Dublin Area Rapid Transport.
The DART was the Irish Republics first attempt at thie own electric railways, initially running from Bray in north Co. Wicklow to Howth Co. Dublin. The first trains were West-German in make Linke-Hofmann-Busch 2 car units built in 1983 at Saltzgitter. These original 40 cars were upgraded by Seimens in Liepzig, Germany, in 2008, apart from sets 8110 and 8136 that were destroyed by a fire at the Fairview depot in 2001 and scrapped.
The Class 8100 have now been joined by the new Class 8200 built in Spain by GEC-Alstrom at Santa Perpetua de Mogoda. Both use the 1500 V Dc overhead. there is a small variation in weights, but speed remains at 62mph.
The network has greatly expanded over the years with an extention to Greystones and to Malahide. the latest additions to the ever need for increasing fleet has come from Japan. The 8500, 8510 and 8520 all built by Tokyu car corperation, Yokohama. Some of these newer vehicles have not lived up to expectations with many breakdown problems, All are 4-car units with a speed of 68 mph to slightly above.
Showing posts with label Transit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Transit. Show all posts
Thursday, 7 April 2016
Thursday, 6 March 2014
The Mini Bus.
People movers.
Humanity has taken full advantage of the Automobile concept and has developed it in many ways. The 'Chara bang has lead to the coach for touring and long distant driving, while the bus is more of a suburban beast. Enabled to stop and start at short distant stops, wither single or double deckers.
It was in the 1960' and 70's that the concept of the mini-bus was introduced into the U.K by a van conversion with seating, but it was to be the Ford Transit van that epitomised this form of travel until the Japanese entered the market with even smaller van alternatives.
Today the people carrier and SUV has attempted to replace the mini van by offering seven seats in to the realm of the family car, but the small bus seating between 12-22 remains a very viable form of moving people in the back streets of your towns and the country side.
Speed here is not an essential factor, but rather the turning circle of the size and ability to manoeuvre in small spaces.
Hiace, Suzuki, Mercedes-Benz, Dodge, Ford, Volks Wagen and many others form the mains suppliers world-wide.
Humanity has taken full advantage of the Automobile concept and has developed it in many ways. The 'Chara bang has lead to the coach for touring and long distant driving, while the bus is more of a suburban beast. Enabled to stop and start at short distant stops, wither single or double deckers.
It was in the 1960' and 70's that the concept of the mini-bus was introduced into the U.K by a van conversion with seating, but it was to be the Ford Transit van that epitomised this form of travel until the Japanese entered the market with even smaller van alternatives.
Today the people carrier and SUV has attempted to replace the mini van by offering seven seats in to the realm of the family car, but the small bus seating between 12-22 remains a very viable form of moving people in the back streets of your towns and the country side.
Speed here is not an essential factor, but rather the turning circle of the size and ability to manoeuvre in small spaces.
Hiace, Suzuki, Mercedes-Benz, Dodge, Ford, Volks Wagen and many others form the mains suppliers world-wide.
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