Ottawa Stadler FLIRT | Visiting Canada's Newest Trains
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- čas přidán 31. 05. 2024
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#stadler #ottawa #train
As a Swiss, it’s really impressive to see how Stadler has grown and how it’s now exporting its trains around the world.
Stadler came out of nowhere and basically just took over the Bi mode MU market.
The 745/755's here in UK are quite good i heard.
With the engine being in a separate intermediate car instead of under the train reducing noise ontop of the well bi mode feature.
Aren't they an eraser/stationary brand? Lol
@@AmelieZh you are thinking about staedtler:P
Stadler KISS 😘🥵👌🏾
They’ve done an excellent job!
So, Canada is FLIRTing with trains? oh la la.
Bruh bad joke
Stadler FLIRT stands for Fast Light Intercity Regional train. There's also the Stadler KISS series, and the Stadler SMILE.
FLIRT + KISS = SMILE.
@@henreereeman8529 Awful joke, I loved it.
@@henreereeman8529 bad jokes are jokes too
DON’T KINK SHAME US EH
I work for Stadler. I even did things for the Ottawa fleet. I am so happy you like it.
1. FLIRTs should immediately be deployed on Toronto’s UP Express line and other GO lines.
2. Many smaller Canadian rural and suburban communities could be fitted with these trains and instantly provide rapid intercity rail.
That doesn't help anyone...
Another comment indicated that there as hybrid over head electric- Diesel electric. So this would be perfect to run on LSE and LSW where the last few stops won't be electrified.
@@danielchou5895 The version that runs on overhead power has an operating speed of 200km, so on the lake shore lines, barrie line, and Kingston line which have long straight portions this would increase speeds.
Also, freeing up the current trains and cars would allow for expanded service in Niagara, London, and Kitchener/Guelph/Cambridge on largely existing and in many case low usage track. Maybe even from Oshawa to Kingston and Kingston to Montreal to replace the Via service that is moving alignments.
@@neolithictransitrevolution427 definitely agree with VIA taking advantage of this new rolling stock, which would allow them to offer more frequent, flexible and nimble intercity services between smaller towns and cities like Kingston, Trois Rivière, and many other towns currently underserved by VIA. Similar to Deutsche Bahn’s regional intercity services which use similar rolling stock.
Absolutely, it would be a dream come true!
Those poor Stadler employees were probably in tears while assembling a diesel train in Switzerland.
I wonder if the "power pack" can be removed and the train converted to overhead electric, and if so, was that one reason they were chosen.
They sell a lot of those ... well, sold at least. These days, non-electrified operators are rather looking for hydrogen or battery trains.
I don't understand the hate for Diesel trains? I mean its a train? That goes fast and is quite/comfortable? And can go anywhere tracks exist?
Seems like making fun of someone at the gym because they aren't ripped yet. I get that electric is better but we have to start.
@@neolithictransitrevolution427 Of course a diesel train is better than no train. But seeing that in 1960 the last stretch of passenger rail was electrified in Switzerland, diesel seems like such an oddity to Swiss train makers.
@@junglist_ikon I guess. But it makes more sense in Switzerland. everything is a mountain so you needthe torque. Don't get me wrong, I'd also "prefer" electric, but it seems like everyone is constantly like "Diesel, what a failure". To me, low cost solutions are best in NA where there is hardly a user base and transit fights for evey scrape of funding. But you sound like you may be swiss so sorry for taking my annoyance at transit purists out on you.
Another benefit of the power pack is that it can be swapped out for an alternative power source in the future, for example if the line gets electrified. Glad you like the FLIRTs! These ones look similar to the ones that got introduced in the UK recently, and I think they're awesome. I'm sure the FLIRT will go down in history as one of the best type of trains to ever exist
I just wish we got the sexy bumper covers you guys got for the UK ones! Not that ours don’t look nice, but the UK ones look REALLY good.
Could they be easily converted to electric if the lines are finally electrically done?
@@michaelrmurphy2734 yes, they would just swap the power pack module for one with a pantograph, transformer and maybe some batteries(new battery module just shown off by Stanley in Germany). Would prob just be a day or two of work to swap + testing. Much less time than to install the catenary itself.
