Raise the Hammer

One important advantage of modern LRTs not frequently mentioned here, is 100% fully level boarding. TTC doesn't do this (at this time) and use a deployable wheelchair ramp, much like buses.

100% of Hamilton LRT's stations are 100% wheelchair acessible -- full equal opportunity -- no fold-out ramps -- fully subway-style level boarding. The vehicles stop, all doors open simultaneously, you get on subway-style, the vehicles moves to the next stop without stopping (thanks to automatic green light traffic priority systems).

In my experience in other cities, it is the closest to a subway experience you can get on surface roads.

You can keep standing, and read newspapers/text/surf without grabbing a pole. Modern LRTs accelerate really smoothly and you can behave like a subway passenger, not needing to grab a pole when you lose balance on a bus.

All of this combined, increases transit ridership. It's a lot less painfully boring/lot less stressful (especially for older) during peak.

Also, these are daisychainable to 2-train trainsets.

Hamilton LRT's platforms are being built to accomodate longer trains (2-vehicle 10-segments). With 8 doors opening simultaneously, it feels like a mini-subway of sorts.

My experience in other cities elsewhere in the world, is that this type of LRT it feels 75%-subwayish, 25%-buslike. The gap is tiny, like a subway, you can just wheel on. Also, with low-floor high-performing LRVs, lower more-discreet platforms that doesn't blatantly "stick out" as much as high platforms (like Calgary C-Train). This is actually more appropriate for Hamilton.

The long 5-segment LRTs provide more motorized axles giving better traction/acceleration than both yesterday's streetcar and faster acceleration than articulated buses (Manufacturer specifications show acceleration approximately 0.2m/s faster). This is not your grandpa's streetcar that got removed from Hamilton roads. These modern LRTs typically dont need to stop except at stops (thanks to traffic separation & automatic transit-priority green lights). The speed of a modern LRT is actually very similar to a subway as a result.

See, this ain't a "bus on rails".

See, this ain't yesterday's "streetcar that got ripped out".

Comment edited by mdrejhon on 2016-05-21 17:59:36