by Barry Scott
Using real video footage of our Coastal Rail Corridor, a hydrogen-battery-electric streetcar manufacturer called TIG/m has created a to-scale video simulation of their streetcar running in Santa Cruz County. TIG/m presented the video to the Santa Cruz Regional Transportation Commission during the September meeting, and now it’s available for public viewing. A real-life TIG/m streetcar demonstration is planned for Santa Cruz County sometime next year. Until then, you can watch the charming one-minute video by clicking here.
New Developments in Rail Technology
We’re excited that a number of different rail manufacturers have begun to offer clean, quiet, wireless battery-electric streetcars! This small but mighty transit vehicle type offers the following benefits:
- No overhead wires: charges either overnight or at passenger stops
- No exhaust fumes
- Low floors allow level boarding for bikes and wheelchairs
- Electricity will come from carbon-free Monterey Bay Community Power
- Lightweight vehicles are gentle on bridges and crossings
TIG/m offers these additional features in their streetcars:
- Made in California!
- Operates all day and charges overnight
- Capable of traveling up to 50 mph
- The single car version carries 50 seated passengers and up to 50 standees
- The two car version carries 100 seated passengers and up to 100 standees
- Customizable interiors can provide ample space for bicycles
We invite you to watch the one-minute video simulation of the TIG/m streetcar running on our rail line, and share it with your friends. Let them know that we could have something like this providing transit in our rail corridor!
