[HN Gopher] Commuter train window cleaning conundrum in NJ
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       Commuter train window cleaning conundrum in NJ
        
       Author : savrajsingh
       Score  : 25 points
       Date   : 2024-05-18 10:52 UTC (1 days ago)
        
 (HTM) web link (www.nj.com)
 (TXT) w3m dump (www.nj.com)
        
       | thinkingemote wrote:
       | They chose polycarbonate plastic over glass but it suffers from
       | the elements more than glass.
        
         | userbinator wrote:
         | On the other hand, it's far harder to break than glass, which
         | is important for equipment that will be subjected to vandals.
        
           | adgjlsfhk1 wrote:
           | why would vandalism be more of an issue for trains than cars?
        
       | relyks wrote:
       | As a frequent user of the trains from NJ transit, I can attest to
       | the fact that you can literally not see out of most of the
       | windows
        
       | kylehotchkiss wrote:
       | What about polycarbonate fronted by a thin sheet of glass with
       | some sort of UV blocking? Or are these windows actually getting
       | hit with stuff so often that wouldn't be viable?
        
       | danielfoster wrote:
       | It's crazy that one of the largest commuter rail systems in a
       | state with some of the highest taxes cannot just spend $8 million
       | to replace the windows. I'm sure an audit of contracts or
       | overtime payments could quickly find some extra money.
        
         | ahi wrote:
         | At less than $20k per car, that doesn't even seem particularly
         | expensive. This is a fairly basic maintenance item.
        
         | Reason077 wrote:
         | > _"crazy that one of the largest commuter rail systems in a
         | state with some of the highest taxes cannot just spend $8
         | million to replace the windows."_
         | 
         | Presumably they don't want to replace faulty windows with more
         | faulty windows that will just develop the same issue again over
         | time.
         | 
         | And it won't be just be a case of going out and ordering
         | different windows: train parts have to be carefully tested,
         | certified etc to meet safety regulations.
        
       | gravescale wrote:
       | Would buffing with a fine polishing compound be unacceptable in
       | terms of strength? Presumably this is a surface effect?
        
       | imglorp wrote:
       | > not being able to see which station the train is at, especially
       | if no announcement is made
       | 
       | Wait, they're admitting they know this is a problem? It's such a
       | pain having inaudible announcements or none at all. Is it really
       | so hard to get on the PA for each stop? Then why not have it
       | automated? Or an overhead sign in the car showing eta and name of
       | next station? Ideally both.
        
         | GenerWork wrote:
         | >Or an overhead sign in the car showing eta and name of next
         | station?
         | 
         | I believe the cars (definitely the newer ones) have exactly
         | that. It seems like an odd complaint to me, but it's totally
         | possible NJ Transit moved older cars that don't have this
         | feature from more heavily trafficked lines to lines that don't
         | have as much traffic.
        
       | anarchogeek wrote:
       | I took a commuter train in NJ earlier this year and i was shocked
       | at the windows. Seriously, every other train system in the world
       | can pull off clean windows but not New Jersey? India? Clean
       | windows. China? Clean windows... You can't blame pollution... you
       | can't blame regulation because they've got tons of that in Norway
       | and Japan and they're able to keep their windows clean.
        
         | imajoredinecon wrote:
         | If only "every other" were true. LIRR, NYC: same problem.
         | Metra, Chicago: same problem.
        
         | Reason077 wrote:
         | It's not an issue with _dirt_ on the windows, but rather
         | scratching /clouding of the window glass which makes it appear
         | dirty.
         | 
         | It's certainly not unique to NJ: it happens on a lot of older
         | trains in Europe, but I've never seen it so bad as in the NJ
         | photos.
         | 
         | I guess something about the coating they use on the glass (to
         | improve safety, insulation, etc) makes it vulnerable to
         | clouding and scratching over time. Climate, air pollution,
         | and/or cleaning techniques used over the years may have
         | contributed to the issue?
        
       | Animats wrote:
       | > Metro-North Railroad and NJ Transit use a single pane of
       | polycarbonate glazing almost a half inch thick.
       | 
       | That's exactly what you'd expect from half an inch of uncoated
       | polycarbonate. Resists rocks and small arms fire, can be pressure
       | washed to remove graffiti, but will scuff.
       | 
       | There are a few ways around that, but they all add cost.
        
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