My First Look Inside the new Metrolink Rotem Cars 12/06/2010

by Chris Guenzler

I saw this advertised on Trainorders.com and decided that since I was presenting this evening's program at the Orange County Railway Historical Society meeting, to go to Los Angeles Union Station and take pictures of these unique new cars to show the group and everyone who reads this story.

From the Metrolink Website, here is the announcement.

We're Ready to Roll!

Please join us as we roll out our new state-of-the-art Hyundai Rotem Rail Cars at the "Whistle Stop" Debut! Be one of the first to step inside the safest fleet in the Nation! Each event will include a ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony.

Monday, December 6: Los Angeles Union Station - 8:00 am 800 N. Alameda Street, Los Angeles

Moorpark - 11:00 am 300 High Street, Moorpark

Glendale - 2:00 pm 400 W. Cerritos Ave., Glendale

Los Angeles Union Station Open House 3:30 - 6:00 pm

Wednesday, December 8: San Bernardino - 8:30 am 1204 W. 3rd St., San Bernardino

Riverside, Downtown - 11:30 am 4066 Vine St, Riverside7

Thursday, December 9: Irvine - 11:45 am 15215 Barranca Pkwy, Irvine

Santa Ana - 1:45 pm 1000 E. Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana

I rode Pacific Surfliner 775 from Santa Ana to Los Angeles and once off, I walked down to Track 3 to wait for my train to arrive.

Pacific Surfliner 775 departed Los Angeles bound for San Luis Obispo. A few trainsets came into the station for the outbound early afternoon trains then soon I saw something very different approaching.

Metrolink Rotem cab car 638 led the train into Track 5 at Los Angeles Union Station. Following Metrolink's Chatsworth collision on September 12, 2008, which changed Metrolink passenger trains forever. Hyundai-Rotem was selected to build passenger passenger coaches and cab cars with crash safety technology. Their double-deck coaches operating in Los Angeles County and nearby suburbs are equipped with crash energy management technology that can minimize human damage by absorbing crash energy at the front of the vehicle to increase safety.

Metrolink Rotem coach 212.

Metrolink Rotem coach 214.

The train had two units assigned to it. I walked to the south end of this platform.

Two more views of Metrolink Rotem cab car 638, after which I walked over to Track 5 and asked to take pictures inside, showing my press pass, and was told Yes! So I had my first look inside these new cars.

Views of the lower level of cab car 638.

The upper Level. All seats in the new cab cars face backwards for safety reasons.

The engineer's control compartment.

Looking down into the middle level of cab car 638.

The middle level with the new safety tables.

The upper Level of coach 212. After riding in them, I personally feel that these seats are not at all comfortable.

The middle level.

The lower level.

The hallway with a handicapped ramp attached to the wall.

A new bathroom design on these new Rotem cars.

One more view of the lower level of coach 212.

Metrolink Rotem cab car 638. With that, I waited for Metrolink 686 to arrive and the engineer who brought the train in was my old friend Mike Brown. After a nice conversation, I boarded for Santa Ana and detrained there, but had one last picture to take.

It is not every day you see Metolink 800, the lone F40PH on the roster, working on a train, as it did on Metrolink 686 today. I went home, wrote this story then showed my revised program at the railway meeting that evening.

Off to Riverside to see the Metrolink Rotem Car there 12/08/2010

Steve Grande and I decided to take Metrolink out to Riverside so he could see the new Rotem car. I boarded Metrolink 800 at Santa Ana, riding the former Utah Frontrunner Comet Car 316. Steve boarded out in Anaheim Canyon and soon we detrained at Downtown Riverside, walking to the north end of the east platform and waited for the train to arrive from San Bernardino.

The train arrived at Riverside.

Metrolink Rotem coach 214.

Metrolink Rotem coach 212.

Metrolink Rotem cab car 638.

Arriving at the station.

The train was now at the Riverside Downtown station, awaiting Metrolink 851 to leave, which was having a slight problem.

Metrolink Rotem cab car 638. We bought our tickets to come back and then walked over the pedestrian bridge to reach the train but paused for a pair of roof pictures.

Roof views of the new Metrolink Rotem cars. We walked down and were able to walk through the train after it had been spotted. I was then told to get a Press Kit for these new Rotem Cars and below is one of the handouts that was included.

Metrolink Unveils News Safety-Enhanced Rail Cars

Southern California rail provider the first in the nation to deploy new cars equipped with state-of-the-art technology.

Los Angeles
Metrolink, Southern California's passenger rail provider, unveiled its new state-of-the-art cab and passenger cars equipped with collision-absorption technology at a series of stops as part of a Whistle Stop Tour across Metrolink's five-county service area. Scheduled stops include: LA Union Station, Glendale, Moorpark, San Bernardino, Downtown Riverside, Irvine and Santa Ana. The events will be attended by Metrolink board and staff leadership, members of the public, media and regional dignitaries.

The new cars dubbed the Guardian fleet by Metrolink and manufactured by Hyundai Rotem include energy-absorbing retractable couplers, a crumple zone and tables designed to minimize passengers injuries if an incident were to occur. Additionally, the cab cars have elevated train engineer compartment providing enhanced visibility and safety for the engineer; both cab and passenger rail cars have higher seat backs providing extra comfort and back support for passengers.

"We are excited to present the safest rail cars in America. Our new Guardian fleet cars are a major component of our plan to be the safest passenger railroad in the nation. These safety-enhanced cars will save lives in the event of a collision. These cars were developed in collaboration with the world's leading safety experts. We are pleased our passengers will be the first to enjoy the peace of mind knowing they are riding in these industry first rail cars," said Metrolink Board Chairman Keith Millhouse.

The cab cars stand 15 feet 11 inches high, 85 feet long and weigh almost one hundred fifty thousand pounds. With a stainless steel exterior, the new Hyundai Rotem cars do not need to be painted.

"Here at Metrolink, we wake up in the morning and go to sleep at night with safety on our mind. We are honored to provide our employees, customers and the region some of the safest rail cars in existence," said Metrolink CEO John Fenton. "Our board's commitment to safety is evident in their recent decision to purchase 20 more Rotem cars."

Ten cars will be put into service immediately across the Metrolink System. As more cars are assembled, tested and approved for service, they will be used to augment Metrolink's current fleet. All 137 cars are expected to be in service by late 2012.

In accordance with "Buy America" program, Metrolink Rotem Cars are being assembled and tested at the agency's Eastern Maintenance Facility in the City of Colton. Over 50 jobs have been created for Southern Californians. Over the past several months, Metrolink employees and contractor crews have been trained to operate the new equipment including the train's controls and new safety features.

Steve and I walked back across the pedestrian bridge to the east platform to wait for Metrolink 811 to arrive. As it approached, a Union Pacific auto train was coming but too slowly to get a picture. We boarded the cab car and I then had an idea for a picture of the freight train.

This train had Union Pacific 4161, 5182 and Norfolk Southern 9357. We had a nice trip and I detrained at Santa Ana and Steve stayed on to San Juan Capistrano.

Santa Ana 12/09/2010

After a morning train ride and after watching some episodes of "NCIS", I went down to the Santa Ana station and parked in the parking structure just as the train came in from Irvine. I walked across the pedestrian bridge.

Thhe train from the bridge.

The cab car end of the train.

Pacific Surfliner 774 arrived while I was at the Santa Ana Boulevard grade crossing.

Setting up the microphone. After finding out what time they were heading back to Los Angeles, I ran into Winston Walker and his daughter Christy and gave them a tour of the new Rotem cars then it was back outside for a few close-up pictures.