Trains.com

Austin TX DMUs

7757 views
12 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Near Promentory UT
  • 1,590 posts
Austin TX DMUs
Posted by dldance on Monday, May 14, 2007 4:29 PM

In Newswire for May 10, 07, a press release stated, "The DMUs will meet Federal Railroad Administration regulations, and will be the first DMUs in North America that will also meet new European Union regulations."

What is the advantage of the DMUs for a US operation meeting EU regs?

dd

  • Member since
    March 2016
  • From: Burbank IL (near Clearing)
  • 13,540 posts
Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Tuesday, May 15, 2007 10:04 AM

Meeting both FRA and EU regulations is important if Colorado Railcar is also aiming to enter the export market.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Near Promentory UT
  • 1,590 posts
Posted by dldance on Tuesday, May 15, 2007 10:14 AM

Good point - but the Austin DMUs are Swiss built (and I think Swiss financed).  I think it was the financing that left Colorado DMU out of the picture.

dd

  • Member since
    May 2007
  • 1 posts
Posted by Ville on Tuesday, May 15, 2007 1:34 PM

Actually, the Stadler built DMUs dont meet FRA regulations. Stadler's trains' longitudinal strenght is only 1500 kN. The FRA required structural strength is 3560 kN (800 kips). Thus, Stadler is not a competitor of Colorado Railcar.

 

  • Member since
    November 2002
  • From: NL
  • 614 posts
Posted by MStLfan on Tuesday, May 15, 2007 4:24 PM

Is this line exclusively for commuters and therefore "lighter" rules apply? Is freigth and commuter traffic separated in time (freight during the night for instance?)?

Apparently EU regulations have not been beefed up to US standards or Stadler would not build it to 1500 kN specs. Keep in mind that the origin of this dmu is more related to leightweight narrow gauge cars used in Switzerland or tramways than normal heavy European commuter railroad equipment.

Links to this DMU:

http://www.stadlerrail.com/file/pdf/CapMetro%20e.pdf

And Stadler:

http://www.stadlerrail.com/default.asp?ms=6&h=1&id=63&n=136&s=2

http://www.stadlerrail.com/

greetings,

Marc Immeker 

For whom the Bell Tolls John Donne From Devotions upon Emergent Occasions (1623), XVII: Nunc Lento Sonitu Dicunt, Morieris - PERCHANCE he for whom this bell tolls may be so ill, as that he knows not it tolls for him; and perchance I may think myself so much better than I am, as that they who are about me, and see my state, may have caused it to toll for me, and I know not that.
  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Near Promentory UT
  • 1,590 posts
Posted by dldance on Tuesday, May 15, 2007 4:58 PM
 marcimmeker wrote:

Is this line exclusively for commuters and therefore "lighter" rules apply? Is freigth and commuter traffic separated in time (freight during the night for instance?)?

Apparently EU regulations have not been beefed up to US standards or Stadler would not build it to 1500 kN specs. Keep in mind that the origin of this dmu is more related to leightweight narrow gauge cars used in Switzerland or tramways than normal heavy European commuter railroad equipment.

Links to this DMU:

http://www.stadlerrail.com/file/pdf/CapMetro%20e.pdf

And Stadler:

http://www.stadlerrail.com/default.asp?ms=6&h=1&id=63&n=136&s=2

http://www.stadlerrail.com/

greetings,

Marc Immeker 

IIRC they will operate with a freight window at night and a commute window during the day.  I had questions about the light rating when the project was first announced.

dd

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: NW Wisconsin
  • 3,857 posts
Posted by beaulieu on Wednesday, May 16, 2007 9:44 AM
 marcimmeker wrote:

Is this line exclusively for commuters and therefore "lighter" rules apply? Is freigth and commuter traffic separated in time (freight during the night for instance?)?

Apparently EU regulations have not been beefed up to US standards or Stadler would not build it to 1500 kN specs. Keep in mind that the origin of this dmu is more related to leightweight narrow gauge cars used in Switzerland or tramways than normal heavy European commuter railroad equipment.

