Promotional video appears
to show cramped,
claustrophobic railcar interiors
A video released by the state of Maryland to increase excitement about the future Purple Line light rail Tuesday appears to have had the opposite effect. It shows for the first time the interiors of the actual trainsets that will travel the route between Bethesda and New Carrollton. In the video, the interior of the cars appears narrow and cramped.
Massive bulkheads between seating sections create individual cells within each car, increasing the claustrophobic effect. The cars are clearly narrower than subway or commuter rail cars, and even appear more cramped than other light rail and streetcar vehicles in use across the country and the world. Perhaps it was the type of camera lens used, but the PR impact was not a positive one.
Was shrinking the size of the cars one of the cost-cutting measures employed by the state and its partners? These cars do not resemble the ones shown in previous promotional materials.
Tuesday's backfire was reminiscent of another bait-and-switch PR stunt pulled by Montgomery County elected officials. After showing futuristic Bus Rapid Transit vehicles that looked more like subways for years, the County displayed an actual BRT vehicle at the County Fair that instead looked like existing diesel Metrobuses.
The County continues to use the deceptive BRT images in promotional materials to this day - and no wonder, after fairgoers were shocked to find the $10 billion BRT would look nothing like what County officials had promised.
Maybe they can wrap the Purple Line trains in Chicken of the Sea advertisements to bring in some extra revenue, to justify the tuna-can-cramped ride on what they've promised will be crowded trains.
38 comments:
"Massive bulkheads between seating sections create individual cells within each car, increasing the claustrophobic effect."
Dyer, you idiot, it's just the opposite of what you claim. Those cars have open gangways, unlike in the Metro, and you can walk freely from car to car. The "bulkheads" are simply the ends of each car.
7:43: I think you are correct about that part, but I'm talking about the bulkheads you see behind the guy in the photo before the next seating section. Those are larger than what you see in a Metro car.
"The bulkheads you see behind the guy in the photo before the next seating section"
Those bulkheads are at the rear of the car and the front of the car immediately behind. You can see the rubber baffle that closes the gap between the ends of the cars.
You don't see any "bulkheads" on Metro cars because the ends are not open - it's just a straight wall plus the driver's compartment.
Have you traveled outside of your mother's basement? This train is the same size as those I have been on in Europe. Why bother posting such editorial nonsense, you have NO idea what you are talking about....but what else is new. Also, you couldnt provide a link to the video?
8:02: I have seen many light rail vehicles. I follow the topic of rail transportation quite closely. The interiors as shown in the videos appear more narrow than others I have seen. It's a legitimate point. This isn't China where my opinion can't be freely expressed (although I realize there are people working toward that).
The attempts to chill free speech in Montgomery County are truly over the top.
8:00: Do you not see the passenger seats behind the guy, beyond those bulky dividers?
So where is the video? For your eyes only?
"Was shrinking the size of the cars one of the cost-cutting measures employed by the state and its partners? These cars do not resemble the ones shown in previous promotional materials."
The cars have not changed. Light rail cars have a smaller profile than heavy rail cars. What makes you think they have changed other than your poor vision and wishful thinking?
"Another bait-and-switch PR stunt pulled by Montgomery County elected officials. After showing futuristic Bus Rapid Transit vehicles that looked more like subways for years, the County displayed an actual BRT vehicle at the County Fair that instead looked like existing diesel Metrobuses. The County continues to use the deceptive BRT images in promotional materials to this day - and no wonder, after fairgoers were shocked to find the $10 billion BRT would look nothing like what County officials had promised."
Can you describe the difference between what you imagined the BRT vehicle would look like, versus what you saw on display at the Fair?
Here is a photo of the vehicle that was displayed at the Fair in 2014.
https://img.washingtonpost.com/rf/image_480w/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2014/08/11/Local/Images/mocofair0031407771431.jpg?uuid=YgNEKCFtEeSLEH2xKZdquw
Fun Fact: This is a State of Maryland project
Another Fun Fact: Dyer is always blaming the county for something
Video here:
https://twitter.com/i/status/1170028931157766144
Saith Dyer: "Do you not see the passenger seats behind the guy, beyond those bulky dividers?"
Yes, those are in the next car. Duh...
"Massive bulkheads between seating sections create individual cells within each car"
Those aren't "individual cells within each car". Those are separate cars joined by an open gangway, you fool.
8:30: Well, then, how are you disagreeing with me? What you see is exactly what I stated in the article. Bulkheads dividing up the interior.
