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Portland's Max is a study in simplicity and efficiency. The trains
are fast (50-60 MPH) and comfortable. Two doors on each of the
end units allow easy boarding and alighting. A public address
system announces the next station, the route you are riding, and
its destination.
This car is crossing the Portland Streetcar tracks. Note how
the poles that support the overhead wire are extensions of the
street lights. Note also how unobtrusive the overhead wire is,
even though this is a complex intersection.
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Stations consist of large platform partially covered by a simple
but attractive metal canopy. The station is at street level and
no attempt has been made to isolate the passengers from the trolleys
or the tracks.
Tickets are sold on the station platform and must be validated
before boarding the train. Inspectors come through the trains
at random times checking tickets.
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This train is operating on street trackage. Passengers board
from the curb. Notice how the poles for the overhead wire are
extensions of the street lights. The overhead wire is visible
but barely noticeable.
Near the upper right corner of the picture you will see a signal
for the trolleys. A horizontal bar indicates "stop"
while a vertical bar indicates "go". The sign advises
motorists that this is a railway signal.
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A low floor Max train consists of two end units and a small center
section. This jointed arrangement, called "articulation",
allow a long train to bend around sharp curves. The end units
have a truck (wheels and motors) under the section with the high
windows and the center section rides on an unpowered truck.
The train is fully skirted, which helps to keep people away from
the wheels. The skirt also improves the look of the train.
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Notice the simplicity of this station. There are no stairs, escalators,
or elevators. Passengers are discouraged from crossing the tracks
but they are not prevented from doing so.
The Max accommodates wheelchairs very handily. Ramps cut into
the curb give wheelchairs access to the station. Passengers can
push a button on the side of the car to slide a plate that fills
the gap between the platform and the car, allowing the wheelchair
to enter or exit the car easily and quickly.
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The Portland Streetcar provides local service in the downtown
area. This station at Portland State University is an example
of how attractive a modern streetcar system can be.
Each car consists of three sections, two end units that sit over
the trucks and a hanging center section. These cars are slower
than Max trains and they run as single units. They were designed
to provide local service at low speeds and they do so very effectively.
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Service on the Max is frequent, about every 5 minutes during the rush
hour and every 10-20 minutes at night depending on where you are riding.
Signs at some stations announce what trains will be arriving and how
long the wait is. Stations are quite busy even at night, which helps
to bring life to the downtown area. With people in evidence everywhere,
there is less fear of walking downtown alone.
Fares are quite reasonable: $1.25 for one or two zones and $1.55 for
three zones. Passes are available for unlimited riding. That third zone
is quite large; it takes a half hour to go from downtown to the west
end of the Blue line and almost an hour to reach the east end of the
line. Most of downtown is in the "Fareless Square", with no
charge for rides on the Max, busses, and the Portland Streetcar. This
is a terrific enticement for people to use the system.
Portland's Max is an excellent example of how modern interurban trolley
systems can be implemented. The system is fast, it is efficient, and
it is quite popular.
