Design Principles
Design Principles
Trains would be ultralight, but with space below the car for a temporary weight, that can be removed on lines which do not have heavy freight operation on them, this would allow for the system to meet federal regulations currently in place.
Exterior design based on Paris Metro's MF67 train cars.
Automatically dimming lighting, which provides light based on exterior light, interior noise, and time of day, ensuring that as much energy as possible can be saved, while providing enough light for saftey.
OLED screens to display the next station and the location on the current line.
Embedded neon-look LED exterior lighting which matches the line color which the train is running on
Large push to open windows (in a ventilation pattern)
Heating
USBC charging ports throughout
Privately commissioned original soundtrack based on Chanson Nouvelle (new French pop music). (Videoclub, The Pirouettes, etc.)
51" Level Boarding, slightly widebody trains, to allow freight rail to use the same tracks.
Ultraprecise train location radio communications, and radio controlled switches will be controlled by a command center located in a central or heavily trafficked area, will be used to operated the entire system at different levels based on the time of day and the weather conditions.
At first, stations will be rather bare bones in order to minimize the start-up cost of the system. The complete system will have three types of stations: Standard Stations, Major Stations, and Attraction Stations.
Operational Stations will have their final concrete platforms constructed, a small canopy, fare gates, and fencing.
Standard Stations on portions of lines that require no significant construction in order to begin operation will have essentially no station amenities constructed at first, the only infrastructure added will be an electricity tap (temporarily wired to outlets), mobile fare gates, fencing for fare paid zones, wooden/paver-leveled level crossings (to access the other platform), sets of wooden stairs to access the train, and a bit of gravel or pavers here and there.
Standard Stations on lines that require significant construction or reconstruction will have their final concrete platforms constructed, and be provided with a live arrivals/departures board, and a self-serve card order machine. These stations will also be built with utilities and structure to accommodate future station buildings and canopies.
Amusement Stations will have the same features/amenities as Standard Stations, though the design will be reviewed for crowd control, and more will go towards the interior and exterior design. They will be fully constructed to their final/initial configurations when major construction occurs on the line in the area.
Major Stations will be constructed to their final/initial configurations, according to their plans.
Later improvements planned will bring every station to include concrete platforms (with level boarding), a canopy/waiting area of some kind, permanent fare gates, arrivals/departures board(s), self-serve card order machine(s), bathroom(s), water fountains, and escalators + elevator (if required).
Tap card/phone only (rfid) ticketing.
Fully automated trains.
Mostly unmanned stations.
Dynamic train frequency increasing/decreasing with demand.
Grade separation is a priority, but not essential. Lines which are intended to be metro can have level crossings for vehicle and locomotive crossings if it is prohibitively expensive to grade-separate them.
Pedestrian grade crossings are also a priority to remove but not as much of a priority. Prioritized by passenger numbers.
GPS based train control. All trains(, arms, switches) can be remotely controlled, and operate autonomously. Problem level crossings can be monitored by placing a supervisor at the level crossing to ensure compliance with arms, and can manage accidents or aggressive drivers. They are also equipped with a button which can raise the crossing arms and stop trains from entering their crossing in the event of a dangerous situation.
High frequencies (scheduled minimum of 15 minutes)
Practicality
Ease of use
Amenities
The alignments would attempt to have as little interaction with other traffic as possible, but no excessive effort will be made to eliminate interactions if not necessary.