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Do you think Seattle will ever incorporate electric heavy/commuter rail cars like Denver has started doing, or will they probably just stick to light rail?
Yes, they call it the Sounder, and it is already up and running as a commuter rail.
Do you think Seattle will ever incorporate electric heavy/commuter rail cars like Denver has started doing, or will they probably just stick to light rail?
Quote:
Originally Posted by sidburn
I meant electric metro-style trains, not diesel long-distance ones. Like what Chicago or Washington have.
Correct. My understanding is that RTD is using heavy rail trains instead of light rail for its new lines because they were built along existing railways, so they are required by law to use heavy rail. Not sure if the same is true with any of Seattle's future lines.
Also, the RTD line to Littleton is along an existing railway, but it's light rail. Maybe they changed the law since that line was built?
Correct. My understanding is that RTD is using heavy rail trains instead of light rail for its new lines because they were built along existing railways, so they are required by law to use heavy rail. Not sure if the same is true with any of Seattle's future lines.
Also, the RTD line to Littleton is along an existing railway, but it's light rail. Maybe they changed the law since that line was built?
That is the case with the "ghost train", you know, the one from Westminster to Boulder? It is supposed to be operating by 2042 or 44, depending on the source. I don't know about any other heavy rail lines planned for Denver.
That is the case with the "ghost train", you know, the one from Westminster to Boulder? It is supposed to be operating by 2042 or 44, depending on the source. I don't know about any other heavy rail lines planned for Denver.
and the G and B lines, labelled as commuter rail. They're using the same trains Philly uses for its commuter rail. The frequency appears similar to a light rail line, so from the rider's perspective there's not much functional difference between the two. But the commuter rail lines I think wouldn't be able to run in the middle of the street as light rail can.
and the G and B lines, labelled as commuter rail. They're using the same trains Philly uses for its commuter rail. The frequency appears similar to a light rail line, so from the rider's perspective there's not much functional difference between the two. But the commuter rail lines I think wouldn't be able to run in the middle of the street as light rail can.
So the difference is that commuter rail runs on street level, and metro trains are elevated and/or subway? I read that BART is sort of a "transit hermaphrodite" as well: it serves the suburbs and is consider commuter rail, but runs frequently and is grade separated like metro rail. Having lived in Chicago, I envision "commuter rail" as diesel powered, peak hours only, and 25+ mile distances.
Denver's trains are electric commuter rail; they're a bit different from a "metro-style" train
Supposedly one trait of commuter rail is longer distances. That's true with the A line since the airport is halfway to Nebraska, but the G line will be RTD's shortest line, and it's commuter rail.
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