This paper describes work that has been undertaken to date on TCRP Research Project C-16, the purpose of which was to assist the introduction of Low Floor Light Rail Vehicles (LFLRVs) into North America. Most vehicles so far introduced are 70% low floor with a three-section articulated vehicle body with the center section mounted on a truck with non-powered, independently rotating wheels. Where these have been in use for a while they have experienced various performance problems such as derailments, excessive wheel and rail wear, noise and reduced ride quality. The transit systems appear to have been successful in applying solutions to these problems but the objective of the research has been to develop generic guidance that can avoid them, especially for totally new systems. The research involved a team of both US and European experts who undertook a broad study of the issues and also undertook some simulation modeling to improve understanding of some of the key contributory factors that were identified. The conclusions were that it should be possible to use this type of vehicle without serious problems if fundamental guidance was followed but that it would also be worthwhile to investigate the possibility of introducing other types of Low Floor Light Rail vehicle that were now in common use elsewhere in the world.
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