Battery Powered Streetcars (Trams) in Oklahoma City, USA 2021 (This system opened in 2018)

[@ARSZLB]

idk why it’s funny to me that they use a loudspeaker blasting the sound of a bell instead of an actual bell itself lmao

[@kishascape]

Pretty stupid actually. Just like those fake speaker horn sound level crossings. Not that hard to get a compact e-bell.

[@connor_ri]

Yea, I'm not a fan of them. I feel like they're quieter and not as good at warning people than a actual bell

[@OliversElevators]

I agree, I don’t really like many e-bells on streetcars and LRVs, and I *really* don’t like the ugly horns that a lot of them have. I also don’t like it when the software for the bell is set to immediately cut off the sound of the bell when the bell button is released by the operator, instead of playing a sort of decay sound so the sound of the bell isn’t immediately cut off. I think e-bells sound a lot better and more realistic when they have a decay than when they just go silent immediately when the bell button is released.

[@MervynPartin]

It is the modern thing to do. Why use a simple reliable mechanical bell, when you can use an electronic, computer controlled system and charge the customer more for the software to run it? Makes me think of the Boeing 737 Max, and look what happened there.

[@OpenbaarVervoer2D]

That's why i like places where mechanical bells and barriers are still in place. A funny one is for example some stops of the Utrecht Light Rail. It was originally built by the Dutch Train Company instead of a local Tram Company and thus was equipped with full on railway barriers, andreas crosses and bells, in the middle of a residential area! kzbin.info/www/bejne/kIbSgJSqmKaHo7M

[@MrMannyfresh78]

Sucks that this video was taken during the pandemic. I’m not saying the inner core of OKC is like a world city or anything but it’s never this depressing lol As far as the tram goes, the plus is that it’s super cheap ($1/ride $3/day pass). However it’s layout limits it’s use to travel in a small area primarily for bar/restaurant hopping. Over the next few years, the tram will likely expand north towards one of the city’s shopping malls (Penn Square), connecting with our new BRT line opening soon. I’d love the tram to be extended south towards the airport as well. 😊

[@DanTheCaptain]

Another really cute but kinda useless tram system. The city looks like a ghost town, although, unlike other similar American streetcar systems, OKC's system is actually quite nice and consists of multiple routes. It also seems that there are active plans for huge system extensions, so that's nice to see. It is somewhat weird to see that stops are sponsored by companies. That seems weirdly American.

[@VieleGuteFahrer]

It really is not. Dubai Metro was among the first to sell station naming rights in 2008. Barcelona, London, Istanbul, Mumbai, Kuala Lumpur, Wuhan, Manila, etc. have followed. That doesn’t include bus stops, which are more likely to be named after companies and stores nearby. Streetcar networks like these might not be useful in the beginning, but they boost redevelopment and density, which is important for further expansion.

[@DanTheCaptain]

@@VieleGuteFahrer I was unaware how many other systems had sponsored stations. Thanks for sharing that information. Indeed a small streetcar system is better than none at all. They just seem a bit small for how much potential they have but again they're are good start.

[@kishascape]

No it is definitely typical America. Just like typical America too it’s a useless greenwash and will never be expanded or serve any use other than political pandering and corporate PR stunts.

[@CityWhisperer]

@@VieleGuteFahrer Which London station is sponsored by a company? Barcelona? Never seen one in my life.

[@VieleGuteFahrer]

@@CityWhisperer Vodafone renamed some stations in cooperation with local transit agencies. In Barcelona it was Sol station. Google it.

[@damon9408]

We have the exact same ones, here in Detroit. Ours is called the Q-Line

[@stickynorth]

I love streetcars and they are great as last mile solutions but most cities including OK City also need more regional tram or S-bahn systems never mind a U-Bahn or subway level of service but I get it, you gotta start somewhere and battery electric trams are a great solution... And NO BRT isn't and will never be the same. Buses bump up and down, trains are smooth as butter... Generally speaking... ;-)

[@MakeItWithCalvin]

That is really clever running part of the system on batteries. Given the efficiency of trams + good batteries, helps to keep the costs down.

