DCTA to move forward with rail vehicles

Recently, the Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA) received a waiver that will allow it use its new rail vehicles ahead of schedule.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), in conjunction with the American Public Transportation Association Annual Rail Conference, formally announced approval of DCTA's request to operate the Stadler GTW concurrent with its traditional, compliant equipment.

"This means we will be allowed to operate the new GTW vehicles with our current rail vehicles, which are traditional compliant," said Dee Leggett, vice president of communications and planning for DCTA. "This allows us to get the new GTW Stadler vehicles integrated sooner than we originally thought."

Leggett said this is the first time the FRA has granted a waiver for rail lines to operate light-weight/fuel efficient, eco-friendly low-floor vehicles concurrently with traditionally compliant vehicles. She said the waiver would expand commuter rail options for transportation authorities across the United States.

DCTA purchased 11 diesel-electric GTW 2/6 articulated rail vehicles from Stadler in 2009. The vehicles are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and incorporate enhanced air conditioning, passenger information system, video surveillance and numerous FRA compliant elements. The interior has room for wheelchairs, strollers and bicycles. There are 104 seats and standing room for 96 persons in every vehicle along with bright compartments, large windows and comfortable seating. Leggett said DCTA has 10 vehicles already and expects to have the final one on site in late August. She said there's typically a two-year manufacturing wait for the GTW vehicles.

"We hope to start using the new vehicles within a couple weeks," Leggett said. "Our goal is to be using at least one by the end of June. This waiver allows us greater flexibility to test the new trains, which will make it faster to integrate the vehicles."

In 2009, the FRA's Rail Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC) prepared a set of technical criteria and procedures for evaluating passenger rail train-sets that have been built to alternative designs. The alternative designs enable lighter, more fuel-efficient rail vehicles equipped with a crash energy management system to work with traditionally compliant equipment. The DCTA/Stadler alternative design waiver is the first comprehensive submittal that follows the RSAC Engineering Task Force (ETF) procedures for Tier I equipment. The approval of the DCTA/Stadler waiver request demonstrates that the enhanced crashworthiness and passenger protection systems inherent to DCTA's new rail vehicles meet the latest and most stringent safety standards in the U.S., Leggett said.

"Stadler is excited and proud to have the opportunity of announcing this milestone and appreciates the immense joint effort conducted by DCTA and the FRA," said Steve Bonina, Stadler USA president. "Stadler continues to be hopeful that the FRA codifies the RSAC guidelines into regulatory requirements in order to open the North American Rail Network to this outstanding, safer, eco-friendly rail technology, which will help to make rail systems safer, more efficient, more reliable, and less costly."

Stadler, DCTA and DCTA's vehicle consultant, LTK Engineering Services, have been working closely with the FRA to achieve this waiver since 2009. DCTA partnered with Stadler to make modifications and enhancements to the GTW to comply with the required safety guidelines. Modifications include changes to the fuel tank design, window glazing and passenger and operator seats.

"This approval is the result of unprecedented cooperation between DCTA, the FRA, LTK and Stadler," said Jim Cline, DCTA president. "Our efforts to operate the nation's first alternative compliant vehicle demonstrate not only our commitment to increased safety for our passengers and operators, but to improving safety for the commuter rail industry. We are setting the conditions for future success for commuter rail expansion in North Texas and the conditions will allow us to advance the integration of these vehicles onto our system."

DCTA began running at least one new Stadler GTW Saturday.

Leggett said on Aug. 18, DCTA would host an event at its Downtown Denton rail station to celebrate the new vehicles and the beginning of midday rail service. She said more information about that event would be released later in the summer.

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