The IC South Chicago branch operates on a fenced private right-of-way down the middle of 71st Street, it isn't quite street running like South Shore in Michigan City.
Having somewhat criticised this idea note the following feature of the new CTA 5000 series L cars!
I had forgotten about this feature of the 5000s.
I'm not sure how much this feature will be used.
CSSHEGEWISCH I'm not sure how much this feature will be used.
It's my understanding that it operates each time the doors are opened on 5000 series cars, although I can't say I've ever detected it when riding them.
From CTA's web site on the features of the 5000s.
"These cars also have an active suspension system that helps to better align the interior car floor with the height of station platforms in a variety of conditions."
I was told by the Bombardier Engineers that the cars sit high to provide adequate clearance for the AC propulsion equipment. The cars then lower at the stations (when dynamic clearance isn't an issue) to align with platform heights.
But the point is we've all been telling the OP "it's a silly question" and "do some research" when to a limited extent (not as much kneeling as on a bus) it actually exists.
Wizlish Instead, it jacks DOWN the conventional suspension.
All the kneeling buses I have worked with did so by evacuating the right front air bag. Can you imagine the air suspension system trying to cope with a jack trying to collapse one of its air bags?
Kind of related to the topic but not exactly.....BOARDING PLATFORM HEIGHT
I actually like the former step up to the train via vestibule stairs. I think two things are happening here. One they are trying to cut costs for boarding of physically challenged people. Two U.S. Citizens are getting obese and no longer like to climb anything.
High level platforms are more of an eyesore at rural stations than sidewalk level platforms in my opinion.
I am fine with mixed high level and low level I guess with maybe 1 gradual slope between the two BUT what I don't like is when they intermix the two high level then low level then high level again (DART is guilty of this at some stations)........again it looks stupid and detracts from the surrounding architecture.
So my choices are low sloping to high with one ramp. All High Level or All Low Level.
The guys with pickup trucks are properly laughing at this mass of stupidity. It's a long way from the ground to the floors of their trucks and for this such as JC Whtney has bolt-on retractable steps. They fold down when needed and fold up when not needed. It'll take some good old-fashioned engineering to resolve the details: how to attach the retractable step, how to make it work, how to power it, when to use it, etc. etc. Most obvious that if this can be done on a pickup truck, it can be done on a railroad car. Does give cause to ponder: he who starts something like this ... which is larger, his IQ or his shoe size ? Oh well ...
Retractable steps do not meet the requirements of the Americans With Disabilities Act. Metra has at least one car in each train that is equipped with a retractable lift for wheelchair passengers, and I'm sure that Amtrak and the other various suburban rail operators have similar equipment.
wccobb The guys with pickup trucks are properly laughing at this mass of stupidity. It's a long way from the ground to the floors of their trucks and for this such as JC Whtney has bolt-on retractable steps. They fold down when needed and fold up when not needed. It'll take some good old-fashioned engineering to resolve the details: how to attach the retractable step, how to make it work, how to power it, when to use it, etc. etc. Most obvious that if this can be done on a pickup truck, it can be done on a railroad car. Does give cause to ponder: he who starts something like this ... which is larger, his IQ or his shoe size ? Oh well ...
Some time back in the 60s I was on a fan trip on the DM&IR. The equipment was the usual mix of Q rolling stock, but in the consist was an older coach either DM&IR or NP I forget witch. But anyway the car had the unusual equipment that had a large lever in the vestibule against the outside wall. When pulled up a step under the usual vestibule steps swung out eliminateing the need for a step box. Always wondered why this did not become standard . Never saw this anywhere else.
CSSHEGEWISCH Retractable steps do not meet the requirements of the Americans With Disabilities Act. Metra has at least one car in each train that is equipped with a retractable lift for wheelchair passengers, and I'm sure that Amtrak and the other various suburban rail operators have similar equipment.
Johnny
s
Stutgartt, with its high platforms in the middle of streets, has all three conditions: Paved track but reserved for light rail only (and emergency vehicles), center reservation without fensing, center reservation with fensing, for higher speed portions of lines. The latter duplicates the South Chicago Metra Electric conidtions. Some of the stations, in the middle of streets, have street furniture including canopies.
Once you have canopies and benches and ticket machines, high platforms aren't much of an eyesore.
This is also true of the South Chicago Branch.
I am surprised about that news about the CTA 5000s. I don't think for one moment that it is a good idea, and think CTA made a dumb decision to accept it. Just one more item to maintain. Other car-builders and other systems seem to do perfectly well with the necessary equipment for AC-motor propulsion without this extra complication. Boston's Blue Line cdars have even more restrictive clearances than CTA.
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