[@wideworldofkevinstransport2002]

We have those type of streetcars in Detroit Michigan

[@scottyerkes1867]

Nice to see streetcars in OKC. The system needs to expand.

[@ianwatts8446]

Midland Metro in Birmingham UK has trams which run on batteries on sections of the system...Pantograph is dropped from Grand Central (Birmingham New St) for the run to Birmingham Library..system uses CAF Urbos 3's..

[@mattingham83]

Seems like a nice system & the vehicles look really good. Hope it goes from strength to strength! Certainly very quiet in Oklahoma City, but I suspect that is partly due to the pandemic and it may have been filmed on a Sunday? Not even many car drivers on the roads either. Nice to see the streetcar driver waving at 12:48 :D

[@timosha21]

Oh because we had a conversation about the streetcar a few hours ago at the end of the line after asking me what I was up to with the camera (question out of curiosity rather than hostility)

[@mattingham83]

@@timosha21 Aw! I've had similar conversations when travelling. "Why have you come here?!" is usually heard, along with some laughter. I wasn't aware of the system until today, so videos like this work. Keep up the good work! :)

[@JudgeMarmianWiZard]

nice trams and good filming shots 🤠

[@jameson1887]

Good system!.....but Oklahoma city is a ghost town?😄

[@tylerkochman1007]

It’s also filmed in 2021, and COVID is still a thing

[@iceman4121]

I live in Oklahoma City, it’s no ghost town..

[@jameson1887]

@@iceman4121 I know.......I was joking!!!

[@ethanhimes8239]

Its no ghost town,they just filmed this where no one goes, or nothing happens lol

[@Sam_420]

Okc is so small it’s so annoying waiting for it all the time

[@mikedrown2721]

It would be nice if Rochester NY had these beautiful streetcars

[@dwightanderson8331]

This video must have been made on a Sunday morning around 7 am or so in mid March. Early on you could hear birds chirping which they do in the morning when there aren't many cars out yet. Also building shadows and some sun reflection suggests the same. A lot of people who work won't be out in that area yet and are probably still home.

[@StLouis-yu9iz]

This is amazing! At least even a smaller city like OKC recognizes the benefits of transit options:)

[@jimlincoln1283]

What benefits of streetcars? They cost a lot and if something is blocking the track that's it. Busses can drive around things and if routes need changing it's easy to do.

[@zebrajenks]

small city? the metro has 1.4 million people

[@boofert.washington2499]

@@jimlincoln1283 the same benefits as carpooling, genius. Except this is electric powered and doesn't pollute like carpooling does. Are you really THAT stupid that you can't understand?

[@kishascape]

@@jimlincoln1283 Yeah but I'm far more likely to successfully abort you pushing you under a streetcar instead of a bus. Better yet I'll hold your head on the track.

[@TomMcBoston]

Outside of downtown it seems to run through nondescript industrial areas.

[@kishascape]

Yes because it’s just for green washing. Just like dumbly designed useless USA bike lanes most of these things only exist to serve as a talking point for the low self awareness voter base in political and PR pandering and not for actual use.

[@iceman4121]

The industrial areas are all renovated into office areas and the like, I live and work in this area. The trams run all through the city, inner and outer parts.

[@zebrajenks]

It goes through the majority of the popular districts that have actual shit to do like downtown, bricktown, scissortail park, deep deuce, automobile alley, midtown, St. Anthony's hospital and will be expanded to film row district, plaza district, uptown 23rd, paseo arts district, up classen through the asian district to classen curve and the triangle, up NW Expressway, etc. It will be ongoing for decades. Anyone that is familiar with OKC knows how hard this city is trying to attract more business and to do that there needs to be actual shit to do for people to move here. To bad someone didn't document OKC from 2000 up until now 2021 it is a totally different city. And OKC has more cannabis dispensaries than any other state in the nation and a billion dollar cannabis market so suck on that to all the states still in the prohibition era.

[@boofert.washington2499]

@@kishascape pessimism is a stinky cologne. You should shower more often.