Links to this DMU:

http://www.stadlerrail.com/file/pdf/CapMetro%20e.pdf

And Stadler:

http://www.stadlerrail.com/default.asp?ms=6&h=1&id=63&n=136&s=2

http://www.stadlerrail.com/

greetings,

Marc Immeker 

It looks like a cross between a GTW 2/6 (6-axle railcar, 2 powered axles) and a FLIRT. Quite a few GTWs operating on SBB (Seetal line, EuroThurbo, etc.) also the New Jersey Light Rail is using GTW 2/6 cars.

  • Member since
    December 2003
  • 400 posts
Posted by martin.knoepfel on Thursday, May 17, 2007 2:05 PM

The DMU is certainly a GTW, with two powered axles in the center-two-axle compartment. There, the diesel-engine is housed. The two outer trucks are not powererd.

I shot a similar six or eight axle-DMU for Arriva, a Dutch railroad

The FLIRTs have two powered end-trucks and non-powered jacobs-trucks. Front-design is the same, if the customer does not demand a different looking. It is a kind of trademark for the Stadler-DMUs and EMUs and should inspire dymamic and progress (and is inspired by the German HST-trainsets.) 

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Near Promentory UT
  • 1,590 posts
Posted by dldance on Thursday, May 17, 2007 5:22 PM

The Austin Capital Metro Community Newsletter - with pictures of their new DMUs is available for downloading at:

http://allsystemsgo.capmetro.org/downloads/Community%20Newsletter.pdf

dd

  • Member since
    November 2002
  • From: NL
  • 614 posts
Posted by MStLfan on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 5:34 AM

Last weeks newswire had an item on the delivery of the first unit to Austin by truck and in pieces from the port in Houston. Anybody have pictures of this transport?

greetings,

Marc Immeker

For whom the Bell Tolls John Donne From Devotions upon Emergent Occasions (1623), XVII: Nunc Lento Sonitu Dicunt, Morieris - PERCHANCE he for whom this bell tolls may be so ill, as that he knows not it tolls for him; and perchance I may think myself so much better than I am, as that they who are about me, and see my state, may have caused it to toll for me, and I know not that.
  • Member since
    July 2007
  • From: Austin,TX
  • 537 posts
Posted by chefjavier on Friday, November 30, 2007 11:37 PM
 beaulieu wrote:
 marcimmeker wrote:

Is this line exclusively for commuters and therefore "lighter" rules apply? Is freigth and commuter traffic separated in time (freight during the night for instance?)?

Apparently EU regulations have not been beefed up to US standards or Stadler would not build it to 1500 kN specs. Keep in mind that the origin of this dmu is more related to leightweight narrow gauge cars used in Switzerland or tramways than normal heavy European commuter railroad equipment.

Links to this DMU:

http://www.stadlerrail.com/file/pdf/CapMetro%20e.pdf

And Stadler:

http://www.stadlerrail.com/default.asp?ms=6&h=1&id=63&n=136&s=2

http://www.stadlerrail.com/

greetings,

Marc Immeker 

It looks like a cross between a GTW 2/6 (6-axle railcar, 2 powered axles) and a FLIRT. Quite a few GTWs operating on SBB (Seetal line, EuroThurbo, etc.) also the New Jersey Light Rail is using GTW 2/6 cars.

 

http://www.lightrailnow.org/news/n_aus_2004-01.htm

 Check this website it will explain the details. I could tell you more. I live in Austin. :)

 

Javier
  • Member since
    July 2007
  • From: Austin,TX
  • 537 posts
Posted by chefjavier on Sunday, December 16, 2007 3:08 PM

They are still behind schedule to open the line. I know they went to the housing area to inform the public they starting to run trains around their area. Let's see how long this going to take.Zzz [zzz]

Javier
  • Member since
    July 2007
  • From: Austin,TX
  • 537 posts
Posted by chefjavier on Saturday, February 9, 2008 5:15 PM

http://austin.about.com/od/publictransport/a/rails.htm

They are getting closer to opening...

Javier

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy