TrainFanatic Posted May 3, 2010 Share #1 Posted May 3, 2010 Five years after a Metrolink crash killed 11 people, the agency today will unveil its $230 million fleet of railcars designed to crumple and protect passengers during a crash.The 117 new railcars are designed to increase passenger safety, especially when locomotives are pushing trains. While the practice helps save time and money by eliminating the need to move locomotives to rear, it puts passenger cars at the head of the train in one direction. Metrolink's new railcars have a box at the front that is designed to crumple and absorb energy in a crash. All of the seats in the double-deck railcars face to the rear, making the ride safer for patrons. The new railcars are the product of years of research by the Federal Railroad Administration and include redesigned seating, improved emergency exits, fire retardant materials and anti-derailment wheels and suspensions. The new railcars will be used throughout trains, not just as lead cars, Metrolink said. Their use could cut fatalities by 75 percent in a 35 mph crash, federal officials estimated. The rail agency began evaluating new designs after 11 people were killed when a Metrolink train hit a Jeep a man deliberately left on the tracks in Glendale. Juan Manuel Alvarez was convicted of 11 counts of murder in the case and is serving 11 life sentences. Another Metrolink crash in September 2008 killed 25 people in Chatsworth when an engineer ran a red light while sending a text message, and the train collided head-on with a freight train. The locomotive was pushing the Metrolink train in that accident. http://www.dailynews.com/search/ci_15006697?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forest Glen Posted May 4, 2010 Share #2 Posted May 4, 2010 Thanks for the article. I found an article with a picture: http://www.scpr.org/news/2010/05/03/metrolink-unveils-fleet-new-safer-passenger-cars/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrainFanatic Posted May 4, 2010 Author Share #3 Posted May 4, 2010 Thanks for the article. I found an article with a picture: http://www.scpr.org/news/2010/05/03/metrolink-unveils-fleet-new-safer-passenger-cars/ No prob. Thanks for the pic because I was really wondering how these cars looked. IMO the front design is ok, but other than that it looks great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St Louis Car 09 Posted May 8, 2010 Share #4 Posted May 8, 2010 Hyundai does it again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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