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| Re: PHOTOS: first day of Denver RTD B Train (1403898) | |||
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Re: PHOTOS: first day of Denver RTD B Train |
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Posted by Henry R32 #3730 on Sat Jul 30 18:05:41 2016, in response to Re: PHOTOS: first day of Denver RTD B Train, posted by TransitChuckG on Sat Jul 30 09:12:11 2016. I'm sure Denver appreciates the sacrifice SEPTA made so that their version would have the bugs worked out :).Just rode RTD today (free rides until 10PM!), I gotta say they do 90% of their operation better than SEPTA (not always SEPTA's fault). A few things I noticed: 1. All high platform, 95% dedicated ROW so freight cannot interfere. 2. Trains (on the A line) run every 15 minutes, so it seems no one bothers to look at a schedule, they just show up and wait like we would a subway 3. Same fare system as buses and light rail, so a day pass purchase on a bus is good for the commuter rail. My understanding is the $5.20 day pass is good for anywhere except express buses and the airport station. 4. OPTO (don't know how they managed to pull that off) 5. All cars open all the time (whether the train is 2 or 4 cars) 6. One stop is IN a freight yard. Purely a railfan perk but a nice one. 7. 2x2 seating in the middle section of the car. End section is 3x2 as you would expect. However another interesting choice in arrangement, all end section seats face the A end of the car. This means there are significantly more forward facing seats in the 1st and 3rd car of the train, and significantly fewer in the 2nd and 4th. 8. As a Starwood hotel frequent traveler, I appreciate that the airport station is basically in the Westin hotel lobby. A few lucky rooms are directly over the trackway. Because the Westin maintains the station bathroom, it is immaculate. 9. At Denver Union Station, the tracks are arranged interestingly: -Tracks 1, 2, and 7 are full length, high platform electrified -Tracks 3, 6, and 8 are 2-4 cars long, high platform electrified -Tracks 4 & 5 are extremely long, low platform unelectrified. There is a baggage platform between them. These tracks are essentially for the California Zephyr, and any other Amtrak service that might come by someday. The Zepher needs to wye into the station, as it is a stub end terminal. My two BIG complaints: 1. *Intentionally blocking all hope of any RFW* Their lines don't even go underground, no reason not to have a cab door like the M8 or Silverliner IV.... ah well. 2. *Full car ad wraps*. Not only that, they're on all cars of the train. However the system is so cheap, if it helps pay the bills I'm cool with that... |
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