RTD Commuter Rail

Contributed By Steve Nissen

On July 25, RTD held a dedication and open-house for the new Commuter Rail Maintenance Facility (CRMF) at 5151 Fox Street, Denver. The facility is visible on the north side of I-70.

I was privileged to have a personally guided tour by a consultant who is working on the B Line to Westminster. There are currently 32 rail cars parked in the facility just waiting for the lines to open in 2016. At opening time there will be approximately 62 cars in service. Additional cars will be added as additional lines are opened/and or extended. These trains are not to be confused with “light rail” although they may look the same.

The CRMF building is a GOLD certified LEED building. The roof is sloped to catch rainwater for use in washing the train cars. That’s most interesting because it seems they would have to have a cistern to retain the rain/snowmelt. The facility will employ 240 people. The operations center for all of the commuter rail system is a state-of-the-art computerized wonder. RTD’s system will have positive train control (PTC). (Remember the Philadelphia disaster earlier this year) The CRMF has many interesting features for lifting the rail cars so axles/motors can be serviced etc.

There are numerous interesting facts about the CRMF, its operation, the cars, the power lines etc. I know this is a ‘guy thing’ but I just want to relay some basic facts. The overhead catenary lines (power lines) will be carrying 25,000 volts compared to 700 volts for light rail. The rail cars will carry about 200 passengers and are 70,000 lbs. in weight empty (the weight of 25 automobiles), there is an electric motor on each axle and the rail cars have disc brakes—the biggest disc brakes you have ever seen.

I am particularly interested in the launching of Commuter Rail in Denver and have been fascinated by our rail transportation expansion. I was honored to serve on the Citizens Advisory Committee (‘light rail dream team’) about 25 years ago. Look for the launch of the Commuter Lines to DIA, Arvada and Westminster in 2016. Let’s hope there will be ‘Express Non-stop’ trains from DIA to Union Station along with the planned ‘several stop trains’.

Steve Nissen