STARS--IMPROVED AIR COMFORT SYSTEM PHASE I FINAL REPORT, VOLUME II

As part of UMTA's Subsystems Technology Application to Rail Systems (STARS) Program, a comprehensive study of the problems of rail transit car air conditioning was undertaken. Air conditioning units in the transit environment hve high failure rates, and are costly to maintain. Five transit authorities participated in the study: Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART), Port Authority Transit Corporation (PATCO), Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Port Authority Trans-Hudson Corporation (PATH), and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). A separate study of the New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA) was undertaken by the consultant, and the findings included as part of this report. The 6 authorities studied use air comfort systems made by 4 different manufacturers on 20 types of railcar. These air comfort system and railcar types are of different ages, and hve been maintained with varying degrees of thoroughness. This diversity of factors precludes overall correlation of system failure problems among the participating authorities. The problems we identified during on-site visits are therfore discussed for each authority with comparisons drawn between authorities as applicable. The study determined that there are major factors contributint to air conditioning problems: (1) hardware design, (2) deficiencies in maintenance information systems. (3) preventive maintenance, (4) employee training, (5) technical documentation, and (6) parts procurement, storage. As part of the analysis, a cost-benefit ratio was developed for improvements made in each problem area. A conceptual design for a new concept modular air conditioning system is also included in the report.

• Corporate Authors:

  Data Communication, Incorporated

  425 Broad Hollow Road
  Melville, NY  United States  11747

  Urban Mass Transportation Administration

  400 7th Street, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Porthouse, H W
  • Allen, D C
  • Elms, C P
  • Diewald, W J
  • Dewey, S H
• Publication Date: 1983-11

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: 246 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air conditioning systems; Cooling equipment; Design; Maintainability; Management information systems; Modular structures; Passenger cars; Preventive maintenance; Rapid transit cars; Reliability; Vehicle design
• Identifier Terms: Urban Mass Transportation Act
• Uncontrolled Terms: Design criteria
• Old TRIS Terms: Passenger car design; Umta section 6
• Subject Areas: Design; Public Transportation; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00389400
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: UMTA-IT-06-0250-83-2Final Rpt., ASA 84-1
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Oct 30 1984 12:00AM