8:20: Yes, the promo videos shown repeatedly on Channel 6 show sleek, aerodynamic vehicles like subways or monorails. The fair bus looked like a bus.
8:32: That may be how it's described on paper, but in practice, it is one continuous passenger interior divided by bulkheads.
"it is one continuous passenger interior divided by bulkheads."
Yes, continuous, and much longer than the individual metro rail cars because of the open gangways. Only you can keep finding clouds behind silver linings.
How was the BRT vehicle not "sleek" or "aerodynamic" like the vehicle "shown repeatedly on Channel 6"?
In the video they indicated it will be the longest light rail vehicle in North America, with five modules, and can accommodate up to 435 people. I agree that what you are seeing in the video is the bulkheads are required between modules. The fact that it is one continuous gangway allows people to move from module to module to sit or stand.
Not the best presentation of the vehicle interior though...
Yes, "module" or "segment" is a more precise term than "cars" for describing the sections of the Purple Line trains. The articulations enable the trains to run along tighter curves than heavy rail trains.
That said, the continuous passenger compartment in a Purple Line train is twice as long as that in a Metrorail car.
This has to be the most nonsensical post that I've read yet on this blog. The cars are standard, 'off the shelf' CAF LRVs used in many other cities from Cinicinatti to Houston. They are the exact same width as virtually every other light rail car in the US.
The major difference is that they have open gangways, which will allow riders to easily walk the entire length of the train and spread out. Bulkheads between the modules are necessary for structural integrity.
Looking forward to it!
Are those the only words you know Roald?
Hush your mouth. Don’t you get it? Robert knows more about public transportation than anybody
Using Dyer's logic I will point out that his car is much more "narrow, cramped and claustrophobic" than the Purple Line train sets.
True. However he is probably alone in his car and in a train he might be sitting next to Soy Boys or members of the ‘cartel’. Scary
"Promotional video...A video released by the state of Maryland"
So, why don't you more precisely cite the source of the video, or even better, actually link to it, so you don't get accused of plagiarism and fabrication once again.
This is just standard light-rail rolling stock from CAF, which is a Spanish manufacturer and not some MOCO conspiracy to develop a custom compact railcar solution to cut costs (which is illogical, not sure where you were going with that).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAF_Urbos
"so you don't get accused of plagiarism and fabrication once again"
Sounds like the other local blogs, radio/TV stations and magazines in their constant theft of Dyer's reporting without attribution.
Wonder if Dyer will be eating BBQ Glazed Tenders on his first purple line ride?
10:58am right there with the Washington Post who now covers everything fast food :)
Reminder:
"The Purple Line is near death."
-Robert Dyer, May 2017
http://robertdyer.blogspot.com/2017/05/judge-not-intimidated-by-trump-style.html
Just think, in another decade, you'll be able to board one of those nice trains at the new Westbard/Moses Memorial station, and go east to Bethesda, downtown Silver Spring, or even to U-MD to get a worthwhile degree...and west to Sumner Place and Tysons, and a transfer to Dulles!
12:23 PM
Hey keep this quiet! The west expansion of the Purple Line to Westbard and Sumner Place is a SECRET according to Robert.
You white people are the most interesting part about living in MoCo.
Hey- serious question. I realize that the “secret purple line extension to Westbard” doesn’t actually exist on paper yet, but I’ve been thinking about the terrible intersection in front of Barnes and noble and wondering why they didn’t fix it when they closed the streets to build. Maybe they left it that way to accommodate the future extension to Westbard? Why else would they leave it like that?
5:59 PM Wonderful misaligned intersection
5:59: I think you are correct.
The intersection of Woodmont and Bethesda Avenues will be rebuilt this fall with much less vehicular pavement, separated bike lanes, additional landscaping and street trees, tighter turning radii for vehicles and possibly some special paving to help it feel like extension of the proposed Capital Crescent Civic Green, and to slow traffic.
The Downtown Sector Plan and Design Guidelines suggested that when it is rebuilt, to add the bike lanes, and the curbs are reduced, the intersection itself should have special paving like stamped concrete or brick pavers.
The Capital Crescent Civic Green will not be built until the Purple Line construction stage area is removed, but planning for the plaza is funded for 2020, so the public process should start next year. A good chance for interested residents and stakeholders to help build consensus and inform the design process of this important open space.
Thanks for the info!
That intersection is insane as is. I'm surprised it's been allowed for several years.
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