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Most rail maintenance is done overnight

Metro Transit opened its new rail maintenance facility near the Cedar-Riverside light-rail station in 2003 in time for delivery and testing of the first rail cars. Because the cars are still under warranty, the manufacturer, Bombardier, also staffs the facility. Metro Transit has a total of 15 rail mechanics spread among three shifts, with the greatest number working the overnight shift when more of the rail cars are not in service.

The interior of the garage is painted in the bright yellow and blue of the rail cars. Cars can be driven over pits for work underneath, or hoisted up for removal and repair of the truck units. Stairways also lead to catwalks for work on computer components mounted on the top of the cars.

Rail cars rely on computers

While it’s true that buses are becoming more computerized, there’s hardly a component of the rail cars that isn’t. A large computerized central processing unit on the top of the car distributes the electrical power coming from the overhead wires to the various systems — brakes, propulsion, communication, heating and air conditioning — all run by computers. Understanding how to fix a rail car means you have to know computers.

Rail mechanic Vern Goble adjusts the brakes on one of Metro Transit’s 24 light-rail cars.

Metro Transit's light-rail cars are manufactured by Bombardier of Canada. Because the cars are still under warranty, Bombardier employees work at Metro Transit's rail facility to troubleshoot problems and make modifications as necessary. Here, Russ Erle works on one of the rail car trucks.

“The integration of all the component systems is pretty complicated,” Carey said. “All those units are in constant communication with each other.” For example, the announcements for each rail stop are programmed in and triggered by the number of wheel revolutions that have occurred since the last stop.

Three new rail cars are on order

Of the rail line’s 24 cars, 22 are in service during the peak travel hours. On a rotating basis, one is in for inspection and repairs and the last is Bombardier’s test model for engineering modifications and updates. Metro Transit has three more rail cars on order for the Hiawatha line.

The maintenance base has plenty of room for overnight storage and repair of additional cars when another light rail line is built, Carey said. As the rail cars age, the facility will also serve as an overhaul base.