Heated Cars
This is getting ridiculous at this point, as BART keeps acting as if it's running a transit somewhere in a colder climate. Now, I don't know who thought that the entire Bay Area has one cool climate, but the weather today isn't much different today than it was 30 or 40 years ago (global warming or not, we have always had hot spells, droughts and colder than normal winters). So, why does BART still have train cars that can barely keep up, or in some cases can't keep up with the heat?
Sure we only get heatwaves every now again, but as I have said many times on this site (and commented to BART), eastern Contra Costa and Alameda counties get and stay hot all summer. Doesn't matter about on-time performance, stinky trains, bad customer service, budget problems or high fares: you cannot put people on mass transit for extended periods when 1/4 to 1/3 of your fleet has inadequate or poor HVAC systems.
- yellowlinesucks's blog
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Not too sure how hot it was
Not too sure how hot it was for you? Move to another car. More than likely the lead car will be cool.
if you can get a seat, i have
if you can get a seat, i have found that window seats are much cooler than anywhere else in the train. especially if you can get a window seat on the shady side of the train. use the window sill as an arm rest as well, and your arm will be nearly freezing by the time you get to your destination.
if you have to stand, however, i have found i am sweating bullets on the hottest of days, no matter how good the A/C is in that particular car.
There are, however, air vents
There are, however, air vents near each of the doors. If you are standing and can get in the line of one of those, it is at least bearable.
Another cool spot that I've
Another cool spot that I've discovered is the portion of the train operator's cab area that passengers can access when the C car is used in the middle of the consist... just open up the sliding vent and enjoy your ride.
I've been using a
I've been using a personal-size, battery-operated fan. It also helps with that feeling of being about to loss consciousness due to lack of oxygen in the BART car.
Should be a fun afternoon...
Should be a fun afternoon... high of 108 for the city of Concord. If you happen to be in a hot car, move to a different one. Sometimes, moving to a different part of the same car helps too. I think I read somewhere that there are 8 HVAC units per car... one or two may be weak or not working, others may be cranking out some ice cold air. Also, keep in mind that the train operator does not have control of the air conditioning throughout the train, but let the operator know if there is a hot car so that the techs are aware of the problem. Be sure to provide the car number as well. You will rarely see a tech board up immediately to check out a hot car (simply due to the fact that there are many other like calls), but they will check it out... just might be after you have already off-boarded.