"Wisdom begins in wonder" – Socrates
Tag: Transportation
Interchange Stations
04/22/23
“What are transit stations where you change from one route to another?”
Public transportation is a cornerstone of people’s transit lives all over the world. However, sometimes during a transit journey, one has to leave a vehicle on one route and transfer to another. This is accomplished at Interchange Stations. Interchange stations are cornerstones of the modern transit world.
Railway Color Signals
04/04/23
“How can railways communicate signals through colored lights?”
Railways often have to send signals to their trains to perform specific actions. One such example includes Railway Color Signals. Railway color signals use giant signs with emitted lights to convey a specific meaning. Colored signals can be used to make train stop signals to conductors.
Image credit upload.wikimedia.org
Why Government Takeover of Railroad Companies Can Lead to Better Service
03/20/23
“Why can government takeover of railroad companies lead to better service?”
Private railroad companies often prioritize profitability over user experience or actual efficiency. This is because many are beholden to stockholders who are more interested in seeing generous financial returns than quality. But government-run railroad companies mostly run with passengers and citizens in mind, making the experience better. This is Why Government Takeover of Railroad Companies Can Lead to Better Service.
The 2023 Greece Tempi Train Crash
03/18/23
“What happened in the 2023 Greece Tempi Train Crash?”
Just before midnight on February 28th, a passenger train and freight train near the town of Tempi in Greece collided head-on with each other. At least 57 people in the former have been confirmed dead because of the situation and numerous were injured. This crash is the deadliest train incident recorded in Greek history and has sparked nationwide protests. Hopefully, The 2023 Greece Tempi Train Crash will inspire serious reforms in Greece to prevent such a catastrophe from happening again.
Image credit media.cnn.com
What Physically Caused The 2023 East Palestine Ohio Train Derailment Disaster
03/13/23
“What physically caused the 2023 East Palestine Ohio train derailment disaster?”
The 2023 East Palestine Ohio train derailment disaster has been burned into the collective memory of Americans. But what exactly caused it? While we have no definitive answers so far, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board investigation is currently pointing to an overheated wheel bearing as the root cause. Supposedly, as the car approached East Palestine, the overheated wheel jumped to over 125 degrees celsius while the outside was a blistering cold -12 degrees. This jumped an alarm, which caused the engineer on the train to apply the brakes, ultimately leading to a derailment. This is What Physically Caused The 2023 East Palestine Ohio Train Derailment Disaster.
The People of East Palestine Ohio need to seek shelter. One family, the Velezes, need assistance. Your money will go a long way.
Image credit images.axios.com
Why Metro Orgs Should Hire Engineers In-House
03/01/23
“Why should metro orgs hire engineers in-house?”
Metro orgs often don’t have the engineering personnel to build their long-term projects. However, when they outsource to a consulting firm, they run the risk of being overcharged and getting much less than they asked for. If metro orgs hire in-house instead, they can more diligently check the validity of the work being performed and have a much better performance. This is Why Metro Orgs Should Hire Engineers in House.
Why Metro System Organizations Should Have Strict Oversight of the Consultants They Hire
02/07/23
“Why should metro system organizations have strict control of the consultants they hire?”
Metro system organizations often hire consultants to work on specific projects. However, if there is insufficient oversight then the consultants can overcharge for their input. To illustrate, The New York City Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) spent almost double on their consultants than for the actual digging of the tunnel from 63rd to 96th streets. The MTA’s relaxed monitoring allowed the contractors to prioritize their own financial bottom line instead of benefits for the public. Such a monetary monstrosity could have been avoided if the consultants were on a tighter leash. This only goes to show Why Metro System Organizations Should Have Strict Oversight of the Consultants They Hire.
New Metro Train Car Design
12/11/22
“How do metro organizations design new transit cars?”
Metro organizations work on updating their transit cars when the time comes for it. The entire phase begins with New Metro Train Car Design. New cars are designed for system needs and capacities, looking over variables such as speed, aerodynamics, cost, and rail system. The design phase will set the tone for the rest of the project.
New Metro Train Car Testing
12/10/22
“How do metro organizations test new transit cars?”
The state of the art of metro cars advances each year. To keep up, metro transit organizations new to bring new train cars into their fleets. However, they must be tested to ensure they work as intended. This process can include wind tunnel testing, HVAC system checks, propulsion calibration, and more. New Metro Train Car Testing is a vital part of making transit systems as safe and efficient as possible.
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