superbad wrote:aren't these the same cars they have in austin?
Yes, and no.
Yes, they will be Stadler GTW 2/6.
No, they will be more FRA compliant upon delivery to the DCTA.
From
http://www.nctcog.org/trans/spd/transit ... tation.pdf
A. Will also be a non-compliant vehicle
B. Freight and passenger service will be time separate
C. Vehicle addresses a number of FRA non-compliance issues of the Austin vehicle.
a. Compliant interior and exterior decals;
b. Additional passenger side door handholds;
c. Structural fuel tank enhancements;
d. USA-standard emergency window type (pullout type not the breakable type);
e. Provision of solid axles;
f. Deflector shield and pilot lowered; and
g. FRA compliant headlight and marker lights.
Remaining FRA challenges
Evaluating Occupant Volume Strength
A. At a minimum, must satisfy the significant requirement of 49 CFR §238.203 which provides:
a.“. . . all passenger equipment shall resist a minimum static end load of 800,000 pounds applied on the line of draft without permanent deformation of the body structure.”
aa. Traditional: 800,000 pounds load applied as distributed pressure at buff stops (represents compressive load applied through coupled connection)
bb. Alternate: Distributed load of 1,000,000 pounds across outer buffer beam face and 200,000 pounds across outer AT plate face (represents load applied across car end)
B. Must prove that all FRA requirements are met through testing and perhaps waiver process if required.
European/Stadler Solutions for Occupant Protection
A. Aluminum double skin extrusion
B. Fully welded side frame, roof, floor
C. Buff >1,000,000 lbs in passenger compartment
D. Dynamic rollover strength
E. Employs Crash Energy Management EN15227
a. Four crash scenarios
b. Survival zones
The main problem with the present FRA complaint regulations is that they don't even consider crash energy management crumple zones at all. DART plans to work hard to get the FRA to adopt crash energy management regulations, and eventually get the Stadler GTW certified as FRA compliant.