Trinity Railway Express Rail Diesel Cars (RDC)
DART purchased 13 RDCs from VIA Rail Canada in 1993. The Budd Company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania originally built the RDCs in the 1950’s. They were used by VIA Rail throughout Canada in intercity service.
The RDCs were completely stripped down to their stainless steel shell and remanufactured by GEC Alsthom Transport, Inc. at their Montreal facility. All new interiors were provided, including new seats, floors, ceilings, walls, windows, and lighting.
The makeover took 20 months. Upon completion, the RDCs were shipped as part of a freight train to Dallas.
Once the RDCs arrived in Dallas, each car had its interior installation completed including major components mounted, wired and plumbed, and then were tested for 3-5 days prior to being put into service.
Each RDC has 92 passenger seats plus 4 mobility impaired areas. Wheelchair access is through a manually deployed bridgeplate from the side doors to a "high block" on the station platform. Each car is 85 feet long, 10 feet wide, and 14 feet high. Empty, each car weights 135,000 pounds. Its design speed is 85 mph, but travels at a maximum speed of 60 mph while in service. Each car has 2 doors on each side.
The RDCs are powered by 2 diesel engines, each generating 300 horsepower. Each car has dual cabs to allow bi-directional operation just like DART's light rail vehicles (LRV).
Rail Diesel Car Technical Specifications
Vehicle Type:
Dual-cab, diesel propulsion rail vehicle
Vehicle Height:14 feet, 8 inches
Vehicle Width:10 feet
Vehicle Length:85 feet
Vehicle Weight:135,000 pounds each
Passenger Capacity:96 seated
Travel Speed:Top operating speed: 79 mph. Average speed: 45 mph
Body:Stainless steel
Interior:Redesigned and refurbished to accommodate longer distance commuting.
Deluxe high-back seating with armrests; luggage racks; non-skid rubber flooring
Cooling/Heating:Heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system
Special Features:Accessible/accommodations for four wheelchairs per vehicle
Vehicle Cost:$1.8 million each (cost includes engineering, shipment, etc.)
Trinity Railway Express Locomotives, Bi-Level Coaches, Cab Cars
Fleet configuration as of 1-06-10
9 locomotives
15 bi-level coaches
10 bi-level cab cars
TRE F-59 PH Locomotive Technical Specifications
Originally GO Transit unit GO Road numbers: 525, 527, 528 (purchased 2009), 565 thru 568 (purchased 1999)
565-568 Refurbished by Amtrak at Beach Grove with Cab HVAC, repainted car bodies, and converted HEP to US standard 480v HEP. First used in service at TRE late 2000. Overhaul project underway at RELCO in Albia, IA. Rebuild included up-grading to EPA TIER-II compliance. Once overhaul is completed road numbers will be 123-126.
525, 527, 528 In overhaul at TTI (Norfolk Southern) in Altoona, PA. Overhaul includes repainted carbodies, conversion to US standard 480v HEP, up-grading to EPA Tier II compliance. Once overhaul is completed TRE road numbers assigned will be 120-122.
Locomotive manufacturer: EMD
Locomotive type: (B-B) 0440
Locomotive horsepower: 3100
Years built: 1994
Vehicle height: 15' 8"
Vehicle width: 10' 6"
Vehicle length: 58' 2"
Vehicle weight: 260,000 lbs.
Maximum speed: 83 mph
TRE F-59 PHI Locomotive Technical Specifications
Purchased new from EMD, some electrical, and pre-delivery work done by Alsthom. First used by TRE in 2001.
Road numbers: 569 & 570
Locomotive manufacturer: EMD
Locomotive type: (B-B) 0440
Locomotive horsepower: 3000
Years built: 2001
Vehicle height: 15' 11.5"
Vehicle width: 10' 6.5"
Vehicle length: 58' 2"
Vehicle weight: 268,000 lbs.
Maximum speed: 83 mph
TRE Bi-Level Cab & Coach Equipment
Road numbers: 1000 and 1001 Cab Cars, 1050 thru 1059 Coaches Car manufacturer: UTDC/Hawker-Siddeley Originally built: 1976 thru 1977, rebuilt by Amtrak 2000 thru 2001 Originally owned and operated by: GO Transit, Canada
Road numbers: 1002 and 1003 Cab Cars
Car manufacturer: Bombardier
Years built: 2000
Purchased new by: TRE
Road numbers: 1004, 1005 and 1006 Cab Cars Car manufacturer: Bombardier Years built: 2003 Purchased new by: TRE
Road numbers: 1007, 1008 and 1009 Cab Cars Road number: 1060 Coach Car Manufacturer: Bombardier Year built: 2007 Purchased new by: TRE
Road numbers: 1061-1064 Coach Car Manufacturer: Bombardier Year built: 2009 Purchased new by: TRE
Seating capacity for cab and coach cars: 123 to 152 depending on configuration of car Maximum customer capacity: 399 to 428 depending on exact configuration of car
Height: 15' 11"
Width: 9' 10"
Length: 85'
Maximum design speed: 95 mph
Empty weight: 122,000 lbs.
Climate control: Full heating, air conditioning and ventilation Customer amenities: workstation tables, bicycle racks, luggage racks, cup holders
Accessibility: Wheelchair access and interior spaces Cars equipped with restrooms: 1000, 1001, 1002, 1003, 1004, 1005, 1006, 1007, 1008, 1009 and 1053
TRE Bi-Level Cab & Coach Equipment
Road numbers: 1000 and 1001 Cab Cars, 1050 thru 1059 Coaches
Car manufacturer: Hawker-Siddeley
Originally built: 1976 thru 1977, rebuilt by Amtrak 2000 thru 2001
Originally owned and operated by: GO Transit, Canada
Road numbers: 1002 and 1003 Cab Cars
Car manufacturer: Bombardier
Years built: 2000
Purchased new by: TRE
Road numbers: 1004, 1005 and 1006 Cab Cars
Car manufacturer: Bombardier
Years built: 2003
Purchased new by: TRE
Seating capacity for cab and coach cars: 123 to 152 depending on configuration of car
Maximum customer capacity: 399 to 428 depending on exact configuration of car
Height: 15’ 11’’
Width: 9’ 10’’
Length: 85’
Maximum design speed: 95 mph
Empty weight: 122,000 lbs.
Climate control: Full heating, air conditioning and ventilation
Customer amenities: workstation tables, bicycle racks, luggage racks, cup holders
Accessibility: Wheelchair access and interior spaces
Cars equipped with restrooms: 1000, 1001, 1002, 1003, 1004, 1005, 1006, and 1053
