beautifulplanet
Lead Service Attendant
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2014
- Messages
- 337
Hello everyone,
in order to improve ridership numbers on commuter rail systems, it seems that offering a lot of passenger amenities and increasing comfort is helpful, still at the same time to also offer an aesthetically pleasing experience.
Many people seem to notice that US commuter rail systems, even newly delivered trainsets, don't feature a very attractive design.
I hope it's OK to also include pics to illustrate the matter, when linking to their respective source.
RTD commuter rail Airport Line EMUs by Hyundai Rotem interior:
source: http://denvertransitpartners.com/whats-new/
RTD commuter rail Airport Line EMUs by Hyundai Rotem interior:
source: http://www.rtd-fastracks.com/ep3_17
It seems so wonderful that Denver decided on EMU technology for their brandnew commuter services, including the line to the airport. It's so great to see that also in the USA still these investments into public transportation do happen. And EMUs will provide fast acceleration and a smooth and quiet ride (especially with that all-new track).
But what about that design? The exterior looks very boxy, which surely doesn't improve aerodynamics, while the color choice with the stainless steel silver look is just accompanied with one single blue stripe along the side of the cars. That probably doesn't appear like someone really spent too much effort on exterior design when all they came up with, so that the cars don't remain in their "naked" all-steel appearance, is that one blue stripe. It seems like an opportunity not used, that the brandnew trainsets were not created in a way that seems more visually appealing.
And the interior appears - while brandnew - not especially beautiful or comfortable as well. It looks like there are no individual seats for all the individual passengers, but merely 2-seat or 3-seat benches. It seems like the backrests are completely flat, unlike individual seats which would have curved backrests, to provide more support and comfort. And choosing a 3-seat-configuration on one side of the aisle surely will increase capacity, still RTD chose to ignore the experiences of commuter rail systems on the east coast (Metro North) and elsewhere, where the middle seat is mostly left empty as it appears to be uncomfortable for passengers to be cramped into the middle of two other passengers, especially in case they are strangers. It's wonderful to see a new emphasis on design also in US public transportation f.e. with it comes to the new BART cars and their exterior and interior design (though BART is rapid transit, not commuter rail), still this commuter rail example unfortunately doesn't seem to follow BART's trend. This could have an especially big impact for Denver as these cars will be one of the first things of Denver that a lot of visitors will see who arrive at the airport and use public transportation to come to town. Featuring beautiful design and a comfortable interior these trainsets could have been a moving billboard for the city of Denver, a beautiful first impression, while now visitors will of course just be happy to find very efficient public transportation when they arrive in the first place (which won't even exist like that in lots of other places in the US), still at the same time in the best possible case just don't perceive the visual appearance.
Another similar example would be SEPTA's recently delivered Silverliner V series:
Septa Silverliner V exterior:
source: http://planphilly.com/articles/2013/03/21/long-awaited-silverliner-v-contract-complete
Septa Silverliner V interior:
source: http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/component/flexicontent/item/31279-14tmsepta
Compare that to modern and aesthetically appealing EMUs like Stadler Kiss, Siemens Desiro, Bombadier Twindexx or Alstom Coradis (in the next post within this thread).
in order to improve ridership numbers on commuter rail systems, it seems that offering a lot of passenger amenities and increasing comfort is helpful, still at the same time to also offer an aesthetically pleasing experience.
Many people seem to notice that US commuter rail systems, even newly delivered trainsets, don't feature a very attractive design.
I hope it's OK to also include pics to illustrate the matter, when linking to their respective source.
RTD commuter rail Airport Line EMUs by Hyundai Rotem interior:
source: http://denvertransitpartners.com/whats-new/
RTD commuter rail Airport Line EMUs by Hyundai Rotem interior:
source: http://www.rtd-fastracks.com/ep3_17
It seems so wonderful that Denver decided on EMU technology for their brandnew commuter services, including the line to the airport. It's so great to see that also in the USA still these investments into public transportation do happen. And EMUs will provide fast acceleration and a smooth and quiet ride (especially with that all-new track).
But what about that design? The exterior looks very boxy, which surely doesn't improve aerodynamics, while the color choice with the stainless steel silver look is just accompanied with one single blue stripe along the side of the cars. That probably doesn't appear like someone really spent too much effort on exterior design when all they came up with, so that the cars don't remain in their "naked" all-steel appearance, is that one blue stripe. It seems like an opportunity not used, that the brandnew trainsets were not created in a way that seems more visually appealing.
And the interior appears - while brandnew - not especially beautiful or comfortable as well. It looks like there are no individual seats for all the individual passengers, but merely 2-seat or 3-seat benches. It seems like the backrests are completely flat, unlike individual seats which would have curved backrests, to provide more support and comfort. And choosing a 3-seat-configuration on one side of the aisle surely will increase capacity, still RTD chose to ignore the experiences of commuter rail systems on the east coast (Metro North) and elsewhere, where the middle seat is mostly left empty as it appears to be uncomfortable for passengers to be cramped into the middle of two other passengers, especially in case they are strangers. It's wonderful to see a new emphasis on design also in US public transportation f.e. with it comes to the new BART cars and their exterior and interior design (though BART is rapid transit, not commuter rail), still this commuter rail example unfortunately doesn't seem to follow BART's trend. This could have an especially big impact for Denver as these cars will be one of the first things of Denver that a lot of visitors will see who arrive at the airport and use public transportation to come to town. Featuring beautiful design and a comfortable interior these trainsets could have been a moving billboard for the city of Denver, a beautiful first impression, while now visitors will of course just be happy to find very efficient public transportation when they arrive in the first place (which won't even exist like that in lots of other places in the US), still at the same time in the best possible case just don't perceive the visual appearance.
Another similar example would be SEPTA's recently delivered Silverliner V series:
Septa Silverliner V exterior:
source: http://planphilly.com/articles/2013/03/21/long-awaited-silverliner-v-contract-complete
Septa Silverliner V interior:
source: http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/component/flexicontent/item/31279-14tmsepta
Compare that to modern and aesthetically appealing EMUs like Stadler Kiss, Siemens Desiro, Bombadier Twindexx or Alstom Coradis (in the next post within this thread).
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