like vehicles rather than 5 or 6 smaller ones, and trying to make them all happily work together. This way they only have the 100 series cars, and this new order as sub types which simplifies operations. Furthermore, by making one large acquisition, it will allow them to have the vehicles on hand for systems testing, and will allow them to keep a higher spare ratio in the meantime which will keep the mileage down on the fleet as a whole until the full deployment is needed. This also allows you more spare vehicles to um, work out the bugs with and not impact service. The only downside i can see, is that they will need to coordinate delivery with completion of various new storage and shop facilities, or expand the exisiting yard or somehow add temporary space to park all the cars until they are needed in revenue service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atomic Taco Posted October 31, 2015 Report Share Posted October 31, 2015 Further: Sound Transit "determined that procurement of all 122 LRVs under a single project would provide efficiencies in coordinating, monitoring, tracking and reporting of the project progress." The only downside i can see, is that they will need to coordinate delivery with completion of various new storage and shop facilities, or expand the exisiting yard or somehow add temporary space to park all the cars until they are needed in revenue service. Sound Transit selects Bellevue site for new light rail operations and maintenance satellite facility Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Bus Fan Posted October 31, 2015 Report Share Posted October 31, 2015 Why is this a waste of time and money? Is there something i dont know?Not the order but doing them at different times of each instead of ordering them all at once that to me seems like a waste of money and time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atomic Taco Posted October 31, 2015 Report Share Posted October 31, 2015 Not the order but doing them at different times of each instead of ordering them all at once that to me seems like a waste of money and time. You didn't actually read the article. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Bus Fan Posted October 31, 2015 Report Share Posted October 31, 2015 You didn't actually read the article. I did read the article. See bold and underlined section in my original post that Busdude.com ask me about: Sound Transit has put out a RFP for 122 low floor cars for all ST2 projects instead of ordering them different times, waste of time and money: http://seattletransitblog.com/2015/10/31/how-can-link-vehicles-be-improved Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atomic Taco Posted October 31, 2015 Report Share Posted October 31, 2015 http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/instead%20of Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Puget Sound Rider Posted November 1, 2015 Report Share Posted November 1, 2015 How did they end up with Kinkisharyo in the first place? Siemens seems to be more well equipped (experience and local support) than them. I really like the interior layouts of TriMet's MAX trains. It seems they had a perfect example of what works and could have mirrored the MAX interior layouts. Would they have been able to piggyback on TriMet's orders if they had wanted to (Not sure how it works with LRVs)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busdude.com Posted November 1, 2015 Report Share Posted November 1, 2015 Lowest responsible bidder probally. I have never been a fan of the Kinkisharyo product, both here and in San Jose. ST and TM use diffrent line voltages, not sure about the "envelope" for clearances. I suppose some of that is dictated by the clearance for the DSTT, the line voltage was something to save them from having to install more substations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SounderBruce Posted November 12, 2015 Report Share Posted November 12, 2015 New strip map on 159, featuring the "Red Line" and the three new stations coming in 2016: Link Red Line strip map by SounderBruce, on Flickr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now