O chestie interesanta pe care am gasit-o pe transphoto.ru si anume ca:
Exista o linie de tip tramvai-tren care face legatura intre Chicago si aeroportul orasului South Bend(Statul Indiana). Initial pe acolo circulau tramvaie normale iar acuma au recurs la acest "supertramvai".
Si o poza facuta in Michigan City(statul Indiana)






O sa ma mai documentez ce s-a intamplat pe acolo si cum au recurs la ideea asta.

Bibliografie - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interurbans

Este ceea ce ei numesc "interurbans". Erau un fel de tramvaie suburbane/interubane, doar ca vitezele erau mai mari, vagoanele erau mai solide si mai apropiate de ceea ce noi numim acum EMU. In localitati linia era pe strazi, in afara lor era cale dedicata.

Companiile de interubane operau si trenuri de marfa cu locomotive electrice.

Dupa al doilea razboi mondial, automobilele au luat locul transportului public si aproape toate companiile de interurbane au dat faliment.

Linia South Shore este o fosta linie de interurbane, iar intre timp a fost facuta mai "heavy rail" cu aceste vagoane. Este in plan inlocuirea ultimelor segmente de linie de pe strazi cu alt aliniament propriu.


Video din anii 70 cu comentariu - fostele vagoane de "tramvai" facute in anii '27-'29





P.S exista o intreaga paleta de sisteme de transport pe sina intre ceea ce noi consideram tramvai, metrou si tren...

Aham...mersi de raspunsuri....oricum mi-a placut mult de tot poza....acuma ma gandesc poate ne-ar trebuie si noua sa circule din astea vreo o saptamana...poate poate ii speriem pe bizoniii bucurestiului cand vad ca vine peste ei o matahala de tren cu 2 etaje

Da, da, daaaaaaa    

Harta metroului (Chicago 'L') http://urbanrail.net/am/chic/chicago-map.htm

Cab views oficiale:

Blue line - spre aeroportul O'Hare: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6xJFpPY_7s (real time*); https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5f1HnYIoG8 (accelerat)
Blue line - spre Forest Park: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWj3YetNJM4 (real time*); https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k43egoTyi1I (accelerat)

Red line - spre Howard: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQ7oTzKTJpY (real time*); https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPeco8tW7Tc (accelerat)
Red line - spre 95th/Dan Ryan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoLTf7Yamzo (real time*); https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5ZYZrrj2IA (accelerat)

Green line - Harlem/Lake->Garfield: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGKSNvcO2VI (real time*)
Green line - ramura Garfield->Cottage Grove: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqMH6eMO-6Y (real time*)
Green line - ramura Garfield->Ashland/63rd: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KK5YH5Kwshg (real time*)
Green line - Harlem/Lake spre Cottage Grove si Ashland/63rd: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eC_BBGY9XOE (accelerat)
Green line - ramura Cottage Grove->Garfield: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Z49yrl5G2Q (real time*)
Green line - ramura Ashland/63rd->Garfield: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEDho3XlN6M (real time*)
Green line - Garfield->Harlem/Lake: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ec0RRd88nN0 (real time*)
Green line Cottage Grove si Ashland/63rd spre Harlem/Lake: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9Th-wX3lMY (accelerat)

Orange line - aeroportul Midway->Loop->aeroportul Midway: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_r8nFIuBRQA (real time*); https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EE8RwngJDF0 (accelerat)

Pink line - 54th/Cermak->Loop->54th/Cermak: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0zZlij52oc (real time*); https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97ukjzWVVQk (accelerat)

Brown line - Kimball->Loop->Kimball: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJzhNPKtR0Q (real time*); https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wsmXP5Cp2o (accelerat)

Purple line spre Linden: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-GkHVNwhY0 (real time*); https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQNHMIs2b4s (accelerat)
Purple line spre Howard: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctQkoQ_F7C4 (real time*); https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_5TDHOIzII (accelerat)

Yellow line spre Dempster-Skokie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtHZgaFXAws (real time*); https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hg5gjaRrzyk (accelerat)
Yellow line spre Howard: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdkW1cpHpn0 (real time*); https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4R1xzEwm2Ms (accelerat)

real time* - opririle in statii sunt accelerate

M-am plimbat și eu cu Blue Line astăzi. Pe youtube, desigur  
Forest Park - aeroportul O'Hare.
Gorund, underground, elevated.



Studiind harta am remarcat un detaliu interesant - există stații cu același nume pe linii diferite. Și chiar pe aceeași linie    (de exemplu Western, pe Blue line).
Deci, atenție mărită!
Filmul permite și transferul între linii (min. 28.00), deci enjoy it!

18 March 2021 – Alstom has received an initial order from Metra, the commuter rail system in the Chicago metropolitan area serving the city of Chicago and surrounding suburbs, to supply 200 push-pull commuter rail cars. This follows Metra Board of Directors’ approval in January 2021 to award Alstom a vehicle procurement contract for up to 500 rail cars. This initial order of 200 rail cars is worth approximately €650 million.

“Alstom is pleased to have been selected by Metra to provide the latest in multilevel car design,” said Jérôme Wallut, President, Alstom Americas. “Alstom continues to invest and support investment in U.S. railroad infrastructure, and these new cars will allow Metra to extract maximum value from their fleet investments by increasing fleet reliability, enhancing overall passenger experience and ensuring maximum accessibility for all passengers.”

The multilevel cars incorporate new design features to improve passenger experience, including: a streamlined, modern and welcoming interior, equipped with USB plugs and boasting large windows and a layout to improve passenger flow and traveller comfort; seating and spacing to allow for additional ridership and physical distancing; touchless doors; improved bogie design for improved ride quality; and multiple wide doors on each side of the cars to reduce passenger boarding times and improve access to passenger areas.

