I'm late to this but I agree about the about the Metrolink, HFLRT is an advantage that Manchester has over other British cities' tram networks (Sheffield and Nottingham are the best comparisons) and it's easily the most successful LRT in the UK. It's honestly kind of a shame that Manchester has this advantage and yet the system makes continuous mistakes, especially in regards to day-to-day operation and expansion; namely, the non-existent signal priority, park-and-ride obsession, regularly ordering old vehicle models and whatnot - but still has decent passenger numbers, honestly an interesting system to analyse on what it gets right and wrong.
Another example for your list is Tyneside Metro. Original vehicles have lasted 45 years, new stock from Stadler being delivered now. Interesting network, mix of former rail lines, multiple extensions, some mixed running with heavy rail, some deep bored tunnels.
I’ve gotten a liking to high floor LRT they are almost like light metro to actual metros too in their design. Seeing that in Manila LRT 1 & MRT 3 uses High floor light rail vehicles being derived from Charleroi “Metro” and Tatra K8TD5 Tram respectively. Being more used as a metro due to high hidership and elevated-underground grade separated right of way. Was mapping out and trying to plan how my small city (Regina) of 250k could possibly have a metro like elements with having high floor LRVs, possibly too running like Stadtbahn or just elevated railway on key corridors. Wondered if Ottawa’s O-Train opted for a high floor LRV, how would it fare differently or possibly better than what it has on the Confederation line at the moment.
Hannover uses HFLRT for their Stadtbahn. They started with HF tunnel stations, added HF-at-grade-stations for new lines and used foldable stairs for basic at-grade stations. Then they started to convert them all to HF stations and their latest trains don't even have the foldable stairs anymore.
Reece: Are you aware of any distance limitations on HFLRT, if it were to be used in place of regional rail? i.e Winnipeg/ Portage La Prairie/ Selkirk or Delisle/ Saskatoon/ Clavet/
Stops for low-floor trams (or high-floor trams with steps from ground level) don't need "a curb raised extra high". That may be desirable but it's not necessary. What you really need is a signpost at the curb. That's all. The tram stops, road traffic on the lanes between the tram and the curb is also required to stop, and passengers walk the short distance between curb and tram across the street. There are quite a few tram stops like that in Berlin. They are not ideal, and we are trying to get rid of them, but they are better than no stop at all!
I wonder if Ottawa had high floor LRT instead of what they have now, would it solve some of their problems? Maybe you can right an article on the main reason why Ottawa's LRT has some many problems.
This is reminds me of the Málaga "metro" (in Andalucía, southern Spain). It's definitely LRT, not really a metro, but a good portion of it is underground, and the above-ground stops also have dedicated stations with platforms. Why they choose Urbis 3 low-floor trams for this service is beyond me; it makes no sense.
BTW they seem to have opened the Atarazanas station now, so it's no longer running two lines as one as they did when I was there in 2022.
here is a documentary by the German public TV about how 9 additional trains are used to get people home from after a big concert, it shows not only the trains but also stations and operations center: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0bGREOTNFQ
Reece, you make a very compelling case for the stronger merits of HFLRTs. Personally, I prefer HFLRTs in any case because of the speed advantage. I mean, rapid transit has got be rapid (and frequent) to get Americans out of their cars. Interestingly, in the Calgary of the US, Dallas DART maybe has it both ways? At one point, I believe the Japanese-made train sets used were a mixed HF / LF (a section in the middle that is LF). Not sure if that is still the case. Cheers.
The Manchester Metrolink is a great example of how HFLRT can work.
Absolutely, an example I wanted to include in it!
I'm late to this but I agree about the about the Metrolink, HFLRT is an advantage that Manchester has over other British cities' tram networks (Sheffield and Nottingham are the best comparisons) and it's easily the most successful LRT in the UK. It's honestly kind of a shame that Manchester has this advantage and yet the system makes continuous mistakes, especially in regards to day-to-day operation and expansion; namely, the non-existent signal priority, park-and-ride obsession, regularly ordering old vehicle models and whatnot - but still has decent passenger numbers, honestly an interesting system to analyse on what it gets right and wrong.
