From: ahk@chinet.com   
      
   Stephen Sprunk  wrote:   
   >On 11-Apr-15 08:36, Adam H. Kerman wrote:   
      
   >>CTA discourages passengers from changing cars once they're on board.   
      
   >>I agree in part and disagree in part. Platforms should be sized for   
   >>expected boarding at the station, not the longest train. Passengers   
   >>should be in the car with the doors that will open.   
      
   >... but when you combine that with the above, that means passengers are   
   >supposed to know _when they board_ what cars will allow them to exit at   
   >the destination.  That isn't an issue for daily commuters, but how are   
   >tourists or occasional riders supposed to know this?  It's simpler and   
   >more passenger-friendly to make all your platforms as long as the   
   >longest train that stops there.   
      
   I'm trying to reduce station construction costs on your railroad. Doesn't   
   apply in the Midwest, but in hilly areas, you don't always have   
   sufficient tangent track (without both vertical and horizontal curves)   
   for a full-length platform and there's no reason to attempt to build   
   one for a low volume stop.   
      
   I'm very much opposed to "doing without" when we've raised costs to   
   excessive levels or geography prevents construction because of   
   one-size-fits-all rules that don't apply to the situation at that location.   
      
   On Metra, they expect passengers to follow instructions. There are   
   announcements with regard to which doors will open and which car the   
   passengers must be in to get off the train.   
      
   On the platform, there a bit of weirdness at one station served by   
   two lines with different designated boarding areas for handicapped.   
      
   >DART's at-grade stations have 300ft* platforms because that was the   
   >longest train they currently operate; however, they knew they will   
   >eventually have 400ft long trains, so above- and below-grade stations   
   >(which are expensive to alter) have 400ft platforms, and the platforms   
   >at most* at-grade stations were designed to be easily expanded.   
      
   >* That's the length of a city block in downtown Dallas, where DART   
   >currently operates in the streets.  That section will be made below   
   >grade someday, which will allow longer trains.   
      
   If it's in subway, then why can't trains be operated more frequently?   
   You're no longer concerned with intersection capacity.   
      
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