Re: Melb.Australia Rolling stock

["Exnarc" <gwrly@netspace.net.au>]

Roderick Smith <rodsmith@werple.net.au> wrote in message
01bed2a1$37d49980$402e11cb@rodsmith">news:01bed2a1$37d49980$402e11cb@rodsmith...
> This was always conventional wisdom, and slow loading is more critical in
> Melbourne (which has stations more closely spaced than in Sydney).
> However, I have yet to see any evidence of this when travelling on
> Melbourne's dd set (which runs on my line).
> One reason for adopting dd trains would be to permit all trains on the
> various routes to run via the loop, instead of the peculiar hybrid service
> in use since the loop was opened.
> The latest RER dd trains in Paris have three doors per carriage.
> Given the dd emus have electrical equipment shared over two vehicles, a
> logical design would be to build in articulated pairs (two bodies on three
> bogies), allowing an increase in the double-deck section, and hence
> capacity.
>
> I have the figures somewhere for a Netherlands trial of dd
> loading/unloading, done on a mockup before creating a fleet.  The critical
> factor was not the width of doorways, but the width of access stairways
> from the mezzanine level to the upper & lower levels.
>
> Since I first started researching dd sets, most European capitals have
> adopted them for urban traffic; many now with dd emus (others with
> loco-worked push-pull sets).
> --
> Regards
> Roderick Smith
> Rail News Victoria Editor
>
Rod,
As I mentioned in my mailing, I don't agree with the arguement against DD's,
I'm sure there are ways around the 2 door problem, however loading times are
critical during peak times, the various operators have a contract to
maintain on time performance and I can assure you, this is very hard to do
during the peak, particulaly where school kids are concerned. (The private
school being the worst).

But I imagine that in these times approaching take over of Hillside and
Bayside (about 4 to 6 weeks away) the new owners will have these issues at
the front of their minds when considering the new equipment they are
required (by law) to purchase.

Bob.