Another example for your list is Tyneside Metro. Original vehicles have lasted 45 years, new stock from Stadler being delivered now. Interesting network, mix of former rail lines, multiple extensions, some mixed running with heavy rail, some deep bored tunnels.
Stadlers new trains in the UK are all so interesting!
I’ve gotten a liking to high floor LRT they are almost like light metro to actual metros too in their design. Seeing that in Manila LRT 1 & MRT 3 uses High floor light rail vehicles being derived from Charleroi “Metro” and Tatra K8TD5 Tram respectively. Being more used as a metro due to high hidership and elevated-underground grade separated right of way. Was mapping out and trying to plan how my small city (Regina) of 250k could possibly have a metro like elements with having high floor LRVs, possibly too running like Stadtbahn or just elevated railway on key corridors. Wondered if Ottawa’s O-Train opted for a high floor LRV, how would it fare differently or possibly better than what it has on the Confederation line at the moment.
Oh I absolutely think it would have turned out better! High floor is just simpler and more resilient!
Hannover uses HFLRT for their Stadtbahn. They started with HF tunnel stations, added HF-at-grade-stations for new lines and used foldable stairs for basic at-grade stations. Then they started to convert them all to HF stations and their latest trains don't even have the foldable stairs anymore.
https://www.uestra.de/unternehmen/betrieb-technik/stadtbahn/
I need to do a video on those very unique vehicles!
Reece: Are you aware of any distance limitations on HFLRT, if it were to be used in place of regional rail? i.e Winnipeg/ Portage La Prairie/ Selkirk or Delisle/ Saskatoon/ Clavet/
Lower top speed! Not really compatible with North American mainline trains either!
Stops for low-floor trams (or high-floor trams with steps from ground level) don't need "a curb raised extra high". That may be desirable but it's not necessary. What you really need is a signpost at the curb. That's all. The tram stops, road traffic on the lanes between the tram and the curb is also required to stop, and passengers walk the short distance between curb and tram across the street. There are quite a few tram stops like that in Berlin. They are not ideal, and we are trying to get rid of them, but they are better than no stop at all!
Of course, but I am talking about the optimal solution for access.
I wonder if Ottawa had high floor LRT instead of what they have now, would it solve some of their problems? Maybe you can right an article on the main reason why Ottawa's LRT has some many problems.
This is reminds me of the Málaga "metro" (in Andalucía, southern Spain). It's definitely LRT, not really a metro, but a good portion of it is underground, and the above-ground stops also have dedicated stations with platforms. Why they choose Urbis 3 low-floor trams for this service is beyond me; it makes no sense.
BTW they seem to have opened the Atarazanas station now, so it's no longer running two lines as one as they did when I was there in 2022.
here is a documentary by the German public TV about how 9 additional trains are used to get people home from after a big concert, it shows not only the trains but also stations and operations center: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0bGREOTNFQ
So if I'm not mistaken stadler's FLIRT would qualify as a high floor LRT ? If yes I can say I'm a big fan of HFLRT, that train covers a lot of usages.
I wouldn't really say so, but Stadler could build a train that worked for it.
Reece, you make a very compelling case for the stronger merits of HFLRTs. Personally, I prefer HFLRTs in any case because of the speed advantage. I mean, rapid transit has got be rapid (and frequent) to get Americans out of their cars. Interestingly, in the Calgary of the US, Dallas DART maybe has it both ways? At one point, I believe the Japanese-made train sets used were a mixed HF / LF (a section in the middle that is LF). Not sure if that is still the case. Cheers.
That's still how it works, but there are a lot of systems like that with low boarding and high floors! Optimally you just board form high platforms!