[@Three60Mafia]

So reading up on this - is the only way they need dual-mode/wireless streetcars is because of that section that they need to go under the low railway bridge? It seems like there should have been a better solution

[@MrBnsftrain]

It seems like the streetcars are doing well in eliminating traffic problems!

[@chrisvance7824]

Home sweet home... 405 baby !!!

[@ny1resident]

Great job on the video. Looks like fun. Too bad nobody else is riding it. Hope it doesn't go bankrupt.

[@tomdodds5271]

Where are the passengers.

[@xaominheotar616]

This is america after all,the passengers are in their own automobiles.

[@tylerkochman1007]

COVID is ongoing, so that is a factor in why so few people are out and about using public transit

[@RealConstructor]

@@tylerkochman1007 And I thought Oklahomans didn’t believe the danger of Covid. All offices are held by Republicans and Trump was the big winner there. They deny the existence of Covid or diminish the dangers of it. But they won’t dare to take public transport because of Covid? Hard to imagine.

[@jstring]

@@RealConstructor you’re showing your ignorance in spades.....

[@RealConstructor]

@@jstring I know I’m not ignorant. A majority of Oklahomans have shown to be ignorant. Polls show Oklahomans are more concerned about the economic effects of the pandemic than the health threats. That was the case last year and it is the case this year. The Oklahoma Republican Party even held their state convention live in person at the new convention center, where only few attendees did wear masks. And who knows if they kept their distance. And we know how Trump thought about Covid and how many times he showed restraint or wear a mask. It seems the state is a Trump, Republican and ignorant stronghold.

[@SigmaRho2922]

A hybrid overhead wire battery system

[@cyri96]

These small trams are kinda cute, but... why would you buy such small trams, kinda seems like it would defy the purpose of being able to offer higher capacity than busses

[@randomcontentgenerator2331]

I take it you're not American, because these are the norm here

[@randomcontentgenerator2331]

And no, they're no better than buses really

[@MJofLakelandX]

@@randomcontentgenerator2331 I'm American some of these small trams make no sense sometimes. If you gonna build a rail network, send it to the outer-lying areas to/from downtown snatch riders off busier bus lines

[@kishascape]

Specially with so much space being wasted on wheelchair spots.

[@cyri96]

@@randomcontentgenerator2331 Yep as you guessed correctly I'm not American, which is why pointlessly small trams confuse me, considering that here in Europe the ability to provide more capacity than any bus ever could is one of the main reasons why cities have trams with the only other close thing (that still can't match trams) being double articulated Busses/Trolleybusses.

[@tomashofman4689]

Some data for critics of this system. City of Prague - population 1.3 million, population density 2600 / km2. Length of tram lines - 143 km. Number of stops - 275. Number of tram cars - over 800 pieces. You can't expect a significant impact on public transportation caused by the relatively small streetcars system in Oklahoma City. This is a promotional and exploratory project. For example, I enclose a link to a video from a crossroads in Prague - kzbin.info/www/bejne/mmS2moB7ps5ohaM - Filming time - according to the shadows - about 12:00. Outside the afternoon rush hour. And the afternoon rush hour on a stop kzbin.info/www/bejne/joa4kolslsuhfZY

[@apluto12-z3e]

Nice video, I like the different colors.

[@scottyerkes1867]

Nice video. Are the streetcars dual powdered? I noticed pantographs up and down. Are batteries used?

[@zyoninkiro]

These appear to be Brookville Liberty trams which are dual mode pantographs and battery powered. Dallas, Detroit, Seattle, and Milwaukee use them on street car routes. As far as I know, they are the only American built streetcar currently in production.

[@scottyerkes1867]

@@zyoninkiro Thank you Zyonin for answering my query😃

[@MervynPartin]

Good selection of views including the shots from above- the streetcar roofs did not seem as cluttered as on some systems. I noticed several things in the video:- Flags at half staff (half mast in UK) but one of the previous comments by Robbie Henry (thank you) has already answered that. Where is all the road traffic? Have the streetcars been so successful? Electronic bell-awful. Some of the previous comments have said why use batteries? There are several reasons that may apply- eg. low clearance (like the bridge shown), planning laws, avoiding unsightly overhead wires in otherwise smart city streets, which also avoids infrastructure costs and (possible) electrical ground leakage from the rail.

