urbanMSP

Those lights may just send somone into epilepsy.

https://youtu.be/jmSixadsjlc

Too bad they don't have a video of the "C" section inside, which I think is the only difference between II and IIa vehicles.

Couldn't they find anybody to help that guy? Come on.

Too bad they don't have a video of the "C" section inside, which I think is the only difference between II and IIa vehicles.

What is different?

Too bad they don't have a video of the "C" section inside, which I think is the only difference between II and IIa vehicles.

What is different?

I don't believe anything. These were order on options from the Central Corridor order. The Type IIIs on order for Southwest and Bottineau have been reconfigured to have the seats facing the aisle in the C section similar to TriMet's Type V configuration.

http://news.usa.siemens.biz/press-relea ... rail-vehic

Edit: Like this http://finance-commerce.com/2016/10/sie ... -vehicles/

HuskyGrad, are you sure these aren't those? The numbers are still sequential in the 2xx range, but I'm not sure metro transit will treat the new variant as a type III - they're the same as type II except the seats, and some minor other details, so they may still be considered type II.

I saw the "C" section. The seats are the same as the older Type 2.

Cool, I didn't realize we still had any more of the first Siemens style being delivered.

I don't know which thread to post this question so I'll just do it here. So the S70s obviously don't comply with FRA crash standards for sharing tracks with freight trains, but would it be possible for S70s to share tracks with EMUs or DMUs that do meet FRA crash standards? For example sharing tracks with the Blue Line Extension until Brooklyn Park and then switching to the BNSF tracks to Monticello, or sharing tracks with the Green Line Extension to Hopkins and then switching to the TC&W tracks to Chanhassen or points further west.

You're thinking "tram-train" type of service, right?

The short answer is, "no", S70 can't enter mainline tracks under FRA jurisdiction regardless of types of trains that are mainly occupied by such tracks. There are some cases where you can establish an exception to this by ensuring "temporal separation". I can think of NJ Transit's River Line as an example top of my head. See 49 CFR 236.1019 for details.

So can a mainline train such as a DMU or EMU that is authorized to operate on mainline track enter LRT tracks when LRT trains are operating?

Connecting 'transit' LRT tracks (or any other tracks under FTA blessing) to 'railroad' mainline tracks (FRA jurisdiction) opens up a whole different can of worms. Simply put, they can't be physically connected to mainline tracks, unless everything you do/have is FRA-compliant, or have some sort of magic waivers.

If you were to 'upgrade' your light rail system to have the mainline trains (DMU/EMU or whatnot) use your tracks, you'll have to (i) alter all of your rollingstock to be FRA compliant, (ii) re-train all your crew to be certified loco engineers, (iii) install PTC, (iv) change your service hours to be compliant.

You might find this link below interesting:
https://www.transit.dot.gov/sites/fta.d ... rs-fra.pdf

Also check out 49 CFR 674 for details.