|
Post by Elson on May 22, 2005 22:56:58 GMT -8
I also got to go to Houston, TX last month and rode their sleek new light rail system: At the northern terminus of the line, at the University of Houston-Downtown station. The Wheeler Station. Check out the very modernist station design. Interior shot. Two trains pause at the Reliant Park station. This serves Reliant Statium (Home of the Houston Texans football team) and the Astrodome (former home of the Houston Astros). There is also a convention/conference center called "Reliant Center" in this complex. It's cheaper to take the METRO Rail than to park here for a football game, but it's a long walk in the hot Texas sun across the enormous parking lot to reach the stadium! This train arrives from the southern terminus at Fannin South, heading back north to Downtown.
|
|
|
Post by bobdavis on Mar 13, 2007 23:12:32 GMT -8
Haven't seen any recent reports of collision statistics. Have the locals finally figured out that the train outweighs even the biggest pickup truck or SUV? When this line started, it seemed like there was a collision with some lame-brain motorist every other day.
|
|
|
Post by tonyw79sfv on Mar 20, 2007 20:47:11 GMT -8
I looked at their timetable and it seems it takes 30 minutes to travel 8 mile! That's actually slower than the Metro Orange Line busway (when the best drivers run it).
|
|
|
Post by bluelineshawn on Mar 23, 2007 20:44:44 GMT -8
I know that this is an old thread, but those pictures are waaay too small.
|
|
|
Post by Elson on Mar 23, 2007 20:51:29 GMT -8
I know that this is an old thread, but those pictures are waaay too small. Meh. Houston's not worth it
|
|
|
Post by whitmanlam on Mar 23, 2007 22:38:23 GMT -8
I just love the low-curb boarding design on the trains. It makes station construction alot cheaper. And not seeing the big steel wheels makes it seem safer and more aerodynamic, like it's hovering over the street. Ooooh Aaaahhhh !! Futurama.
|
|
|
Post by erict on Mar 24, 2007 7:58:36 GMT -8
Beautiful train. I use to live in that area and my family is from Houston. Too bad it is such a awful city to walk in and live- there are hardly any sidewalks.
|
|
|
Post by whitmanlam on Mar 24, 2007 23:07:23 GMT -8
Houston does have the best public transportation system of all the Texas cities. That's not saying much, when the city is low density throughout, it's hard to make public transit work in the interests of everyone.
|
|
|
Post by Elson on Mar 25, 2007 0:21:52 GMT -8
Houston does have the best public transportation system of all the Texas cities. That's not saying much, when the city is low density throughout, it's hard to make public transit work in the interests of everyone. For the sake of argument I'd have to disagree (even though I've only been to Houston), Dallas' system is larger, has a commuter rail component and has a proposed line that directly serves DFW Airport. And Dallas is smaller than Houston...
|
|
|
Post by erict on Mar 30, 2007 10:36:01 GMT -8
Dallas is a million times better than Houston for transportation. Being the 3rd largest city in Texas in population (behind San Antonio), it is light years ahead of both larger cities. Austin is also building a commuter rail line - and maybe a tramway circulator- - - finally.
|
|
|
Post by Alexis Kasperavičius on Sept 14, 2011 12:57:17 GMT -8
This line is now officially the most accident prone light-rail in the country with an accident every 12 days.
Now it's making cheesy weekend beer shows. See video:
|
|
|
Post by jamesinclair on Sept 14, 2011 21:57:00 GMT -8
Thats a pretty awesome video. For the weekend beer crowd of course.
|
|
|
Post by rajacobs on Sept 21, 2011 12:08:27 GMT -8
I agree, pretty amazing--you could say ...cowboy drivers vs. the transit bull. My impression is that Houston chose the least costly solution and is paying for it in increased insurance, repair costs and downtime. Repair costs may be mitigated by whatever expense they can make the drivers shoulder.
Then there's this one--a Houston bus vs the light rail!
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Sept 21, 2011 13:39:32 GMT -8
Houston light-rail is actually currently the second most successful light-rail system in America according to ridership per mile (most successful being Boston). Accidents have long stopped on that line. They were mostly a problem during the first years of service. The video of the bus that ran a red light and got hit by the train is also quite old. Cowboys, surfers, tech geeks, or Hollywood people -- build light-rail where it is needed and people will ride it!
|
|
|
Post by rajacobs on Sept 21, 2011 14:16:05 GMT -8
The video of the bus that ran a red light and got hit by the train is also quite old. Actually, the story is only a year and half old, 10 Feb 2010 and it's one of two 2010 accidents in which a bus driver failed to see an approaching Houston METROrail train?! The news story on it is www.click2houston.com/news/22502070/detail.html and it's dated 8 Feb 2010. I think the issue is oblivious, distracted drivers of vehicles not the inherent safety of a light rail line!
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Sept 21, 2011 14:18:20 GMT -8
Actually, the story is only a year and half old, 10 Feb 2010 and it's one of two 2010 accidents in which a bus driver failed to see an approaching Houston METROrail train?! The news story on it is www.click2houston.com/news/22502070/detail.html and it's dated 8 Feb 2010. Oh, well, it only felt like five-year-old then.
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Oct 5, 2011 14:12:30 GMT -8
I guess cowboys still keep causing problems in Houston. The following video shows this new accident from several angles outside and inside the train, in which a garbage truck that ran a red light is slammed by the train. Fifteen people, including the truck driver, were treated for minor injuries: Houston light-rail and garbage truck collision
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Apr 4, 2014 11:03:44 GMT -8
Texans.
|
|
|
Post by RMoses on Apr 4, 2014 13:13:44 GMT -8
True Darwin nominee in training, if you go around the crossing gates, with a train approaching - at least cut the car off to get in the lane!
|
|