Expanded vehicles on the HBLR

[mfs NJT459]

Apparently, we don't talk much about the light rail system in NJ Transit except maybe the River Line... but this is worth noting and fanning...

http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2013/07/nj_transit_unveils_expanded_vehicle_on_hudson-bergen_light_rail.html

official press release: http://www.njtransit.com/tm/tm_servlet.srv?hdnPageAction=PressReleaseTo&PRESS_RELEASE_ID=2879

im not sure if it is just the added seats, or Kinkisharyo International built the expanded car to go in the middle of the 2 other end cars

 

[pjbr40]

are they trying to expand the car by few inches like a limousine? i read this article but little lost. i also rode this once.just trying to piece this in my mind. 

[Fan Railer]

are they trying to expand the car by few inches like a limousine? i read this article but little lost. i also rode this once.just trying to piece this in my mind. 

No, not exactly. They're adding new sections to existing cars to lengthen them by 37 feet.

 

Current cars are composed of a short middle section sandwiched by two long sections:

 

(___-___)

 

They're seeking to add one long section and one short section to half the cars in the fleet, as such:

(___-___-___)

 

So in the future, you can see peak trains built like this (___-___-___)+(___-___).

 

This way, NJT can increase capacity without having to lengthen platforms to accommodate 3 car trains which look like this:

(___-___)+(___-___)+(___-___)

 

From what I gather from the not-too-clear information being provided, Kinki Sharyo did not recently manufacture the extension sections for the prototype, as the sections were part of the spare equipment pool, but should be involved in the production order for expansion sections for the main fleet. http://hoboken.patch.com/groups/business-news/p/expanded-light-rail-vehicle-unveiled-for-hudsonbergen-line

[Fan Railer]

Some visuals are provided in the latest edition of the Railway Age magazine:

http://issuu.com/railwayage/docs/september_2013_railway_age_magazine/1