Abstract Manager

Legacy North American LRTs often increase peak capacity by adding cars per train, a path that can trigger platform works, traction-power upgrades, yard expansion, and operational complexity. A rarer alternative is emerging in recent procurements: accepting longer individual LRVs and re-optimizing consist policy (fewer, longer vehicles per train) to achieve capacity gains while staying within fixed infrastructure constraints. This presentation distills transferable lessons from a recent Canadian cold-climate sourcing context (without disclosing confidential information) and contrasts the approach with examples from other jurisdictions where agencies have either shortened trains or selected different vehicle length strategies.

We propose a decision framework that treats vehicle length, consist policy, and supporting facilities as a coupled asset system. The framework combines: (1) discrete platform-fit logic (vehicle length thresholds that can unexpectedly reduce achievable capacity); (2) dwell-time and passenger-flow evaluation tied to door distribution and station operations; (3) lifecycle costing (capex + facility delta + spares + renewals) using NPV; and (4) a structured risk register covering clearance/curve robustness, traction-power margins, maintenance-bay fit, fleet heterogeneity, degraded-mode/rescue strategy, and long-term vendor/support risk.

The outcome is a practical, defensible procurement playbook: what to ask bidders to submit (infrastructure delta, dwell methodology, compatibility evidence), how to score trade-offs transparently, and how to embed monitoring and governance so the chosen strategy remains resilient as demand, funding, and climate conditions evolve. The talk targets agencies planning LRV replacement or expansion programs and seeking future-ready, fiscally responsible capacity growth without avoidable infrastructure surprises.