Austin TX DMUs

[chefjavier]

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

They are getting closer to opening...

[chefjavier]

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.

[chefjavier]

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. :)

 

[MStLfan]

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

[dldance]

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

[martin.knoepfel]

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.) 

[beaulieu]

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.

[dldance]

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

[MStLfan]

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 

[Ville]

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.

 

[dldance]

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

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

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

[dldance]

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