Four and Eight car trains

[elwood p dowd]

I have posted before under different name but it would make a lot of sense to increase the number of cars on each train.

If three car units were four and six car units were eight then number of passengers carried would be greatly enhanced, I don`t know Robert if this could be achieved with the current units or whether new Trains could be ordered in the bigger configuration.

The shortage of train drivers and personnel might make this a good option, the longer trains could be utilized in peak periods and the current one used on lower patronized lines or out of peak, that is not to say that they would not all be needed in peak.

In peak it might be possible to run an eight car unit with a three car one following to mop up the overload.

Regards

David

[ozbob]

G'day Elwood,

7 car trains is part of the LNPs transport policy --> http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=1586.0

There are many problems with extending the present sets.  They are designed as 3 car units.  It is easy to run a 9 car train (or 12 for that matter) but except for a few stations there are issues.  Adding a trailer car to the present 3 car sets is probably going to overload in time the motors etc.  There are also signalling issues, and stations that have level crossings next to stations will cause problems with longer trains.

Personally if we ramp to 15 minutes off peak, better during peak it won't be necessary to extend trains. The 104 three car sets presently being rolled out will give a total of 70% capacity increase and a much higher frequency will be possible.

Cheers
Bob

[stephenk]

I have posted before under different name but it would make a lot of sense to increase the number of cars on each train.

If three car units were four and six car units were eight then number of passengers carried would be greatly enhanced, I don`t know Robert if this could be achieved with the current units or whether new Trains could be ordered in the bigger configuration.

The shortage of train drivers and personnel might make this a good option, the longer trains could be utilized in peak periods and the current one used on lower patronized lines or out of peak, that is not to say that they would not all be needed in peak.

In peak it might be possible to run an eight car unit with a three car one following to mop up the overload.

Regards

David

Extending trains would require platform extensions, which would be quite expensive, and may even be impossible at some locations. It would also require signalling alterations, and increase the platform reoccupation times (thus decreasing train frequency). Sidings would also have to be extended, which could be a problem at many locations including Mayne.

I would also doubt that older units could have cars added due to technological issues, thus only the newer SMU and IMUs could have new cars added.

Personally I think the money would be better spent on infrastructure improvements to improve train frequency and service relibility.

Edit: I should also note that a 4 car train would be a waste of track capacity. Once sufficient SMU trains have been delivered there should be no need for running anything less than a 6 car unit.

[elwood p dowd]

Thanks Bob and Stephen.

[O_128]

think of your current stationa nd how is is configured is it possible to extend and aso look where people get on at.eg at manly the majority of people get on at the area near the office which is about carrige 4 and 5 if the whole station were perhaps covered adn the station upgraded with more seating etc people will spread out.

[mufreight]

Sorry to rain on your parade Elwood but your proposal is more in keeping with what one would expect of carton character Elmer Fudd, a good idea but totally impractical, it is far more practical to train more crews and run more services than it is to increase train size and reconstruct the entire network to accomodate the longer train sets, longer train sets also will extend station dwell times thus effectively slowing services