Kinki Sharyo SLRV

The SLRVs are longer and can accommodate more passengers than the Kinki Sharyo-built vehicles from which they were developed, known by DART as its standard Light Rail Vehicles (LRVs),[5] which had been operated by DART Light Rail since it began service in June 1996.[7] DART's original LRVs were built as articulated, two-section cars with operator cabs at both ends.[6]

The SLRVs were designed to both increase passenger capacity and to improve the accessibility of DART's light rail system.[8] Each three-section, articulated SLRV measures 123.5 ft (37.64 m) over couplers, while the maximum train length is four articulated cars coupled together, measuring 494 ft (150.57 m) over couplers in total.[4] An individual SLRV is 31 feet (9.4 m) longer and 33,000 pounds (15,000 kg) heavier than the standard LRVs from which they were developed, which were each 92 feet 8 inches (28.24 m) in length and weighed 107,000 pounds (49,000 kg).[5] The SLRVs have a maximum speed of 70 mph (110 km/h) and can accelerate at a rate of 2.3 mph/s (3.4 ft/s²; 1.0 m/s²).[4]

Working in partnership, DART and Kinki Sharyo created the SLRVs by separating the existing two-section LRVs at their articulation joints and inserting an entirely new section in between,[5][9] thereby rendering them three-section vehicles.[10] The resulting SLRVs are double-articulated, eight-axle cars, in comparison to the single-articulated, six-axle design of the original LRVs.[7] Each SLRV seats 98 passengers and can accommodate roughly 100 more standing passengers, which allows it to accommodate approximately 25 more seated people (and roughly 50 more overall) than a standard, two-section LRV.[4][5]

The middle section, variously called "Body C",[6] "C Unit", or "C Car",[11] has a low floor and provides step-free access to the SLRV.[11] It was designed primarily to allow passengers in wheelchairs,[11] as well as those with strollers and bicycles, to embark and disembark more quickly and safely.[5][6] Each SLRV middle section is also equipped with a bicycle rack.[6]

In 2002, the prototype SLRV, car #170, began operating on DART's Blue Line. On June 23, 2008, car #151 became the first SLRV to enter revenue service. DART converted all 115 of its LRVs into SLRVs at a total cost of approximately $190 million,[5] which was more cost effective than buying entirely new light rail vehicles.[5][9] G. James Morgan of LTK Engineering Services estimated that DART saved over $50 million by converting its LRVs instead of buying new accessible vehicles.[7]

Conversion of an individual LRV into an SLRV took roughly five weeks,[5][7] with a sixth week for inspection and testing and the vehicle in main line operation by the next week.[7] By March 2010, 84 of DART's 115 LRVs had been converted into SLRVs,[7] and by August 2014, DART was operating a total of 163 SLRVs: all 115 converted LRVs in addition to 48 new vehicles.[4][10]

DART also modified its light rail platforms between 2007 and 2010 to accommodate the greater overall length and low-floor middle sections of the SLRVs.[9]