@@mikejulien2330 Interesting. Has that been done in other places? Here in Halifax, its getting big enough now we might need something more than buses soon.
@@michaelrmurphy2734 not sure if it's been done anywhere with these trains specifically. If Halifax is looking for something other than busses, I'd hope they would just go full electric in one shot rather than a staggered approach. Much easier to just do things right the first time than to retrofit later...
It looks like Ottawa got it right this time. Bonus choosing a modular design that can be switched out, repaired, or upgraded easily.
These Flirts can be really easily converted to electric power by switching out the power pack in the middle. Instead of Diesel engines, the transformers will be in there.
By the way, did you know, that SBB in Switzerland uses these Flirts only 25 years. After that time they will be sold or scrapped and replaced by new ones. The oldest Firt 1s are just now approaching that age.
Thats neat, although I would prefer they buy a new electric train set if they electrify line 2 and move the diesels onto the old CN track that goes through Kanata to bootstrap a new line.
there the north americain operators can buy them then for cheap
@@jam1955 Not that easy as Switzerland is electrified with 15kV 16.7Hz overhead power. A new transformer is at least nessecary, plus electrification where ever they are going to be used
It's so funny to see that box on a modern FLIRT. I only see that on the old GTW trains in Switzerland, I thought they were gone. Great idea though, especially for keeping the diesel engine noise away from passengers.
@@jam1955 You realize they aren't cheap no railroad wants those right?
4:05 The pattern of the fabric is the same that most DB Rgional trains have and probably the same as the other Lint trains had/still have.
Yeah, for Europe, this DB Regio style pattern is pretty much the off the shelf standard. Several Regional operators like Danish Nordjyske Jernbaner as an example have the DB Regio fabric on their own brand new Lint 41's. Its basic and a bit dated but it gets the job done
And the seats are of the "Lean2" type from Fisa. In Germany, they have so far only been installed in the LINTs of the Harz-Weser network.
I like it! Patterns are good! Plain fabric is boring!
@@RMTransit In contrast, the newer local city buses where I live have a pattern of many instances of their logo. I have no idea how much of a cost increase that is.
our bomardier trains and alstom trains after that had the same fabric, now also see it in the busses too
As someone in Ottawa, I'm really encouraged to hear what you've reported about these trains.
I an Ottawan, retired after taking the buses/LRT for nearly 45 years. Love this design. Love the fact that there are handles for standing passengers on the seats. So much better than having to reach up and hold onto something.
Very cool to see! Thanks for the glowing reviews. I was part of the design team and in charge of adapting the FLIRT frontend to be ready for Canadian winter conditions. I also adapted the O-Train livery to be applicable for the FLIRT and did all the material and painting specifications. Great to see the trains in action!
A few words about the company producing these trains: Stadler started very small in 1942 producing small rail tractors and special products for small private Swiss railway companies, like cogwheel trains. They remained very small with about two dozen employees in the 1990-ies! It was then that they started growing, gradually buying up competitors.
In 1995 with the GTW they found a new niche, producing a light, low capacity articulated railcar that was slightly bigger, lighter and easier accessible than the old fashioned railcars they were replacing. The local small railroad company BTI with their meter-gauge single track railway line from Biel to Ins was the first one ordering this product, and they are still operating it today. The GTW was Stadler's first really successful export product. There were more than 600 units produced until 2018.
Stadler managed to expand the GTW concept into a Multiple Unit with the bigger and more versatile Flirt platform, managing to create a new standard for commuter trains based on light, fast accelerating MUs, replacing much heavier and harder to maneuver locomotive driven units. And from the start, they were looking at the export market, as Swiss railway companies didn't really order from them in large numbers at first, being loyal to their old suppliers.
Stadler was there with the right products at the right time, plus they managed to deliver them almost always on time and almost without teething problems.
Now they've grown into a global player running factories worldwide with 10'000-s of employees and positioning themselves in various markets with a wide range of products from trams to high speed MUs to high capacity commuter MUs to cogwheel trains to large freight train locomotives.
The Stadler GTW was the train set which introduced the PowerPack concept. The FLIRT is an enlarged version of the GTW.
