Here come the streetcars!

Pickup coils, Bombardier PRIMOVE underground power system

Transport Politic reports (via a press release) that Bombardier, the Canadian rail vehicle (built in part on the assets of the former Budd Company) and airplane manufacturer, has introduced reliable underground "third rail" powering for outside use for streetcar and light rail systems. (The Alstom system used in Bordeaux hasn't proved to be reliable or easily used in snowy climates.) See "Bombardier Presents New Catenary-Free Streetcar."


The L'Enfant City

In the old days, underground powering of streetcars was not uncommon. However, "modern" safety standards would not allow the installation and use of similar systems today. DC has a law banning overhead wires in the original "City of Washington" which we commonly call the "L'Enfant City" as well as Georgetown. This has been one of the many holdups over moving forward with streetcar planning in DC.

Streetcar at Union Station, Washington, DC. Photographer unknown.

From the Bombardier website, PRIMOVE Catenary-Free Operation:

The PRIMOVE system’s outstanding feature is its safe and contactless power transfer. Its electric supply components are invisible, hidden under the vehicle and beneath the track. This is a key benefit in historic or environmentally protected areas of cities. With its contactless power transfer, our unique PRIMOVE technology:

• Eliminates overhead wires and increases a city’s attractiveness
• Safely transfers inductive power
• Eliminates wear on parts and components
• Operates in all weather and ground conditions

The only thing with this, unless Bombardier is willing to license the technology to other manufacturers, such as those producing the Inekon Trio vehicles used in cities like Portland, Seattle, and eventually DC, DC will need to switch to the Flexity tram vehicle produced by Bombardier, in order to get a streetcar system up and running in the L'Enfant City (the historic core) which has to operate under the strictures of the law banning overhead wires on the city streets. (And it means that DC should hold off installing rail track on H Street NE, because likely the installation of a PRIMOVE-capable railbed requires more than steel rails and ties.)

Bombardier Flexity streetcar (tram), Valencia, Spain

The Flexity light rail vehicle is used in Minneapolis.

Metropolitan Council photo of the Hiawatha Light rail Line, Minneapolis