The new cars will also meet all Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and accessibility requirements, including the addition of wheelchair lifts on each side of the vehicles. Fleet reliability will be enhanced through modern, service-proven components and enhanced maintenance and diagnostic system capabilities that will allow Metra to have greater visibility on fleet operational performance and increase fleet availability. Moreover, the new eco-designed cars will be energy efficient, boasting improvements and developments such as full LED lighting and climate control regulation based on passenger load. The new rail cars will also be 90% recyclable.

The new cars will be built at Alstom’s rolling stock Centre of Excellence, and North America’s largest rolling stock manufacturing facility in Hornell, New York. The Alstom Hornell site will lead the project. Other Alstom sites will support the project including, Rochester, New York, for the automatic train control system.

Since Metra’s inception in 1984, Alstom and its predecessor companies have supported Metra in its endeavours to deliver safe, reliable, and timely passenger service to millions of riders over 11 routes totalling nearly 500 route miles and approximately 1,200 miles of track and over 240 stations throughout the greater Chicagoland area. Today, Metra relies on Alstom technologies for its signalling & train control systems, and Alstom continues to support Metra in its focus on implementing signalling and wayside data analytics solutions that will continue to deliver the highest level of safety service to customers. In addition, Alstom has been Metra’s wheel supplier since 2013, and won a contract in July 2020 to provide up to 50 overhaul kits with spare parts for Metra’s locomotive overhaul program.

Alstom is a mobility technology leader in the U.S., with a history dating back more than 160 years, steeped in experience building and repairing rail cars and locomotives, and in supplying signalling solutions for America’s great cities and agencies, such as New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Boston, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Atlanta, New Jersey Transit, Caltrans, and Amtrak, as well as America’s freight railroads. To date, Alstom has delivered more than 7,000 new or renovated vehicles, more than 8,000 traction cases, and more than 50% of signalling for North America’s rail network.

Sursa: Alstom

Metra, the commuter rail operator in Chicago metropolitan area, and the officials of Woodstock and McHenry County have celebrated the completion of the rehabilitation of Woodstock station, a Metra station in downtown Woodstock.

The station was put into operation in 1915 and needed rehabilitation works to provide passengers attractive, safe and accessible services and spaces “that should serve the community for many years. Metra was happy to partner with the city of Woodstock to bring this much-needed project to fruition,” Metra Board Chairman Romayne Brown said.

The USD 250,000 project was funded by Metra and overseen by the city, and was the first major rehabilitation of the 2,100-square-foot building in more than 25 years.

“The city of Woodstock is deeply grateful for Metra’s continued support in improving transit facilities and service for Woodstock’s growing number of residents and visitors. We look forward to further collaborating on planned projects, including a new warming shelter and maintenance rail yard that will increase ridership for Metra while offering enhanced convenience and safety for the Woodstock community,” Woodstock Mayor Brian Sager said.

Work was performed on the interior and exterior of the Woodstock station. The HVAC system, fire alarm and water heater were replaced, and the bathrooms were repaired. The project also included the replacement of the station’s roof, gutters, and downspouts, as well as tuckpointing and painting all the exterior trim. A limestone cladding was also added to the station’s exterior, and the concrete walkways surrounding the building were replaced to improve ADA accessibility and drainage.

“These train station improvements will help solidify Woodstock’s position as a destination site for tourists and a welcoming location for those who wish to relocate to the area. Real Woodstock and the city of Woodstock have worked hard to establish this brand, and these Metra station upgrades will enhance positive first impressions of this wonderful city and area,” State Senator Craig Wilcox said.

Sursa: Railway Pro

Evoluția faimosului "L":

Evoluția rețelei de trenuri de navetiști din Chicago:

Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) se confruntă, lunar, cu mii de curse de autobuz anulate din cauza lipsei de personal. Un reportaj interesant pe această temă:

Trafic de oră de vârf pe una dintre cele mai aglomerate joncțiuni din rețeaua "L":

Randări cu viitoarele automotoare Stadler ce vor fi livrate către METRA:

Despre cum primaria orasului Chicago a facut una dintre cele mai mari greseli si a semnat cel mai prost contract de parteneriat public privat posibil, oferind unei companii private drepturi depline asupra tuturor locurilor de parcare dotate cu parcometre din oras ...pentru o durata de 75 de ani.

Timp de 75 de ani primaria nu poate reduce numarul parcarilor de la bordura (fara a compensa financiar compania privata sau fara a le reloca in alta parte). Cand sa implementeze 20 de benzi BUS in oras, primaria si-a dat seama ca nu isi permite economic sa despagubeasca compania privata pentru miile de parcometre ce urmau a fi desfiintate. Iar evenimentele de tip strazi deschise pietonilor costa primaria bani buni pentru a compensa durata in care masinile nu pot parca acolo. Primaria a devenit din proprietar al strazilor, doar un chirias.

Cred ca este unul dintre cele mai absurde cazuri de genul pe care le-am auzit. Contractul de aprox. 150 de pagini pentru 75 de ani a fost pus la dispozitia consiliului local cu doar 2 zile inaintea votului final, iar cand consilierii locali au protestat, primarul a insistat sa voteze proiectul sau sa-si asume faptul ca primaria urma sa piarda banii din contract. Mai mult de atat, intreaga suma primita de primarie a fost cheltuita in doar 3 ani - asta este motivul pentru care sunt impotriva unor propuneri aberante precum vanzarea Depoului Victoria sau a URAC ("vai, dar cati bani va lua PMB").