Stadler's GTW production has ended in 2017, due to crashworthiness standards causing these trains to become heavier
When I see a Stadler train rolling in I know it's going to be a good train. Can't be said about the Bombardier trains..
Siemens builds some very nice trains as well though. Too bad Germanys broken rail system often ruins the experience..
I used to ride this line every day when I was in university and it was always the highlight of my commute. I'm so excited for it to open back up and get connectivity all the way across our city from north to south
Carleton FTW!
In the UK, trains are required by law to have contrasting door colours, except for any doors that are only used by train staff, like for example if there is a separate door to the driver's cab. Those are the same colour as the walls so we know not to use them.
same in EU
Yep! It’s good! Same in Europe
The reason the UK has this law is because they implemented it while it was still a member state
@@daanwillemsen223 well... if it works, they are not gonna drop it ... right?
@@PrograError of course
As someone that has ridden TEXRail from Fort Worth, TX to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, these FLIRT DEMU's are spectacular. Nice and smooth too.
I’m really excited to see that DART’s new Silver Line from DFW Airport to Plano is also going to use FLIRTs
In my city (Austin, TX) we have Stadler GTWs (the smaller variant of the FLIRT) in use on our one commuter rail line, and they are easily some of the nicest trains I've ever been on. Like the FLIRTs, the GTWs also utilize the PowerPack design, and they're astonishingly quiet and smooth. I'm so glad Stadler has expanded to the North American market, and interestingly their trains are becoming really popular here in Texas, with 3 current operators and a 4th one coming soon. I can't wait to see what MARTA's new CQ400 subway cars from Stadler look like - I'm expecting them to be gorgeous.
The yellow handles will help for stability when you want to make your way to the door while the train slows.
In Norway the flirt is used in almost all operations, commuter trains, regional and long distance. It is the standard emu here and they run up to 200km/h. We are just beggining to recieve bimodal ones to run where there was previosly dmu's running
In Estonia we also use it for all operations, but the seating configuration on long distance trains is the same as on the commuter ones. i.e. less seating than there could be.
That's just the tip of the "iceberg of incompetence" when it comes to this whole railroad business around here.
@@kalle911 oh here the long distance ones are quite different inside with a cafe too
@@trymevjemo8384 Really? On pictures I've only seen them have a Vending machine. But I mean even that is better than what DSB back in Denmark is doing right now. At least they'll hopefully improve with their new Alstom Coradia Streams. They're learning from Norway and essentially pulling the same tactic with an all purpose, widely deployable EMU.
@@drdewott9154 sorry i mixed it up with the bm73 those have the cafe car
@@kalle911 I'm pretty sure the reason why they bought (actually leased) the commuter type FLIRTs is because distances in Estonia really are not that big. But they didn't realize (or care) that the traveling time is long, because of non-updated railroads. The updating and electrifying of all railroads in Estonia is going on at the moment though. After that is done the trains would be able to drive up to 140km/h. By the way, the first diesel powered FLIRTs were made for Estonia, although soon we're phasing these out to use only electric trains.
Reminds me of the KISS trains that CalTrain has. I would love to see more of them across Canada and the U.S. and I can think of corridors that would benefit in my home state of Wisconsin.
We recently got a lot of FLIRTs in the Eastern UK like you pictured, and they're absolutely my favourite trains right now. They look great, they're fast, they're comfortable, they're quiet, they're well built, the tables are lined up with the windows, they're accessible, the interiors are super well specc'd - and I love the power pack design. Unlike traditional DMUs, no engines under the floors means no vibrations or noise or soot seeping into the passenger compartments, and if you electrify the line in the future you don't need a whole new train - just switch out the power pack.
The FLIRT and the KISS from Stadler are also my favourites. I ride them all the time when I go somewhere where I live in Sweden.
4:32 "But given these trains are so much bigger than the old ones, it's unlikely you'll need them anytime soon."
Spoken like someone who never attended Carleton University. When I say overcrowding got bad on the old Line 2, I mean there were literal lines forming where it was entirely possible you couldn't catch the next, maybe next 2 trains. The idea that some people will be standing and holding on to the straps as soon as after opening is quite reasonable.
