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frinkprof · 10-24-2011, 10:27 PM

Well now that there's been a number of responses, I'll weigh in on the new Series 8 SD160s.

There's been some bugs related to the emergency buttons being pressed in a false alarm and some other technical issues partly related to operators getting used to the different troubleshooting with the new trains. Seems that has been worked out for the most part.

However, it's telling that a lot of the thoughts shared here have been about the seating and poles. I think these could do with a second look. The divided bucket seats need to be one straight bench or some other configuration. In fact I'm not really a big fan of the divided seats on buses either. I think if you make a bench that will fit two (or three, or however many) averaged size people with a couple inches to spare, that the seat divisions become redundant. Being that the divided seats are more uncomfortable and unwelcoming than a cushier bench, the bench should win out and be implemented on future orders and these cars should be retrofitted at some point. Although, to be fair, I have heard that the bucket seats (as seen on the new trains, as well as the fabric-surfaced ones on buses) are a lot easier to maintain because people can't cut or damage them as easily and they are easier to clean.

Regarding the poles, I think these have also been slightly problematic and some tweaks may be needed. There needs to be a balance between providing people with enough to hold onto while not impeding movement within the car. In the aisle between the seats, I think there needs to be either the middle three-pronged pole or the ones attached to the seats - but not both. There's just a few too many of the yellow poles such that movement is impeded. The ones attached to the seats should stay I think due to them acting as a divider for the seats (without the seats being individually divided of course).

Altogether though, perimeter seating as a general principle is definitely the way to go. The seating arrangements in the old LRVs are generally a poor and inefficient design by their very nature.

10-24-2011, 10:27 PM	#847
frinkprof First Line Centre Join Date: Dec 2009 Exp:	Well now that there's been a number of responses, I'll weigh in on the new Series 8 SD160s. There's been some bugs related to the emergency buttons being pressed in a false alarm and some other technical issues partly related to operators getting used to the different troubleshooting with the new trains. Seems that has been worked out for the most part. However, it's telling that a lot of the thoughts shared here have been about the seating and poles. I think these could do with a second look. The divided bucket seats need to be one straight bench or some other configuration. In fact I'm not really a big fan of the divided seats on buses either. I think if you make a bench that will fit two (or three, or however many) averaged size people with a couple inches to spare, that the seat divisions become redundant. Being that the divided seats are more uncomfortable and unwelcoming than a cushier bench, the bench should win out and be implemented on future orders and these cars should be retrofitted at some point. Although, to be fair, I have heard that the bucket seats (as seen on the new trains, as well as the fabric-surfaced ones on buses) are a lot easier to maintain because people can't cut or damage them as easily and they are easier to clean. Regarding the poles, I think these have also been slightly problematic and some tweaks may be needed. There needs to be a balance between providing people with enough to hold onto while not impeding movement within the car. In the aisle between the seats, I think there needs to be either the middle three-pronged pole or the ones attached to the seats - but not both. There's just a few too many of the yellow poles such that movement is impeded. The ones attached to the seats should stay I think due to them acting as a divider for the seats (without the seats being individually divided of course). Altogether though, perimeter seating as a general principle is definitely the way to go. The seating arrangements in the old LRVs are generally a poor and inefficient design by their very nature. Last edited by frinkprof; 10-24-2011 at 10:32 PM.