City to Parramatta Light Rail Link    
   
   
 
 
   
   
   
Video how it works  
Soundless animation how it works  
Video Waverail Particulars  
Tracks   Government built and maintained
  Text Box: In the middle of the road and slightly-segregated from the other traffic (such that it is physically obvious that the tram commands the right of way in this area).
 
Other infrastructure   Refuge islands only
  Text Box: Narrow and one car short only, except for the major commuter stations. No infrastructure except for a sign and a power point for metered battery charging.
 
Road compatibility   Tram needs the right of way 
  Text Box: Traffic lights have to be interlocked. A 138m consist need 20s green period to clear a major intersection and at full capacity this will happen once every 3 minutes. Braking distance is 25m (20m in the city) and thus the track corridor must be free of traffic more than 25m ahead of the tram. Apart from that the track corridor can on occasions be used by other road participants.
 
Speed   39km/h;   35km/h in the city and downhill  
   
cars   75passengers,  battery powered, < $1.0M cost
typical Waverail car Text Box: Relatively simple, self propelled, low powered unidirectional Waverail™ style cars, 9m long, 48kW motor. Wide inter-car doors at either end. One main door with a deployable ramp. Lead acid batteries; high inertia air-conditioning. 'At speed' auto couplers both ends. Modern instant action automotive brakes. It is planned that a specification is issued and that various manufacturers will build cars upon securing orders from future operators.
 
fleet   total  420 cars;  356 active at peak, 126 off-peak
   
Consists peak   1,070 passengers,  138m  
  Text Box: dynamic amalgamation of maximum 15 self-propelled Waverail™ style cars
 
Consists off-peak   350 passengers,  46m  
  Text Box: 5car amalgamation; estimate only, as per demand
 
Assumed patronage   46M  full length trip equivalents  per year
  Text Box: capacity is 166M pa. Total ticket revenue $190M pa
 
Minimum trip length   4 stations (peak), 2 stations (off-peak)
  Text Box: worst case, approximative
 
Net boarding time span   3.3min (peak),   9min (off-peak)
   
Control system Text Box: A comprehensive driver information system is included covering crowd control at stations and car management. Wireless messages will be broadcast by this system in case of under capacity. The system is owned, operated and maintained by the association of the car operators.
 
 
   
Expansion capability   50,000 Passengers/h
  Text Box: To 21,000 Passengers/h by increasing wave length to 200m; to 35,000 by increasing frequency; to 50,000 by doing both. The system can, without changes, be integrated into a network.
 
Funding & ownership structure   small business 
Car operator's economics Text Box: The fleet is owned and cars are run by licensed private small business operators. Each car has a driver selling tickets. The proceeds of this, subject to the equalising system, are the operator's. The operator is allowed to sell other goods including advertisements. The equalising system provides for the distribution of bulk ticket sales and is owned and run by an operator's association. The operator is responsible for the amenity in the car such as internet access.
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
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