Leaving Carleton at 5:45pm was always a struggle, especially trying to head south
While you're definitely right, I think with the high frequency and higher capacity RM is right too. But ya, I've been left at the station before it was awful.
@@neolithictransitrevolution427 There won't be higher frequencies. They're still running every 12 minutes.
@@Absolute_Zero7 Really? Why on earth are they dounle teacking so much?
@@neolithictransitrevolution427 They aren't... There is very little new double tracking being done. Most of it is just new passing loops to allow for the 12 minute frequencies to be maintained.
The flirts are great trains. Love the ones we have at NS. Good quality, well build and no buggy software. One of my favorite trains to drive
Except the text to speech bot announcements, but for the rest they are probably one of the best trains we got here. At least the best sprinter
I enjoy riding FLIRTs from time to time in Poland. Theyre used as intercity trains (PKP Intercity)and in a local/commuter types of service (Łódzka Kolej Aglomeracyjna, Koleje Mazowieckie) too.
We have Stadler GTW DEMUs on the River Line Light Rail in Camden, NJ. They too have a power pack. It's beautiful when they are going. So quiet yet so powerful. They are the oldest Stadler fleet in North America. They MIGHT be replaced with FLIRTS in the near future.
*train pointing right at him* Reese: "I like trains"
I mean naturally!
Nice! Took a ride on a brand new bi-modal FLIRT today in Trondheim, Norway. Great ride! It uses a pantograph south of Trondheim, and the power pack northwards, where catenary now is under construction.
Perhaps something Ottawa will benefit from in the future as they electrify!
The big advantage of the central power pack ist that it can actually be just swapped out.
The regional train services around my hometown Graz/Austria actually used this to get a better deal on their "GTW" (D)EMUs from Stadler (the predecessors of the FLIRT family), where they could simply order part of the trains with Diesel and another part with Electric powerpacks within one tender, greatly simplifying the whole acquisition process. Plus: some of the diesel lines will soon be electrified, so they'll probably just buy some additional power packs and retrofit the existing trains.
I remember when I first went on this train as a kid, and the driver let me sit up front. I appreciated it, and I liked his little commentary, like when we were at a stop, we waited a little longer than usual because: "we're just going to let this poor running lady get on."
Citizens of Ottawa will no doubt put reliability at the top of their list of priorities. The never ending fiasco with Alstom trains has been an embarrassment and inconvenience beyond measure multiple times, including putting lives in danger. Fingers crossed for these newer Swiss trains. Thanks for presenting such an insightful video here.
I Always flirt on trains as its amazing spot to meet new people. Its wild that they actually named the train flirt, this is amazing
This is an amazing video, this is a happy but sad since me being around during the old Otrain era, this new line makes me both proud and sad. Proud because ottawa is making a difference, but sad since the old day was a good train, and had a great legacy when it met line 1
Other than that this video is good and my homeland passenger service is doing smiles on my face every day
These trains look like they’ll keep you nice and cozy in the winter ❄️
Looks like a great trainset for North American standards. BTW: The _PowerPack_ is being used for quite some time by Stadler with the GTW series (starting in 1997). It feels like wasted space. On the other hand and again: it's very flexible just to exchange the power module in a product family.
Some space is lost - you are right. In the other hand, this allows for a very quiet operation. Diesel engines fitted underfloor or on the roof of a multiple unit are loudly perceivable from inside the train and make the ride much less enjoyable!
Gotta love some FLIRT. They have been serving Norway nicely for around 10 years now.
The Flirt is my daily driver here in Western Germany. Here in the Ruhr valley, the Flirt is used for S-Bahn service in a special version, the Flirt 3 XL. It's a five car overhead powered multiple unit, with wider doors and higher seat capacity, compared to the normal Flirt.
I have rode this variant. Very comfortable. I've also rode a BaWü transport KISS, complete in striking yellow
Awesome! Ottowa is very lucky to have these FLIRTs!
And BTW, Thx Reece for touching on the aesthetics of the trains. North American trains have had a tendency to look obese and ugly. It's such an underrated aspect of new trains. Making trains more visually appealing makes the bold statement that we actually value public transit riders.
