From: stephen@sprunk.org

On 13-Apr-15 08:25, Adam H. Kerman wrote:
> Stephen Sprunk  wrote:
>> On 12-Apr-15 22:14, jimmygeldburg@gmail.com wrote:
>>> Stephen Sprunk wrote:
>>>> Yet many FRA systems manage to run trains just as long with
>>>> crews of 2, and the second crewmember is only "required" by FRA
>>>> and union rules;
>>>
>>> Which railroads?
>>
>> Nearly all of them outside the Rust Belt, at least 14.
>>
>> Amtrak LD is the main exception; they don't have traps on trains
>> with low floors, but they still have a crewman to place a step box
>> at every door (even where not needed), so it's roughly the same
>> problem.
>
> Since when does Amtrak open every door, except at a terminal?

The times I've taken Amtrak LD, they opened every door at every stop.
That makes sense, since you're only allowed to board at the correct
door; most of the "boarding" time is consumed by passengers walking up
and down the length of the train, being refused boarding at each door by
surly crew members despite valid tickets.  It would be a lot faster if
they'd let people board anywhere and sort out where they're supposed to
sit once the train is moving again.

> The step boxes seem to be helpful, might be nice for some passengers
> not to stretch for the first step even on commuter rail.

On an 8in platform, the top of the step boxes is the same height as the
floor of the car, making it no easier to board.  In fact, since the step
boxes are so narrow compared to the door width, they actually make it
_more_ difficult to board.

BBD bilevel cars (i.e. nearly all commuter trains outside the Rust Belt)
have a built-in, full-width step below the door at half the height
difference; no step boxes are required.  Why Amtrak LD trains don't have
such (which would remove the need for those step boxes--and a dozen or
so crew members per train) is mystifying.

S

--
Stephen Sprunk         "God does not play dice."  --Albert Einstein
CCIE #3723         "God is an inveterate gambler, and He throws the
K5SSS        dice at every possible opportunity." --Stephen Hawking

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