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A walk through a Berlin subway train

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There has been a lot of talk about the new subways the TTC wants to purchase (read more about it on this Wire post). To win us riders over, the TTC has a mocked-up version of a train that has been appearing at subway stations around the city.

This video is a 30-second walk through of a subway train in Berlin. If Bombardier does in fact get/keep the contract for the Toronto subways, this is the type of train we’ll be getting. I’d seen photos describing the opening between cars, but this video gave me a better understanding of what the trains will be like.

Video by bloqseven on You Tube

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15 comments

  2. Notice a few points by comparison with the Toronto proposal and with the claims made for new car requirements here:

    1. There are few handholds between the door vestibules despite the wide open spaces in between.

    2. Either those are very colourful plastic seats, or they are upholstered. The latter has implications for fire load.

    3. The underseat areas are not boxed in leaving considerable room for hiding packages.

    Steve

  3. No seats facing the forward/back? I get huge strains on my neck with the side seats.

    Does that mean there will be less seating in a car? Even if it’s articulated there’s still less seats?

  4. Well, except for the fabric covered seats and the space under those seats… according to Steve Munro TTC management are still insisting on abiding by Federal regulations – the only problem is that they are *US* federal regulations, not Transport Canada’s, and despite the chair of the Commission (Moscoe’s) vocal opposition.

    http://www.stevemunro.ca/?p=189

    Usually I don’t care much for anything vocal of Moscoe’s but he’s right on this one.

  5. I believe our subways will be a little wider than the one shown here.

    I also think that the by not using forward/rear facing seats there are actually just as many seats. In fact, the capacity for each car will increase.

    I hope they stick with the colour they have now in the TTC and not start another trend. I’m all for the maroon seats.

  6. According to Bombardier’s web site, the Berlin cars are about half a metre (19 inches) narrower than Toronto’s. So, if the seats are all along the sides, you have to imagine even more wide-open aisle space than shown in the video.

    In fact, it seems like Toronto has some of the widest subway cars around, which invalidates some of the “everybody else is doing it” argument for side seats only.

  7. I notice that there are only 3 sets of doors in the video per car… I wonder if the TTC will stick with the current 4 door setup, or just use the 3 door setup with the Berlin cars. There aren’t as many handholds as in the TTC diagram, either…

  8. The width of the car having any impact on the seating is not an issue, if you observe on Toronto’s subway, when there are people sitting on the side facing seats, they take up as much isle space as the front and rear facing seats. Not that it really matters with our system anyway. The all bench seating is a bad idea, I beleive they have already decided to keep the same seating plan, with some minor changes to accomodate the gangway.

  10. That train reminds me of the HK subway (which is part of an outstanding and efficient system), but they have metal seats, which is easier to clean and maintain a sanitary look over the years. I think fabric on the seats is a bad idea.

  11. (Just for the record, I didn’t post the comment above. Either I have an impersonator or I’ve inadvertently stolen someone’s username. To be on the safe side, I’ll sign my comments “quas” from now on. Also, I prefer fabric seats for the comfort factor.)

  12. oops, quasi. didn’t mean to steal your username inadvertently. my usual username is Quasimime, which i’ll go back to now.

  13. This porpsed bew seating arrangement is insane.Just think of the fat people, and winter clothes – half of the seats will be unused. In a full train, if you are lucky to sit, people will walk over your feet exposed to the crowd.
    I have travelled on one those saubway trains in Europe – it is like cattle being transported.
    Just forget it, keep the one we have.

  14. Wow that train was spotless!

    I’m impressed as here in Boston, it can get pretty ugly on the T.

  15. The new subway is not the best design the seats are not designed for comfort more to encourage you to be off them as soon as possible the kind of seats they have in fast food restaurants.

    Andy