Always enjoy your video on Line 2 given how it started and how it's grown. It's a great case study for how we can bring back rail services in North America for at a relatively low cost. I'm going to have to do a Toronto - Ottawa - Montreal trip in the near future to experience all the new transit :D
I've gone on a lot of trains in Switzerland (as I live there), and it's kinda uncanny to see the (more or less) same trains but with very different colours
Very very nice looking trains. Super modern appearance. Nice design
it’s really cool to see these FLIRTS used in california too! such as in ebart! and also the arrow train in san bernardino which actually has a hydrogen model in its fleet im pretty sure. The line opens later this year, super excited.
Just found this video, and I learned that they FLIRTs are arriving to Ottawa! I am not an Ottawan, but I am interested in these trains. Thanks for posting about them!
If the E&N railway here on Vancouver Island gets recommissioned, adding trains like this to local transit up and down the E&N railway would really increase it's utility.
That was great Reece. They are pretty trains to be sure. We need more of these.
Yass I ride the electric FLIRTs in Helsinki and they're my favourite train 😁
It's funny that we have Bombardier trains here in Switzerland but export Stadler trains to Canada.
That's free market. Bombardier trains were actually mostly built in Switzerland (Villeneuve), while lots of Stadler train components are built in Hungary. But it's a tendency of the main Swiss railway companies SBB, BLS, RHB and SOB to purchase Stadler models only. I hope Stadler doesn't get too complacent about it.
I love Flirts, they are my commute trains and are amazing to look at
Come on Ottawa, get some more of these sexy locos and start running service out to your rural communities. Everyday I can't train to Calipso is a policy failure.
Love reading your comments every video
@@jonb3286 I appreciate that. Positive youtube comment feed back is rare to come by lol, thank you
@@neolithictransitrevolution427 But do you really want to go to Calypso with those prices??? And no worries, I appreciate your input
Stadler Flirt is probably the most flexible train platform ever built . It can be adapted to customer needs with a few modifications , power can be diesel , electric , hybrid , and hydrogen . Maybe this is the product that allowed Stadler to step up and compete aggressively with other manufacturers like Alstom and Siemens . Over 2500 unit has been sold , running in every corner of the world , from the freezed areas of Norway and Finland to very hot spots as Texas is . Italy is one of the nations where these trains are well appreciated , many companies bought them including state owned operator Trenitalia . Filrts and High speed trains SMILE ( GIRUNO ) are also used for international connections between Italy , Switzerland and Austria . Allegra narrow gauge trains runs from Italy to Switzerland on one of the most brethtaking railways , the Bernina line . And ( coming soon ) new narrow gauge Stadler trains will appear on another international scenic railway , the Centovalli railway , connecting Italy to Switzerland .So ... let me say ... GO STADLER GO !!!!
Awesome trains! The FLIRT 3👌
Interesting that one of the first trains I ever rode was a staedler train, on the riverline. Remember walking through the powerpack.
oh boy I love the FLIRTs I have been on.
I was just in Ottawa for the first time a week ago, and I:
A, had no idea that the O Train existed before then.
B, Didn't understand what line 2 is as it was, (and still is) closed.
Thanks for the info, and I agree that YOW will become the envy of Canadian mass transit.
really excited that ottawa transit is finally starting to look good
Love these Stadler trains. I first saw these on Cities:Skyline as a downloadable assets and they really looked nice. The real thing looks even better (because they're more shinny and I get to see the interior as well!) So excited that Canada is getting these awesome trains!
The FLIRT name originally came from the MU's German name: Flinker, Leichter, Innovativer, Regional-Triebzug. It closely means "Fast, Light, Innovative, Regional Trainset".
YES I WOULD LOVE TO SEE FLIRT DEMUs on Metra! That'll probably happen sometime next century though.
Hey Reece. Are you thinking about making a video about cable cars/aerial lifts in the future. You could talk about the different types (gondolas, tramways, etc) and what they’re used for, the mechanics of how they work or give your take on they’re usage. Really anything tbh as there could be a lot of things to talk about and it would make for a really interesting video.
Watching from London, UK.
Yes! I had one before but an updated version would be good!
@@RMTransit You may want to check the Papang line on the Indian Ocean island of Réunion. Together with the new Téléo line in Toulouse, which opened only a few weeks later earlier this year, it has been hailed as the real start of urban cable car systems in France.
