Combino ride
Chris Brownbill <[email protected]>
Friday, December 20, 2002 10:19 PM
Others may have posted similar reports, but I thought I'd detail my
impressions of the Combino.
I rode 3504 yesterday from Melbourne Uni to Malvern Town Hall.
First impression is the size - it's big, and it is reminiscent from
the outside of a Dutch tram. I think its the roofline - "Barge-boards
maybe"?
The low floor is easy to board, but boy what a shock when you get
inside. Where are the seats? It seems like there are only a dozen or
so, although to be fair many of them are folding so thay're not
obvious. Its like the inside of a big caterpillar.
Even though it looks big from the outside, it doesn't seem so big
inside . A heck of a lot of space is taken up with 'stuff'. Like the
wheel-arches where there are single seats. Also the unbelievably
cramped seats near the articulation concertina - I cant imagine anyone
other than a child fitting in there. The cute sandbox viewing glasses
are a real anachronsism.
The aircon on 3504 was crap. It was a warm but not hot afternoon, but
boy it was uncomfortable inside. The smell of vinyl or new plastic
was overpowering, and I actually felt ill by the time I got off.
Visibility is very poor - its an internal experience - not at all like
other trams up to and including the B's where seat spacing for viewing
through the windows was a design feature. This one seems to be
designed for travelling through tunnels. The low floor exacerbates
this by reducing the viewing position.
The car didnt get much of an opportunity to show its performance on
the congested route - it felt as though it might have some get up and
go, but overall a real heavy dinosaur.
Not an impressive experience unfortunately.
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impressions of the Combino.
I rode 3504 yesterday from Melbourne Uni to Malvern Town Hall.
First impression is the size - it's big, and it is reminiscent from
the outside of a Dutch tram. I think its the roofline - "Barge-boards
maybe"?
The low floor is easy to board, but boy what a shock when you get
inside. Where are the seats? It seems like there are only a dozen or
so, although to be fair many of them are folding so thay're not
obvious. Its like the inside of a big caterpillar.
Even though it looks big from the outside, it doesn't seem so big
inside . A heck of a lot of space is taken up with 'stuff'. Like the
wheel-arches where there are single seats. Also the unbelievably
cramped seats near the articulation concertina - I cant imagine anyone
other than a child fitting in there. The cute sandbox viewing glasses
are a real anachronsism.
The aircon on 3504 was crap. It was a warm but not hot afternoon, but
boy it was uncomfortable inside. The smell of vinyl or new plastic
was overpowering, and I actually felt ill by the time I got off.
Visibility is very poor - its an internal experience - not at all like
other trams up to and including the B's where seat spacing for viewing
through the windows was a design feature. This one seems to be
designed for travelling through tunnels. The low floor exacerbates
this by reducing the viewing position.
The car didnt get much of an opportunity to show its performance on
the congested route - it felt as though it might have some get up and
go, but overall a real heavy dinosaur.
Not an impressive experience unfortunately.
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/