The ATL: new regional transit system (Atlanta, Lawrenceville: purchase, membership, venue)

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by tikigod311

If they can do a hybrid train like that I'm suddenly a-ok with light rail.

OK.

So, if MARTA (or MAT) is able to get hybrid trains--and what has been said on this thread is that there are potential hybrid trains that can travel from heavy rail to at-grade light rail...and without transfers, extra pauses, etc.

Then, it is conceivable that MARTA (or MAT) could have hybrid trains that ride/go/travel on heavy rail to grade-separated light rail.*


*Grade-separated light rail is often called "light metro" or "medium-capacity rail." Light metro/medium-capacity rail functions like "heavy rail." See here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medium...ty_rail_system
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Line_%22D%22_Branch


So, if MARTA (or MAT) could have hybrid trains that ride/go/travel on heavy rail as well as light metro lines, then this is a major game changer. All the heavy rail lines can be extended as light metro and more light metro lines could be added. Then we would have one mega, seamless system.


Right? What am I missing here?










mat
metro atlanta transit

matbus
matrail {Heavy Rail/Light Metro System...7 lines}
mattrain {Commuter Rail...11 lines}
mattrolley or mattram
matX {Express Commuter Bus}
matshuttle {Shuttle Bus}
matmover {People Mover}
matgondola {Sky Gondola}
matride {Public Taxi Ride}
matdecker {Double-Decker, tourist-like dedicated routes}

[fieldm]

Originally Posted by aries4118

OK.

So, if MARTA (or MAT) is able to get hybrid trains--and what has been said on this thread is that there are potential hybrid trains that can travel from heavy rail to at-grade light rail...and without transfers, extra pauses, etc.

Then, it is conceivable that MARTA (or MAT) could have hybrid trains that ride/go/travel on heavy rail to grade-separated light rail.*


*Grade-separated light rail is often called "light metro" or "medium-capacity rail." Light metro/medium-capacity rail functions like "heavy rail." See here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medium...ty_rail_system
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Line_%22D%22_Branch


So, if MARTA (or MAT) could have hybrid trains that ride/go/travel on heavy rail as well as light metro lines, then this is a major game changer. All the heavy rail lines can be extended as light metro and more light metro lines could be added. Then we would have one mega, seamless system.


Right? What am I missing here?










mat
metro atlanta transit

matbus
matrail {Heavy Rail/Light Metro System...7 lines}
mattrain {Commuter Rail...11 lines}
mattrolley or mattram
matX {Express Commuter Bus}
matshuttle {Shuttle Bus}
matmover {People Mover}
matgondola {Sky Gondola}
matride {Public Taxi Ride}
matdecker {Double-Decker, tourist-like dedicated routes}

You need to go to the Gwinnett Transit meeting in April and tell them about this

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by fieldm

You need to go to the Gwinnett Transit meeting in April and tell them about this

About the hybrid? I just want some clarification about the hybrid train ideas/solution recently expressed on this thread.

[primaltech]

Originally Posted by aries4118

Right? What am I missing here?

It appears you're missing that the regional transit system is going to be called ATL. Atlanta-region Transit Link. Atlanta Transit Link I guess for a shorter title.

The final bill from GA congress creating ATL will be out next week, and that's what it's going to be called, likely for the rest of your life. So I'm not trying to discourage your creative ideas, but I feel like it's a little distracting or confusing with copy pasting all that "mat" stuff. I just mean for people who might be coming into this thread for the first time, not knowing what's actually going on meanwhile in the actual reality.

I will grant you that that general kind of naming convention is probably how they will brand the different services of ATL transit. Like, rapid bus will probably be called 'ATL Rapid'. With like a 'Rapid Line A', Rapid Line B', etc. And probably the streetcar system will be renamed from Atlanta Streetcar to ATL Streetcar. Etc.

Now as for the possibility of the heavy rail lines/trains switching from third rail to overhead power and therefore allowing grade crossings and cheaper construction on line extensions and new lines, I think it's an interesting and intriguing idea. Doing that could open up some real possibilities, and could reduce transfers.

It would still be classified heavy rail I think, but it could act like commuter rail or light rail, and be as cheap to build as those.

It wouldn't be technically considered commuter rail, because it would not be FRA-compliant. MARTA cars are not FRA-compliant, regardless of power source. So it could never use railroad tracks or share with freight.

And it wouldn't have the seat capacity or comfort of commuter rail. It would still be metro-style transit.

It also wouldn't technically be light rail, because light rail really involves a lighter vehicle. But it would be basically like light rail.

I mean, I think they should really look into it. Particularly OTP suburbs, who want compatibility with the existing MARTA rail system, and not forcing transfers, but while also keeping cost lower.

It does take a minute for the train to switch modes, but in theory that could be done while it's stopped at a station, like while stopped at Doraville, while passengers board.

That's why I gave the example of Gwinnett possibly doing a 'light rail' out to Sugarloaf (as they've studied and done those design plans for), that would be the Gold line all the way to the airport, without a transfer.

Clayton should do it that way for their line. The line would run from Five Points or maybe even north of there, all the way to Jonesboro. With the new section running on overhead power, adjacent to the railroad, but not sharing tracks with it. Sort of like a CRT/HRT/LRT hybrid type thing. With cheap, minimalist stations, and all that savings.

Cobb could maybe do it, for a new line, that would potentially also be the Clifton corridor line.

Lot of different possibilities.

And I know for a fact that MARTA has mentioned it at least once or twice before, and I believe the dual-power capability is part of their RFQ for their new fleet of rail cars. (Could be mistaken on that.)

[primaltech]

That would also be the best way to run the MARTA Green line from Edgewood up to N Druid Hills/Northlake/Tucker. I mean, in terms of construction cost and therefore practicality for DeKalb County to fund and implement.

The downside is some performance loss I guess as far as speed or whatever, but if it's like half as expensive, then it's worth it.

[demonta4]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.mya...gJWyJ/amp.html

I didn’t know if this was already posted, but some good news for all of the bleakness on this thread. Buses in Clayton are actually overcrowded. Commuter rail might not be enough to service the county, I think Clayton needs heavy rail.

[fieldm]

Originally Posted by aries4118

About the hybrid? I just want some clarification about the hybrid train ideas/solution recently expressed on this thread.

Yeah hybrid. This is something they should investigate

I wonder if a heavy rail train and a commuter train can use the same track?

[fieldm]

Originally Posted by demonta4

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.mya...gJWyJ/amp.html

I didn’t know if this was already posted, but some good news for all of the bleakness on this thread. Buses in Clayton are actually overcrowded. Commuter rail might not be enough to service the county, I think Clayton needs heavy rail.

Good article. This is definitely good news

[bu2]

Originally Posted by fieldm

Yeah hybrid. This is something they should investigate

I wonder if a heavy rail train and a commuter train can use the same track?

One of the ideas behind commuter rail in Clayton is that route is intended to eventually be a rail line to Macon and points south. I'm not sure that will happen in the next 50 years, if ever, but that is the intent.

So the above is a very good question. Do you preclude an inter-city train?

[primaltech]

Originally Posted by fieldm

Yeah hybrid. This is something they should investigate

I wonder if a heavy rail train and a commuter train can use the same track?

No, they can't. Because of weight reasons and etc. All trains on railroad tracks must be FRA-compliant, which MARTA transit trains are not.