@@RMTransit sounds great
I love FLIRTs! They're used extensively here in the Netherlands, including this diesel version on some smaller lines. The engine unit isn't very loud but boy does it get hot!
Stunning train, great video!
Looking forward to my first ride from my local station, limebank, on opening day.
I saw one of these at the OC Transpo facility at Walkley Yard
Honestly, I knew the O-train and OC transpo because of mighty machines lol, cool service
I'm so jealous that you got to see the cab!!
You earwormed me in the first TWO SECONDS of the video. D: xD
On Metra, I can see the FLIRTs on the Rock Island District on services between LaSalle Street Station and Blue Island - Vermont Street via the Suburban Branch.
Slovenia also bought some flirty. GOOOD trains
Super excited to ride on these!
Wow, those look amazing. Would be nice to see them on Metro-North Railroad both the branch lines and mainlines. Do they have dual-mode ones, thinking for the Hudson line which has 750-volt under-running third rail as far as Croton-Harmon then presently uses push-pull diesel sets onto Poughkeepsie.
Diesel only ones could also work shuttle trains on the Wassaic, Danbury and Waterbury branches that are presently worked with shorter push-pull trains.
I love Stadlers naming scheme. FLIRT, SMILE, KISS, WINK, Tango, it’s not just a few numbers or some random acronym
Really good video, Reece!
Thanks Andrew!
4:33 when carleton university will be starting a new year/semester, you’ll need that standing room
Genuinely wish these trains were on Line 1, or trains like them. So much nicer!
new sub loved the video thx for sharing.
4:27 - I guarantee that with trains this good and a service to match that the extra space and seating will still be insubstantial during certain times of the day. If you build it, they will come! 😁
I want to echo that. These trains on Otrain line 2 serve a major university. There will standees in rush hour, I'm certain. The older LINT trains were overwhelmed at rush hour every weekday.
.
I live in Switzerland and FLIRTS are used massively in the country STADLER is based on. Most of the time you're gonna take a train like the one on this video, except they're all 100% electric
I’m happy that this train is in my hometown. I’m excited to get a chance to ride it.
Very lucky!
You should do a video on the idea of a mountain-valley express high speed rail from chilliwack to whistler in British Columbia
It's really trippy seeing that kinda fabric pattern in NA.
As a German, I was quite suprised to see a Lint and the German seat pattern
I love this video, Canada have any railways!!!
Stadler also has the Wink and GTW for urban metro and lower rider density regional trains. Both the GTW and Wink come with a multi use power pack car.
The GTW is no longer produced and the Wink, its successor, is not selling that well. But Stadler instead just sold more than 500 Citylink tram-trains in Germany and Austria catering to similar needs.
Hey,
In multiple occasions throughout the video I've seen a single track where the train was moving... couldn't notice a second track. Can you please specify which section of the track did you guys test ?
Thanks
Very cool train! I would love to see it in Barcelona "Rodalies" regional train. Regional trains in Spain are getting old, and the Stadler FLIRT looks like a good option for regional train in Spain!
@RMTransit--which FLIRT equipped (745/755) lines did you ride on when you visited the UK? Couldn't easily tell from the 2s shot in the video,
Of course the UK ones have a slightly smaller body because the UK is built to a smaller loading gauge.
Stadtler are also doing well in locomotives at the moment, with units that can run diesel or electric.
The other "manufacturer" to watch is Vivarail (part of Posner), who are now starting to "repurpose/refurbish" another end of life UK trainset (the 321) into BEMU (and, I suspect, might offer a DEMU conversion if someone wanted it)
Loving the content 😃 I’m into trains for not a long while, just half a year after switching from the aviation gang 😅
I’ve always paid attention to motor sounds of trains and metros. Searching it up are those complex traction systems that I always wish to know more about . Those IGBT-VFFF or IGVT whatever, super confusing for me. May you make a video in the future taking about traction system ? Cheers from down under 😀
I wish we had these in my city! I would ride it religiously!
They are definitely a beautiful railcar.
