PDX Transit » Train

The O-Train: Ottawa’s Light Rail

pdxwriter — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 16:46:08 +0000

The O-Train is Ottawa’s first experience with light rail transit. The O-Train travels an 8-km track past five stations, two of which connect to the city’s bus rapid transit system (the “Transitway”), over two bridges and through a tunnel beneath Dow’s Lake. The line serves Carleton University, a major employment centre, and a shopping mall in a densely populated neighbourhood.

The O-Train was initiated to assess the technical feasibility of using an existing rail corridor for rapid transit, to validate expectations about ridership, performance and cost, and to allow proper analysis of possible larger-scale implementation.

Budget:

Capital costs: $21 million
Two-year operating costs: $8 million

Results:

Daily ridership: 9,000+
Car trips removed per day: 3,000+
Wheelchair and bicycle accessible
Annual revenues of $1.6 million, with a revenue/cost ratio of 36% compared to the transit system average of 55%
99% on time, compared to 70% for the overall transit system

O-Train Wikipedia page

All aboard: High-speed American passenger rails network on track

pdxwriter — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 20:16:24 +0000

"President Obama on Thursday highlighted his ambition for the development of high-speed passenger rail lines in at least 10 regions, expressing confidence in the future of train travel even as he acknowledged that the American rail network, compared with the rest of the world’s, remains a caboose."

Read the entire article Obama Seeks High-Speed Rail System Across U.S. from the New York Times

Stimulating Rails

Bailey — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 15:45:40 +0000

Can $8 Billion help stimulate the rail industry? Well, it can't hurt can it. "President Obama and leaders in more than 30 states say it's time to embrace trains again — but newer, faster ones that can transport passengers past gridlocked airports and highways on electrified railroads at up to 200 mph". Re

All aboard: High-speed American passenger rails network on track

UPS Delivers Hydraulic Hybrid Trucks

Bailey — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:19:42 +0000

UPS is about to field-test "hydraulic hybrid" delivery trucks, developed with the help of the EPA. They estimate that "savings on fuel and maintenance over the life of the truck could be as much as $50,000, while reduction in carbon dioxide emissions would be 30% or more."

High Hopes for a New Type of Hybrid Vehicle

New Battery Powered Tram Charges in 60 Seconds

Bailey — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 23:28:47 +0000

More innovation from Japan… A new street car, powered by lithium battery, has been invented by the Railway Technical Research Institute in Kokubunji, Tokyo. The new transport is capable of speeds of 40 kph for 15 kilometers and can convert 70 percent of its deceleration energy into electricity which is then sent back to the battery which can recharge in under one minute.

You should also checkout the post on the Japan Hybrid Trains.

Japan leads the way with Hybrid Trains

Bailey — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 23:05:59 +0000

Japan's JR East launched a hybrid train with lithium ion battery packs and regenerative braking earlier this year. Read this post from http://www.greencarcongress.com/ below.

"The New Energy Train cars use twin 95 kW electric motors (to deliver grade ability at the same level as that of a new model railcar), a 330 kW diesel engine powering a 180 kW generator and a 10 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The batteries are charged both by the generator and by regenerative braking."?

I wonder how much it would cost Tri-met to retrofit our trains to hybrid fuel.