[Rescue Muni] More Bredas

Max Pong (pong2@llnl.gov)
Wed, 7 Oct 1998 14:33:11 -0700 (PDT)

<fontfamily><param>Geneva</param>San Francisco will purchase 59 new
Bredas at a cost of $3.0 million each. The entire cost will be paid by
the federal government. Vehicles will begin arriving in November 1999.
Muni previously purchased 77 Bredas, of which 52 have been received
and another 25 will be delivered. (ref. 10/6 Chronicle)

Salt Lake City will purchase 23 LRV's from Siemens for $1.9 million
each. Portland just purchased 29 low-floor light rail vehicles from
Siemens for $2.5 million each. Dallas purchased 21 LRV's from
Kinkisharyo for $2.7 million each.

I suppose the Breda's cost more because they have a special design to
be compatible with the existing Muni trackway, but the spaceship-like
doors that pop out and then slide apart must cost a fortune. Everyone
knows the Boeing pop-out doors broke down frequently. Why did Muni
specify pop-out doors on the Breda's instead of conventional folding
doors? The Sacramento and San Jose LRVs have folding doors, as did the
old Boston Boeings. I have to say that the Breda doors are much better
designed than the Boeing popout doors; they close gently rather than
slamming shut.

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