TR Circular E-C058_9th LRT Conference_2003.pdf - Florida ...

112 Transportation Research Circular E-C058:9th National Light Rail Transit Conference
Operations
A new LFLRV would be specified to have the same level of performance and speed, as the
existing DART vehicle, and hence would have no impact on the current operation.
Because of the extra weight of the center sections in the Super-LRV, it will have a lower
initial acceleration rate. However, it has been determined that the existing schedules could be
maintained on the existing system. Simulations using the lower acceleration rate of the Super-
LRV indicate that the worst case run from terminal to terminal results in an increase in the
running time of approximately 2 min on one of the lines. Detailed review of the simulations
indicates that the majority of this time is lost in central areas of the system where station spacing
is reduced to approximately 1 mi and even less in the CBD. This run time increase is considered
to be acceptable in the overall schedule of operations and is absorbed in the turn times at the end
of the lines. As the DART system expands and station spacing increases in the outer areas, the
effect of the lower initial acceleration on overall run time is further reduced.
Capacity
A new LFLRV would have equivalent seating capacity as the current vehicle, as shown in Table 1.
As part of the modification to insert a center section into a DART LRV, two double-flip
seats (four seats) that were removed by DART to enhance ADA accessibility will be reinstalled,
and four new single seats will be installed. Combined with the 24 seats in the center section, the
seating capacity of a Super-LRV is 104. A 2-car, Super-LRV consist can be directly substituted
for a 3-car, LRV consist without modification to platform length and provide nearly equivalent
passenger capacity. Table 1 lists a summary comparison of the seating capacity of various train
configurations.
Maintenance
A new LFLRV would have a high percentage of new components, equipment, and systems.
Operations and Maintenance staff would have to be trained on both a new LFLRV and the
existing vehicles. Spare parts would have to be stocked for both types of vehicles.
The introduction of a Super-LRV into the DART system has no change in operations and
effectively no change to the maintenance procedures, spare parts, and training that are required to
keep the Super-LRV in revenue service. With the exception of the new static inverter installed on
the roof of the C-car, all of the operating equipment is the same, with complete
interchangeability, as the equipment used on the current vehicle.
Service and Inspection Facility
The Service and Inspection (S&I)facility will have to be modified regardless of the type of lowfloor
vehicle that is selected. For any low-floor vehicle, a second maintenance level would have
to be installed at roof height to provide for full maintenance access to the roof mounted
equipment. The Super-LRV is 31 ft longer, which requires that the maintenance pits be extended,
and the in-floor hoists modified to allow access to the equipment.