New METRA Electric Cars.

[jesi2282]

The New METRA Electric Cars Have Just Been Shown To The Public At Randolph St. Station, And Are In Service.

*Does Anyone Have Any Pictures Yet?

[trainman8119]

There was a picture in a recent issue of Red Eye. They are basically the same cars as the Nippon-Sharyo cars (7400, 6000, 8400 and 8500) that are currently operating on the diesel lines. The main difference, of course, is the pantograph above. One major difference the new Electric District cars have compared to current equipment, is that the engineer will be up high, like all the other Metra cab cars. This was done at the request of district engineers.

The bad thing about these cars, for now, is that they will not interface with the existing equipment. Therefore, these cars will always be together as one train. More than likely, 6 four car consists...or 4 six car consists, since only 24 are on order. As I understand it, the option for more is being delayed due to budget shortfalls...so additional new equipment for the ED will be delayed, possible quite awhile.

[trainman8119]

I was at Chicagoland Hobby today, and they had a magazine in the rack from some sort of Trolley followers or something. It was from the Spring of 2005 and had a pic of a Boeing Vertol 2400 on the cover.

Inside, there was a pic of the new Metra Electric coach at the plant in Japan. It is the exact same car as the current 8500 series, except of course, there are pantographs on top. Also above the ditch lights there are slits to display the train number, simular to how they do it now. These slits are about 1/2 way up the front of the car.

[Busjack]

The Nippon Sharyo site has pictures of the Metra Electric and standard gallery cars. One can surmise that the first is the electric car, because the two last windows on the top level are missing, and there is a platform over the stairs. Since it is mostly a front shot, one cannot make out the number or see the pantograph. There is also a picture of a NICTD car, but we know how that looks.

[Busjack]

Having a little fun with this, I put the Japanese page through the AltaVista Babel Fish translator, which says that this is the "two floor building streetcar." Click here to see for yourself. There is also a story with a view of the interior, which is no different than the other recent Metra cars. Also, Nippon Sharyo apparently means the "Japanese Car Production Company."

[trainman8119]

The first of these cars are in and are in operation on the Electric District.

The trains they are being used on were outlined in a Tribune article on December 17:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/hea...1,1945253.story

[Busjack]

There are several stories about NICTD needing more cars and possibly using bi-levels. The Post-Tribune article indicates that they could add-on to Metra's purchase, if Metra gets the funding. Both now use Nippon Sharyo bodies, but this seems to indicate that rail cars are no longer competitively bid. It doesn't appear, from the stories, that the bilevels hold that many more passengers.

Also, the CBS2 story indicates that the delivery of the 26 Metra Electric cars is complete.

[geneking7320]

I recently rode the new Nippon Sharyo cars on the ME but it was short ride - from Randolph to 27th St. I found them to be quiet and comfortable. I was wondering if NICTD would have gone with another single level car similar to the current one, the M-7 (Long Island) or possible the Silverliner V.

[trainman8119]

I am wondering how the South Shore would add on to a Metra purchase, since they are not part of Metra. They are funded in combination of the RTA and the State of Indiana. What I had read in the Sun Times, is that they want to purchase bi-levels because they are at capacity and bi-levels would give them a little bit more seating capacity (about 16 additional seats per car). Also, they say it would take only 18 months...I find that being a little bit optimistic in terms building and delivery.

I had heard that they once "borrowed" Metra bi-levels in the past when they had some sort of disruption...but I am not too sure of the facts involved.

[Busjack]

Although RTA (at least at one time) owned some South Shore cars as its contribution for Hegwisch service (see Bill V's roster), that is not really what is at issue here. It is more like bulk purchasing. If Metra has a deal for 140 cars at $3 million each, Sumitomo is willing to sell 12 more to NICTD for the same price, but if the deal were only 12 cars, they might be $4 million each. VRE apparently has a similar deal. The concept is similar to New Flyer's assignable bus options program (and I believe Nortran used something similar to piggyback its order for 400s onto CTA's for 9000s).

The money for NICTD's, however, would come from the feds and local sources (the Regional Development Authority was formed to use casino and Toll Road money for the state match). Since the Post-Tribune link seems to have lasted for only one day, I am providing one from the Times. Update: I added a link to a subsequent Times article that explains it in much more detail.

On some rail boards, the question is whether Kensington Junction could handle more traffic. In connection with NICTD proposals for the West Lake Corridor project, there were statements that federal New Start funds would be needed to rebuild it.

P.S. While doing an additional search after reading one article, I came across one from WBBM Radio? indicating that the Metra option was good through July. If so, Sumitomo must have extended it, since the original discussion was that the option was to run out last September (the Sun Times link there is no longer valid, either). That's what the Keno debate was about; the Guv wanted a "jobs bill;" but it was actually a capital program for which a 60% vote is required for issuing bonds, and thus some Republican concurrence is necessary, which Blago is not getting.