The Overlooked Solution to Overcrowded Trains

Introduction:

We've all experienced the discomfort of cramming into a crowded subway car, with our faces buried in someone's armpit. It's a situation that leaves us wondering if there's a better way. Surprisingly, there is a design solution that has proven to alleviate overcrowding, but it has largely been ignored. Open gangway cars offer a promising solution to the problem, yet their implementation has been slow. In this article, we'll explore the history of passenger trains, the challenges of overcrowding, and the potential benefits of open gangway cars in addressing this issue.

The Evolution of Passenger Trains:

Passenger trains have come a long way since their inception. In the early 1800s, uncomfortable and impractical carriages were introduced, featuring both interior seating and benches mounted on top. By 1834, rectangular rail cars with simple wooden benches and a central aisle, resembling today's designs, replaced the mounted carriages. Over the years, train cars have remained largely self-contained, making movement between cars difficult and often prohibited.

The Challenge of Overcrowding:

Cities like Chicago, New York, and Boston face the challenge of overcrowded train cars, particularly in subways constrained by narrow tunnels. Seating configurations are limited, usually consisting of bench seating along the walls and occasional pairs of opposing seats. The most efficient arrangement, consistently used today, is bench seating along the walls. However, this seating configuration has seen little change in over a century.

Introducing Open Gangway Cars:

Open gangway cars offer a solution to overcrowding by incorporating narrow walkways or platforms between train cars. These walkways, similar to the accordion section in articulated buses, provide safe access between cars and allow riders to spread out between crowded and less crowded areas. By replacing the unused space in traditional train cars with open gangway designs, overcrowding can be reduced by up to 14%, making open gangways an appealing solution.

Successful Implementations:

Cities like London have embraced open gangway trains on their subsurface lines, reporting capacity increases of up to 10% on deep tube routes. London is also in the process of replacing its 1970s trains on the Piccadilly line with open gangway trains, with the project set to be completed by 2025. Similarly, New York City has approved the purchase of 535 train cars from Kawasaki, including 20 trains featuring the open gangway design. This is a timely decision, given the increasing ridership following the pandemic.

Slow Implementation in the U.S.:

Surprisingly, open gangway trains have been widely adopted in metro systems outside the U.S., with approximately three-quarters of these systems utilizing some form of open gangway cars. They can be found in older systems in Paris and London, as well as newer networks in China, Algeria, and Egypt. However, the implementation has been slower in the United States. Nevertheless, cities like New York and San Francisco are currently testing open gangway train cars, indicating that their introduction may be imminent.

Conclusion:

Open gangway cars offer a promising solution to alleviate overcrowding in trains. With their ability to increase capacity without adding length, they are considered the train cars of the future. While their implementation has been slow in the United States, some cities are recognizing their potential and testing them. As we strive for more efficient and comfortable public transportation, open gangway cars may soon become a common sight, improving the commuting experience for millions of people.