[@roboftherock]

Here in Europe the population is much more aware of public transport in all its forms. Trams (streetcars) are a significant part of the infrastructure and carry a lot of passengers, therefore they have a larger capacity. The USA has a major challange in getting the humans to leave their personal transportation and use the public facilities. Until then, fledgling systems will remain small. Kudos are to be given to the various administrations who jump into this new world - or should that be new 'old' world?

[@ThomasJM]

I think the biggest problem in the US is that public transit is seen as something for poor people who can't afford a car to use and has a stigma attached to it that way.

[@glenatkinson1230]

It's ironic that the US is rediscovering street railways in a fairly widespread way. This considering almost every city and some towns of substantial size had streetcars or street trams. Most of these having scrapped the networks by the late 1940s. Toronto Canada benefited from this in the purchase of large numbers of PCC cars often purchased for little more than scrap value.

[@amtrak_121]

What happened to metal bells?

[@mariachrzski18]

These trams look incredibly similar to the ones I designed to run in my made-up city, except mine run in coupled sets!

[@trenomanis]

Πολύ ωραίο βίντεο, με πλάνα από πολλές θέσεις! Όμως τα οχήματα δεν έχουν επιβάτες! Επίσης θα έπρεπε οι εργαζόμενοι να μας πουν για την αξιοπιστία των οχημάτων!

[@jeanpierredevos3137]

Always amazing to see how terrible the roads look. Repairs everywhere, holes as if nothing has been done about it for ages.

[@zebrajenks]

OKC is in the midst of a decade long build up of the city, construction is constant because more and more people are moving here and more and more industries are coming to OKC.

[@moishglukovsky]

It’s powered by battery for some of its run? Where did that decision come from?

[@respect411]

its out of necessity because of all the low underpasses. its also in some sense cheaper to operate since you dont need catenary wires for the entire route. the detroit streetcar uses the same technology i think its the same rolling stock but not 100% sure

[@HCHxxiv]

@@respect411 ...it is indeed the same model and technology.

[@moishglukovsky]

@@respect411 Interesting. The rolling stock must've been particularly expensive to have both pantograph and battery power.

[@centredoorplugsthornton4112]

Gosh, part of the line runs on Sundays. I thought Oklahoma outlawed and criminalized Sunday urban transport. Anyone see this or any such streetcar line, find out how much it cost to develop, and ask how far that $um would go to improve regional bus service?

[@boofert.washington2499]

You thought that? Seriously? Are you thick in the skull?

[@k.h.4698]

How many D batteries do these take?

[@geraldjohnson7937]

Clever concept: Battery power/electrical power. Makes sense. What doesn't make sense is they single tracked the system.

[@transportvibes9549]

nice video! i like these small and “cute” trams, the system seems interesting too.

[@josemessiasrosa8856]

👏🏿👏🏿

[@iceman4121]

To anyone who thinks okc is a ghost town, it isn’t. This was probably filmed in the middle of the pandemic. Thankfully most Oklahomans take the pandemic seriously unlike the areas most of you are used to.

[@timosha21]

Filmed March 21, 2021

[@billsmith5109]

@@timosha21 So Sunday morning during the pandemic.

[@MrSquareart]

Great video!!!!!!

[@Heartz4Jae]

1:25 sounds like a South Korean railroad crossing

[@brucewilliams8714]

They look good. Are they made in Europe? Why were flags at half-staff? I don't live in America.

[@roboftherock]

I don't have an answer to your flag question, but my thoughts run to that being the location of the bombing in 1995 with the flag being a perpetual tribute to the dead. Others will know better.

[@brucewilliams8714]

@@roboftherock Thank you Robbie.

[@MJofLakelandX]

I get it that starting out small with this network to create development within the city centre is the investment... BUT c'mon. Again with these type of streetcar systems?... If you gonna lay down the foundation, build a line on one of the busiest bus routes linking into downtown then bring in the consumers like that.

