MBTA general manager rallies Philly workers building new commuter coaches

By adamg on Mon, 03/25/2013 - 3:28pm

GM Beverly Scott in Hyundai-Rotem plant. Photo by MBTA.

"We're all in this together," Scott told workers at the plant in Philadelphia today.

According to the T, Scott "stressed the importance of MBTA staff and the Hyundai-Rotem team working cooperatively to step up the pace of production. The company is now more than two years late in delivering two-level coaches that will let the T expand capacity on its commuter-rail lines. The T says the first three of the new coaches, delivered last November, should go into service next month.

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The T

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Commuter rail

Beverly Scott

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Comments

eye roll

By anon on Mon, 03/25/2013 - 3:35pm.

*eye roll*

When they say there are 75

By Framingham-line commuter on Mon, 03/25/2013 - 3:45pm.

When they say there are 75 coaches on order, that means it's good for an additional 12.5 trains (6 coaches per train) right? Also, I noticed most of the trains have 4 double-coaches and 2 single-coaches. Will these new coaches allow the train to have 6 double-coaches or is there a reason the coaches are linked up in the configuration as follows:
train-single-single-double-double-double-double

these coaches will replace

By anon on Mon, 03/25/2013 - 6:29pm.

these coaches will replace the existing coaching that have fleet numbers starting with 5 and 15 (e.g. 503, 1517)

The car types are completely

By Austin on Mon, 03/25/2013 - 8:24pm.

The car types are completely interchangeable; they try to match the number of seats (and therefore, the number of cars) to the expected passenger load but don't always succeed.

The only general requirement when making up a trainset is that a 1000-series car (e.g., 1505, 1703, 1901) is at the opposite end from the locomotive, as these are the only cars that have cab controls to operate the train (referred to as "CTC" in MBTA-speak, for "control trailer coach"; the cars with three digit numbers do not have controls, and are referred to as "BTC" for "blind trailer coach"). There can be more than one CTC in a train, with all but the end car serving the same role as the BTCs.

I believe that the early deliveries are almost all going to end up working on lines out of North Station, where they have almost exclusively single-level (and therefore older) equipment. Only once they have enough capacity will those of us on the south side start seeing more doubles on our trains.

No 1900 series cars

By Cleary Squared on Tue, 03/26/2013 - 9:01am.

The control cars are the 1500s, 1600s and 1700s. When the 900 series coaches were delivered, there were no 1900 series control cars.

Thanks, that good laugh I

By Grouchy on Mon, 03/25/2013 - 3:54pm.

Thanks, that good laugh I just had brightened my day.

Having heard her speak at the

By anon on Mon, 03/25/2013 - 4:16pm.

Having heard her speak at the WalkBoston event last week I have no doubt she connected and got them encouraged, she is a very good speaker (can get onto tangents) but connects and works with her audience very effectively. How much that effort will translate into faster coaches, who knows but heck it really can't hurt at this point.

On the bi-level single level configuration, I think they only have a limited number of Bi-level "cab" cars that allow the train to be run from the non engine end, so they hook up one or more single levels to achieve this. There is also the weight issue with the older engines in that they seemingly can't run more than 6 bi-levels, which is may be why you will sometimes see 7 or 8 single car trains but I think never more than 6 bi-levels. Oh course I could be very wrong there and I am in no way "in the know" regarding this :)

All I am saying is the Newburyport/Rockport line better be getting some of those bi-levels.