Minneapolis Metro Transit Light Rail Arrives Mall of America

Metro Transit Light Rail Train Set Arrives at the mall of America Station.

[gabeschmidt]

Looking back 11 yrs later, I miss the old black grey and yellow color scheme

[reedreinfeld]

I loved when it was known as the Hiawatha line / route 55... now it’s the Blue Line

[MDcat]

That clanging happens whenever it hits either an active parking lot or hits an intersection outside of downtown minneapolis (there, it has no warning because it follows the same right of way as cars). Part of it is because outside of downtown minneapolis, the Hiawatha Line runs on signal preemption and will cause the lights around it to turn red so there needs to be the warning system to give people the heads up that a train is inbound.

[Popsdasuss]

@Lukelr I'm from New York and was in Minnesota when Hurricane Irene hit NY. My friends were asking me if it hit my home. Minnesota doesn't need hurricanes...It cornered the market on cold weather. :)

[Ihkone]

Arguably the best way to get to Mall of America.

[KevinMeno]

No, LA Metro Rail has Nippon Sharyo, Siemens, and Breda, and soon Kinkisharyo. Metro Transit in MSP has Bombardier but also new Siemens LRVs

[dekfungton]

Awesome video. This light rail train sets look completely different from ours (out here in Los Angeles). This is the Hiawatha Line, right? On our newest light rail line (which opened about a year before the Hiawatha Line), the Metro Gold Line, we use AnsaldoBreda P2550s. We used to use Siemens P2000s, but they're being phased out. It's interesting how different Metro systems use different equipment. :)

[jaworskij]

All that clanging from the bells would be very annoying if I heard that everytime I entered that station...I'm in Winnipeg and we're stuck with a BRT for now...But LRT is very soon to come.

[Popsdasuss]

The clanging is because the train enters an active parking lot. Cars, busses, shoppers all mixed together. I guess it would be bad for Mall of America business if they started knocking folks over.

[Lukelr]

I didn't know Minnesota could get hurricanes. As a matter of fact, it's meteorologically impossible for Minnesota to get hurricanes

[mch]

Nice way to go shopping. How did ya fare with the Hurricane Irene Situation?

[dekfungton]

@Popsdasuss Ah, okay. The Ansaldos are built in Pistoia, Italy and can reach 65 MPH. Actual speed is much lower though, due to the line running through neighborhoods.

[Popsdasuss]

@dekfungton Thanks. NJT has a light rail as well.

[Popsdasuss]

Only One line at the present. Another is under construction. The existing line...Hiawatha Line goes Mall of America, Airport, Viking Stadium, Downtown, and Target Field. Awesome Line!

[Popsdasuss]

Yes, I think it might go slow because of the sharp curves and people walking in fron of it.
Thanks!!

[Popsdasuss]

@dekfungton Yes, this is the Hiawatha Line of Metro Transit. They are Flexity Swift Trams, manufactured by Bambardier. They can reach 55 MPH but generally travel about 40 MPH.
Thanks for the comment, Lar

[KevinMeno]

That's the same bell sounds as what LA Metro Rail has. :)

[Popsdasuss]

True, I've been there many times. Thanks!!

[kreegs]

Slow here because it has so many curves, as well as a transfer track. This is also the last stop southbound.

[jaworskij]

It isn't truely rapid until it is totally separated from all the types of traffic that you list. In other cities like Toronto, Vancouver, etc.. the LRT/subway is separate so they never run over anything...People who decide to commit suicide by jumping in front of a train/subway/LRT is a totally different thing.