BART fire

[Datafever]

Fire Forces BART Passengers To Evacuate Train

A fire and power outage at BART's Oakland Coliseum station left more than 200 passengers stranded on a overpass Thursday, according to NBC11.

All but nine opted to hoof it the half mile back to the station.

The power was restored at 12:30 p.m., according to BART spokesman Linton Johnson. That was two hours after the fire was first reported.

The fire was at a BART substation at the Oakland Coliseum.

The outage stopped all service between Oakland and Fremont for two hours, according to NBC11's Mike Inouye.

Full story here 

(Story includes slideshow). 

 

 

[vsmith]

Some older BART trains are really beginning to show their age, we'll likely see more issues in the future. When was the last time they added new equipment to the roster or overhauled the older units?

[al-in-chgo]

 

,   but is it true BART uses five-foot gauge trainsets?  Is the same true of the Washington D.C. Metro?  I know Bechtel did most of the infrastructure work for both systems but am not sure whether it was they or someone else who manufactured the rolling stock. 

[Datafever]

Yup, BART uses 5 foot gauge.  As far as equipment updates, I couldn't say, as it has been 15 years since I've taken BART on a regular basis.  I would suspect that some equipment updates would be forthcoming as BART extends down to San Jose and Santa Clara from Fremont.  That is slated to happen over the next ten years.

[erikem]

 

,   but is it true BART uses five-foot gauge trainsets?  Is the same true of the Washington D.C. Metro?  I know Bechtel did most of the infrastructure work for both systems but am not sure whether it was they or someone else who manufactured the rolling stock. 

IIRC, BART uses 5'6" gauge which was selected to allow for better stability with operation over the Golden Gate bridge. The Wash, DC Metro uses 4'8.5" gauge.

BART also uses a non-standard 1000VDC on the third rail, while the Metro uses 600VDC. 

The original rolling stock for both systems was built by Rohr. 

[Datafever]

IIRC, BART uses 5'6" gauge which was selected to allow for better stability with operation over the Golden Gate bridge. The Wash, DC Metro uses 4'8.5" gauge.

Yes, you are correct about BART being 5' 6".  I was a bit hasty in my earlier reply, being more focused on the anticipated extension of BART to points south.   

[Nataraj]

I have just started to see updated bart cars with linolium floors insted of carpet....

[al-in-chgo]

I have just started o see updated bart cars with lanolium floors insted of carpet....

 

Sounds like hospital grounds management - there always seems to be an argument about whether industrial carpet or a composition (linoleum-type) floor is easier to get clean, and easier to keep clean. 

I CAN tell you that comp. floors hurt my feet in a way carpet does not.  - a.s.