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Why do people get nostalgic about trains? Is it only the steam enthusiast who has a passion for trains? Is it coincidence that across the world most of the passenger train designs, specifically commuter trains, are similar?
If one carefully analyses the basic design of a commuter train coach it is no surprise to find an analogy with the early stagecoach design! Early train engineers seemed to be more concerned with "traction" power and to "replace" genuine horsepower than on the aesthetic appearance of the coach itself. Even up to the class 5M the outside steps at the train doors resemble those of an early stagecoach. No wonder that early comparisons between the train and horse-drawn carriages always used the latter as the benchmark.
The real paradigm shift occurred when the "stagecoach-like" access to and from the train could no longer cope with the increasing demand for rail services. Prior to the class 5M, under peak traffic conditions passengers could not embark and disembark from trains simultaneously. Over and above this issue, additional time had to be scheduled for train stops, to allow guards and ticket examiners to close the train doors before a train could disembark.
The later introduction of the class 5M was accompanied by new train management methods that included optimum train scheduling, optimised following distances and a more scientific approach to commuter service planning.
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The development of commuter trains can be tracked by comparing primary design criteria of each class.
THE '1M'
- Design Criteria:
- "Kill the Horse-drawn competition"
- Steam driven locomotives are not efficient.
- Electricity: Proof of concept.
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Interesting Facts:
- Regional based
- 1.5 KV traction, as opposed to 3KV later.
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