City
TTC debuts revised version of its Rocket subway train
There's an updated version of the TTC's Toronto Rocket subway train circulating beneath the streets of the city this morning. In response to complaints about the lack of handles near the AC unit on the initial Rockets, Bombardier has added a new set of handles and several yellow plastic straps on one test train that the TTC will use to gauge customer response.
The door chimes have also been lowered in pitch and a speaker placed on the outside of the vehicle on the advice of the TTC's Advisory Committee on Accessible Transit, a group that directs the transit provider on issues relating to people with disabilities. The famous three-tone chime now plays at the same time as the automated "please stand clear of the doors" message. It's subtle, but it's there.
The TTC's Brad Ross says staff will travel with the tweaked train and gather feedback from riders but that there is currently no timetable for the rest of the fleet to receive the modifications. Frustrating issues with the Rocket's doors have been traced to a software problem and will be fixed separately. The precise cost of the retrofit, and whether the TTC or Bombardier foots the bill, has yet to be determined.
Do these changes make the Rocket a better ride? Have you caught this train? What did you think?
Courtesy of Reddit user laurenceYYZ, here's a video of the new door chime in operation:
Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.
Photo: Brad Ross/TTC
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The first Peter Witt streetcars have stoves to heat the interior. They were replaced with baseboard electric heaters.
I can see further changes to the Rocket subway train in the future. I don't like the LED lights on the station map over the doors, I hope that over the years it will be updated to a full TV-like screen.
I think changing the chime to be with the doors makes a lot of sense - it just seemed like it took too long before. The strap thing dnever really bothered me much, but more hand holds away from the doors is good. It's also nice to hear that it's a software problem and not a hardware problem with the doors because it should help keep repairs costs down (we can only hope) ;).
They still need to reverse the LED colours on the map, however - it makes zero sense for "green" to represent places you have already passed and therefore are no longer accessible.
As for the height issue, the camera poles (the ones in between the a/c units) were what I always feared hitting as I walked down those cars. This adds to the misery of being tall (6'5"). Still not nearly as uncomfortable as the rear seats in an 72xx, let alone 74xx-78xx.