IIRC the MSP light rail trains were originally supposed to be 4-cars but they bought three-car sets to see if ridership was going to be sufficient to warrant the longer trains. So I assume it took 4-car trains into account when the first line was being planned. I think as noted, they may have erred in not just building the longer platforms, rather than causing problems by expanding them into areas already available.
Let me temper my comments on the expansion by saying that the space is there for all of the platform extensions. It is just that they are constructing some of the extensions where most people access the platforms and this will inconvenience some.
From the poster displayed at the 5th anniversary celebration on June 26, 2009 for the Hiawatha Light Rail in Minneapolis:
petitnj The expansion of the platforms was not well planned. They are digging up and blocking off most of the easy access to the stations. The Cedar-Riverside station is being expanded to the south where all of the access is located. This will require folks to trudge thru gardens and lawns to get to the station during construction. This construction appears to be done at the convenience of the construction crew and not the folks who use the stations. But at least they have the property to expand the platforms.
The expansion of the platforms was not well planned. They are digging up and blocking off most of the easy access to the stations. The Cedar-Riverside station is being expanded to the south where all of the access is located. This will require folks to trudge thru gardens and lawns to get to the station during construction. This construction appears to be done at the convenience of the construction crew and not the folks who use the stations. But at least they have the property to expand the platforms.
This brings up the metric of advance planning. With CLT, MSP, BAL, and HOU and maybe others all dealing with platform length issues there should be a requirement for all light rail networks or extensions that are now planned to have at least set aside land and planning for as much as 4 car train lengths. It certainly is easier to put in the conduits for eventual utilities than to have to dig it up later!!
Just read that houston is having a platform length problem also.
petitnj The Hiawatha Rail Line will celebrate its five years in operation Friday.Metro Transit said they have provided 42. 9 million rides since the light-rail line opened on June 26, 2004.According to some of the line's partners, the line has already exceeded ridership projections for the year 2020 by 20 percent
The Hiawatha Rail Line will celebrate its five years in operation Friday.Metro Transit said they have provided 42. 9 million rides since the light-rail line opened on June 26, 2004.According to some of the line's partners, the line has already exceeded ridership projections for the year 2020 by 20 percent
An interesting note to Phoebee Vet: The current Hiawatha Rail line is now under construction to extend some short platforms to enable 3 car trains to operate. Looks like they planned for longer train expansion a bit better than Charlotte.
Close
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.