Kinki Sharyo SLRV

Kinki Sharyo SLRV
Manufacturer Kinki Sharyo
Entered service 2010
Number built 163
Capacity 94 passengers (seated), 274 (crush load) per car[1]
Operator(s) DART
Specifications
Car body construction Low alloy high tensile steel
Train length 494 ft (150.57 m)
over couplers (four articulated cars coupled together;
maximum train length)
Car length 123 ft 8 in (37.69 m)[1]
over couplers. The length of a three-section, articulated car
Width 8.83 ft (2.69 m)[1]
Height 12.9 ft (3.93 m)[1]
Floor height Low floor: 16 in (40.64 cm)
High floor: 39.5 in (100.33 cm)
Entry Level boarding and steps
Doors Sliding pocket type; 6 per side
Articulated sections 3; designated A, B and C
Wheelbase Motor: 84 in (213.4 cm)
Trailer: 70 in (177.8 cm)
Maximum speed 70 mph (110 km/h)
Acceleration 2.3 mph/s (3.4 ft/s2; 1.0 m/s2)
Deceleration 3 mph/s (4.4 ft/s2; 1.3 m/s2)
Train heating Yes
Electric system(s) 750 V DC catenary
Current collection method Pantograph
Notes
[2]

The Kinki Sharyo Super Light Rail Vehicle (SLRV) is a light rail vehicle manufactured by Kinki Sharyo, operated by Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), and modified jointly by the two companies.[3][4]

Description

The SLRVs are longer and can accommodate more passengers than the Kinki Sharyo-built vehicles from which they were developed, known by DART as its standard Light Rail Vehicles (LRVs),[3] which had been operated by DART Light Rail since it began service in June 1996.[5] DART's original LRVs were built as articulated, two-section cars with operator cabs at both ends.[4]

The SLRVs were designed to both increase passenger capacity and to improve the accessibility of DART's light rail system.[6] Each three-section, articulated SLRV measures 123.5 ft (37.64 m) over couplers, while the maximum train length is four articulated cars coupled together, measuring 494 ft (150.57 m) over couplers in total.[2] An individual SLRV is 31 feet (9.4 m) longer and 33,000 pounds (15,000 kg) heavier than the standard LRVs from which they were developed, which were each 92 feet 8 inches (28.24 m) in length and weighed 107,000 pounds (49,000 kg).[3] The SLRVs have a maximum speed of 70 mph (110 km/h) and can accelerate at a rate of 2.3 mph/s (3.4 ft/s2; 1.0 m/s2).[2]

Partnership

Working in partnership, DART and Kinki Sharyo created the SLRVs by separating the existing two-section LRVs at their articulation joints and inserting an entirely new section in between,[3][7] thereby rendering them three-section vehicles.[8] The resulting SLRVs are double-articulated, eight-axle cars, in comparison to the single-articulated, six-axle design of the original LRVs.[5] Each SLRV seats 98 passengers and can accommodate roughly 100 more standing passengers, which allows it to accommodate approximately 25 more seated people (and roughly 50 more overall) than a standard, two-section LRV.[2][3]

The middle section, variously called "Body C",[4] "C Unit", or "C Car",[9] has a low floor and provides step-free access to the SLRV.[9] It was designed primarily to allow passengers in wheelchairs,[9] as well as those with strollers and bicycles, to embark and disembark more quickly and safely.[3][4] Each SLRV middle section is also equipped with a bicycle rack.[4]

Prototype

In 2002, the prototype SLRV, car #170, began operating on DART's Blue Line. On June 23, 2008, car #151 became the first SLRV to enter revenue service. DART converted all 115 of its LRVs into SLRVs at a total cost of approximately $190 million,[3] which was more cost effective than buying entirely new light rail vehicles.[3][7] G. James Morgan of LTK Engineering Services estimated that DART saved over $50 million by converting its LRVs instead of buying new accessible vehicles.[5]

Conversion of an individual LRV into an SLRV took roughly five weeks,[3][5] with a sixth week for inspection and testing and the vehicle in main line operation by the next week.[5] By March 2010, 84 of DART's 115 LRVs had been converted into SLRVs,[5] and by August 2014, DART was operating a total of 163 SLRVs: all 115 converted LRVs in addition to 48 new vehicles.[2][8]

DART also modified its light rail platforms between 2007 and 2010 to accommodate the greater overall length and low-floor middle sections of the SLRVs.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Dallas Area Rapid Transit Reference Book" (PDF). Dallas Area Rapid Transit. March 2018. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Dallas-Dallas Area Rapid Transit Technical Data" (PDF). Kinkisharyo International, LLC. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 15, 2016. Retrieved March 19, 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Super Light Rail Vehicles (SLRV) Facts". Dallas Area Rapid Transit. October 29, 2010. Retrieved June 5, 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Nakazawa, Akihisa. "DART: Dallas Area Rapid Transit" (PDF). Kinkisharyo International, LLC. Retrieved June 5, 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Morgan, G. James. "DART Super Light Rail Vehicles Low Floor Center Section: The Final "Successful" Chapter" (PDF). LTK Engineering Services. Retrieved June 5, 2016.
  6. "Success Stories: Dallas Area Rapid Transit". Kinkisharyo International, LLC. Retrieved June 5, 2016.
  7. 1 2 3 Lew, Alexander (June 25, 2008). "Dallas Introduces "Super Light Rail Vehicles"". Wired. Retrieved June 5, 2016.
  8. 1 2 Dixon, Scott (August 24, 2014). "Japanese companies ride U.S. light rail boom". The Japan Times. Retrieved June 5, 2016.
  9. 1 2 3 Latham, Garl (2006). "Rapidly Improving Transportation". Progressive Engineer. Archived from the original on January 26, 2015. Retrieved June 5, 2016.
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