I'm so excited for this line to come back into operation, I'll be taking it all the way from limebank station to bayview station then swap to line 1 east for a few stops. :) (Bummer about the openning delays, but better to get it right the first time than have hickups after openning to the public)
Could these, hypothetically, substitute for old Amtrak diesels and Amfleet cars on shorter intercity service, specifically Raleigh to Durham NC (trip time of less than an hour) on shared freight and passenger track?
I wonder where these could be used in Toronto if we were to ever need them. Perhaps GO would use them. Maybe on the midtown line as a sort of London Overground for Toronto. For that though, we'd need better fare integration
If GO were going to get Stadler trains, they would most likely go with the KISS model like what Caltrain is getting. But electrification is a first
The FLIRTS are great vehicles and I am glad to see Stadler getting a foothold in North America. Of course, if you want to see a vehicle that was designed for multiple purposes you only need to hop on GO. The Hawker-Siddeley/UTDC/Bombardier bi-level cars. While they have only been used on commuter trains, they were designed so that they could have regional or long-distance interiors. However, when California ordered their bi-level cars instead of going with off-the-shelf equipment like the Bombardier cars they designed their own cars with Morrison-Knudson (later Amerail) which ended up being very trouble-prone so when Amtrak ordered the Surfliner sets they wanted compatibility with the California Cars so once again they went with that design but instead order from Alstom. So despite being capable of being a much more versatile car the Bombardier cars have been restricted to commuter service. There was even drawings that showed them as EMU's but that never went anywhere.
It is very nice to see more European products in North America. Now I don't have to go all the way south to Texas to check these out.
You should check out Newag's Impuls trains that are common in Poland. My regional operator ŁKA (in Łódź aglomeration) has both them and Flirt III trains and I actually prefer the Impuls trains. They look super cool!
Like Flirts, they are flexible as they can be EMU's, DMU's or hybrid units. Also they come in 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 car variants. There is over 200 of them in Poland and a couple units in Italy
I've seen the Pesa EMUs and DMUs, but was not aware that there was another Polish company producing these. The Impuls actually seems to be very similar to the Flirt.
I wonder why they haven't been exported more. Pesa was quite successful with their Link models in Germany.
@@markusstudeli2997 Yes! I also wonder why that is, they are such wonderful units. Maybe they will be exported more in the future
Omg I literally can't believe it I will see Stadler Flirts in the capital city of my country Croatia (when Slovenians next year start to operate them to CRO) and in Canada!
I believe NJ Transit was the first transit agency in North American to use the FLIRT DEMU when service on the RiverLine Light Rail started in 2004. Nearly 20 years later, those first generation FLIRTs are still carrying commuters between Trenton and Camden, NJ.
I can envisioned FLIRT DEMUs operating on the non-electrified section of the LIRR one day. I just hope the folks at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority can travel to Ottawa and see the latest generation FLIRT DEMU in action once the new line opens there.
I can also envisioned FLIRTs operating on Wassaic extension of Metro-North's Harlem Line as well as a on Waterbury and Danbury Branches of the MNR's New Haven Line.
I also hope Stadler have an electric version of the FLIRTs for the New Canaan Branch of the MNR's New Haven Line and the proposed Interborough Express for NYC.
The FLIRT platform would need to be adapted for ~122 cm platforms.
@@sonicboy678 that’s not a big deal, Stadler is quite good at doing this kind of bespoke work, it’s kind of their specialty!
There are absolutely electric and bimode flirts already!
I love the Flirt. Would love to see em in NYC and Philly, but that would also mean a total redesign of the Flirt (LIRR high platform and SEPTA a mix of high and low).
No point and FRA has strict regulations...
Caltrain in SF Bay is using an interesting design on the Stadler KISS that has both high and low floor doors to allow visiting different station designs which is a little silly (and a product of underfunding stations) but can fill a niche.
Why do you so desperately want European off-the-shelf trains in America? What's wrong with American Trains???
@@danielchou5895 What American trains? There are none. The US hasn't made a new passenger train for almost half a century, the expertise does not exist anymore.
@@danielchou5895 European trains are better
I can't wait to ride these soon as an Ottawa resident. Trust me though, the trains right before classes at Carleton University start will 100% have many standing passengers.
MARTA in Atlanta is gettin some new Stadler trains 2025. Should be a good upgrade