Dallas Area Rapid Transit needed a way increase the capacity of its light rail trains quickly and cost-effectively. Instead of buying a whole new set of light rail trains, DART decided to stick "inserts" into its current fleet of light rail trains, making Dallas' "super light rail vehicles."
In partnership with Kinkisharyo of Japan, DART is taking apart its vehicles at the articulation joint (the place where the light rail vehicle bends) and adding a whole new car. The inserted section seats 25 additional passengers. Room for standees will nearly double. It also includes an extra door in a low-floor section meaning that there are no steps to board the train. Wheelchairs can therefore directly roll onboard without having to use the complicated lift mechanisms.
Despite the cost-effectiveness of not having to buy a new fleet of trains, DART has run into some difficulties with its stations.
DART needs to modify its platforms in order to take full advantage of the super light rail's low floor section. Work started in November 2007. Currently all but one stations have platforms that do not align up with the low-floor insert and therefore need to be renovated. In response to growing ridership, DART is also extending platforms at the same time to allow for longer three-car trains.
DART will finish inserting new low-floor sections into its entire fleet of trains by the end of 2010.
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