[@qjtvaddict]

The USA is an idiocracy

[@albertvanderzee1202]

I believe that this system will never get the car driver out of his car and into the tram. But then: the automobile lobby is obviously too strong, and the politicians too weak.? Or it just does not serve their interest. Doing like this, public transportation will always remain for the students, the elderly, the sick and the lame, the ones who cannot afford a car or are not able to get a driver’s license… Ir seems that if you don’t own a car in the USA you’re either a loser or a ‘despicable liberal green lefty’…. If the American Powers That Be would really be interested in successful streetcar systems, they would invest in designated routes, instead of having the trams run in the same lanes as the cars (= in the same traffic jam), so the trams could make speed. And larger units and last but not least, traffic lights that give priority to the trams. I rode the trams of D.C., really…. What a failure…. Trams that are waiting for minutes for red lights, unloading trucks at shops and wrongfully parked cars…. Such disappointment. Nice for the hobbyists (like me) but totally useless in the attempt to ease traffic and actually get the masses to see public transport as a useful alternative for the car.

[@aoilpe]

Are Busses honking all the time too or why do the Trams ring their bell always? I think to carry the weight of the battery’s is quite stupid, they should use the APS instead...or do they have capacitors?

[@OliversElevators]

I think there is an option for either batteries or capacitors.

[@Pyrochemik007]

Why does it keep making that hammer hitting anvil sound? It is so annoying after a while. And there run voice ads? Wtf lol. I cant say I like the tram either. Too short, only 2 entrances, not a flat floor. That is so 1980s.

[@kishascape]

Not even 1980s. More like ineffective corporatist society. Unaware of their fake commercialistic bank approved fake lifestyles.

[@boofert.washington2499]

@@kishascape get out of your parent's basement.

[@lagrangewei]

strange choice in door location but ok.

[@nickclark2278]

The electronic gong sounds terrible…

[@ronriesinger7755]

I don’t see any people on the trams.

[@raymondclark1785]

There's few pedestrians or other car traffic so no surprise there are no passengers

[@boofert.washington2499]

It was filmed on a Sunday morning during the lockdowns. 2+2=?

[@cedricye1767]

I like how it is "Battery Powered" but uses overhead wires... is it just me or is that totally opposites? Edit: wow i forgot to watch the entire video, i guess it's dual mode

[@timosha21]

Hahaha! I was about to say - did you watch the whole video? Thanks for the support! Interesting tram system don't you think?

[@cedricye1767]

@@timosha21 yeah, especially when normally most cities (at least until very recently) are like "oh, bus overcrowding? Lets put a sticker that says "subway"" (cough Boston cough)

[@metropolitantransit7276]

They're noiser than Toronto's and Kolkata's streetcars.

[@kishascape]

So nice without too many bulky outdated overhead wires all over the place wasting space and generating RF noise.

[@jeanpierredevos3137]

The trams ok but their is no one inside. No passengers at all. Americans only want cars for transport.

[@joegage5893]

is that siemens or bombardier

[@hpenner1]

Brookville Liberty car made in Pennsylvania

[@petern6808]

These projects come to fruition because the $$ is available for transit and if you don’t take it then you “lose it”.....whether there is a need seems to be an afterthought, if that!

[@jstring]

It looks like they are about the size of a new flyer bus. Wouldn’t a cng bus been a much cheaper option instead of all the infrastructure etc and cost per tram??

[@StLouis-yu9iz]

More expensive in the long run with fuel, oil, tires, higher maintenance costs, etc. Not to mention being better for the environment...

[@prilinesiachannel303]

Come on

[@ARSZLB]

...come on what?

[@ericl9781]

Let’s talk about street signal timings, none of these intersections have car weight sensors to trigger light changes. The only things that trigger signal changes are the train sensor and a general timer. Waiting 3 minutes for a greeen light after a train is allowed thru a signal interchange is so frustrating. Its like catching railroad crossings 7 days a week. OK utilities don’t care either, this state SUCKS

[@boofert.washington2499]

Then move. Is someone forcing you to stay?

[@chrisvance7824]

I live in okc... and nobody rides the tram lmfao !!!

