Written By idontspam - 19 January, 2009

Bangalore Bangalore BRTS Light Rail Train suggestion BMRC Tram Metro Rail

A tram-train is a light-rail public transport system where trams also run on main-line train tracks for greater flexibility and convenience. Most tram-trains are standard gauge, which facilitates sharing track with standard gauge mainline trains. Tram-trains have dual equipment to suit the respective needs of tram and train, such as support for multiple voltages and safety equipment such as train stops.

Example of such light rail include the Bombardier Flexity swift model which can share metro infrastructure or run on streets

This light rail system can be run as a connector service to the metro. This can run at grade on medians of broad roads like ORR, IRR, Bellary road etc. It can also run on elevated tracks or go underground where necessary. It can share metro infrastructure (power lines, signaling systems, rails, low platforms) and because it is low floor it is disabled, stroller and luggage friendly and can also double up as connections to airport. 

My proposal is to run such a light rail along the following routes

1. IRR connecting Byappanahalli Metro station to Madivala serving Indiranagar, Airport road, EGL Business park, Koramangala along the way.

2. ORR Connecting Peenya to KRPuram

3. Bellary road Connecting MG road/Chinnaswamy metro station to Hebbal interchange 

4. Chord road Connecting soap factory metro station to Vijaynagar Metro 

5. ORR connecting KR Puram to Silk board.

6. Bannerghatta road Connecting Silk board to RV road metro station via madivala.

7. ORR connecting mysore road metro station to Silk board

Bumping this up

idontspam - 19 January, 2009 - 11:05

Need to give alternative models a serious thought. Though there are lot of places this can be used. Running this on all the routes I have suggested may be overkill. Need to have a feasibility study on where this can be leveraged best. I would assume mostly in routes which involve both surface travel and along CRS/metro tracks combined. I would think this can used for our airport link inexpensively if planned properly.

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Re: pink2 blue

idontspam - 19 January, 2009 - 14:00

You are correct. The first picture is the Tvärbanan from Sickla Udde to Alvik which runs thru Globen. Its the same rolling stock in the other picture as well.

Below is the same Tvärbanan on the street in Stockholm. This is in Hammarbysjöstad towards Gulmarsplan. The bus line 74 shares the dedicated corridor. This is more of a light rail than a tram (hence the name tram-train)

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Perhaps can be used as a feeder for Metro

mcadambi - 19 January, 2009 - 14:09

IMO, the Malleswaram Metro lies along 4th Main road (one end from Mantri Greens and the other End at IISc Entrance).

A Tram train of the above sort can be used as a feeder to the Metro. But that depends on the capacity of the tram-train. If BMTC buses can be used without significant investment, then there would be no need for such tram trains.

But i think tram trains can be used in smaller cities like Coimbatore, Kochi and Mangalore. 

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Light Rail Vs Bus

idontspam - 19 January, 2009 - 14:41

Each tram-train carriage like this model can take 270 passengers and 2 carriages make up a train. This means each train can carry 540 passengers.

A double articulated bus specially built for BRTS like the ones used in curitiba Brazil can carry 270 people in total. Some other models as low as 180 people (200 on average). Single articulated buses which are typically used as large volume feeders can carry around a 100 people. These would ideally be feeder services on routes that dont need a train.

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Sharing metro infrastructure??

pink2blue - 19 January, 2009 - 11:58

IDS,
The first picture in your post seem to be of tram running close to Stockholm Globen and second one seem to be that in Amsterdam.

As you have said metro infrastructure shring could be difficult, as the metro uses the third rail and is standard guage in the case of namma metro where as tram uses overhead lines. Also the maximum speed on grade is 40 unless it is dedicated rail road for it. 
However yes a feaibilty study may be needed; atleast if it is implemented in Bengaluru it may save a lot of greenary.
As far as running this service for interconnectivity to metro & ring roads as done in Stockholm City is right suggestion.

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