[@johnpowell8188]

We have one here in Milwaukee it’s losing millions every month they can’t pay for staff and maintenance they want a sales tax sorry I’ll be scrapping it before I pay a penny!! Wasted 150 million in fed money building a system we had here in the 60s. The past isn’t the future when will you people wake up

[@albertbenajam4751]

Oklahoma line is an example of weird USA public policy & City planning practices. In short: USE IT OR LOSE IT. Federal (Central) government capital funding. Money dolled out min no more than 1 or 2 year incriments in fractional amount of a project. In light rail case her, single track not doule. Funding means short line not really useful except a PEOPLE MOVER or DOWNTOWN LOOP a short line, usually like this with single direction. (can br streetcar, bus, or as in Detroit a SINGLE TRACK ELEVATED TRAIN) consequently not practicle. If you work at 12 street you might take it one way form 12 street to 17 street to eat lunce, but you will WALK bsack indtrsf og riding it to end at 22 street were it loops back to first street down another avenue to return to 12 street.

[@jaysmith6692]

The city looks dead lol

[@sotouszkamene2149]

iei

[@davidslaughter8806]

This "system" absolutely wrecked downtown traffic for years while they were building it and it's barely being used. Okc is silly. We have all this really nice stuff in the immediate area around the arena where the Thunder play, but, if you go a block in any direction, all you will see is dead businesses and homeless people. But, hey, we have a tram that goes in a square block downtown.

[@MotormanClyde]

not battery powered

[@pearlyhumbucker9065]

That surely is the most ugly sounding "bell" I have ever heard on any tram / streetcar..... Such a cheap device....

[@boofert.washington2499]

If that's what you found to complain about, you've obviously got bigger mental issues in life. Ffs, some people....

[@pearlyhumbucker9065]

@@boofert.washington2499 Well, it's ok if you have such bad taste that you enjoy bad, distorted, cheap synthesizer sounds. I know it can be better. I can relate to any number of street car systems in Europe. The use of such a primitive sound module as a warning signal gives a deep insight and represents in my opinion a clear picture of the Brookville company. I wouldn't be surprised if the rest of the vehicle was just as cheap.

[@crainiusdegreat5758]

These useless outdated streetcars were brought back after 70 years for absolutely no good reason. Obsolete in 1947 the streetcars were abandoned and the tracks pulled up, but somehow streetcars got brought back in 2017. Nobody rides them and they cost taxpayers $ Millions every year to drive around empty. The worst part was during the pandemic when the streetcars ran full time with no passengers when there was a mask mandate and social distancing was in place. The plan was to make OKC seem more "modern and hip", but instead just highlighted the ridiculous nature of tax and spend socialism at it's absolute worst. The Mayor and City Council are foolish children who have way too much money to spend on ridiculous projects and not enough time or money to spend on things that are falling apart, like most of the roads and bridges.

[@boofert.washington2499]

Shut up lol

[@nocap8449]

Lmao. Nobody rides the damn tram. It's completely unnecessary and a waste of money. Smh.

[@jamesengland7461]

Outrageous, overpriced, useless, unused joke. Usually empty. Not even ridden when it's free on weekends. The Bird rental scooters get more riders all the time, if people don't simply walk instead. Each car costs $5M, and total install cost of the system was $135M. That's without a single employee or utility bill being paid. These streetcars cost 14 times EACH what brand new buses cost while being slower than the aforementioned Bird scooters. Or brisk walkers. They actually impede traffic they move so slowly.

[@jamesengland7461]

Oh, and the streetcars are normally this empty, while the normal traffic is much busier than seen here, perhaps on an unusually quiet holiday or something? Maybe this is old video from lockdown a year ago? Downtown is usually crawling with walkers, scooter riders, and cars.

[@timosha21]

@@jamesengland7461 Sorry! Usually I put the date at the beginning of the video. This was filmed on March 21, 2021

[@jamesengland7461]

@@timosha21 very early on a Sunday morning, then, judging by the shadows. Thank you; that explains the very light traffic.

[@boofert.washington2499]

I use a wheelchair. These trains are awesome and you're probably just a mean old fart that hates everything new. Cry a river, build a bridge, and get over it. You can't stop progress.