Safety features of new Metrolink cars
After the 2005 Metrolink crash in Glendale, the agency acquired crash-resistant cars that include crush zones at both ends to absorb most of the force of a collision at up to 35 mph. New seating arrangements and crushable tables also help keep passengers safer.
Bumper
Coupler
Collapsible
components
All seats face one way; no tables
Crush
zone
Crush
zone
Supports
Bumper
Couplers
The bumper, crushable
horizontal supports and
underframe absorbers
(not shown here)
mitigate the impact,
moving back an
additional 27 inches.
As the trains collide, the
couplers engage. The
cab car coupler slides
back 23 inches,
absorbing much of the
crash impact.
When the cab car is
controlling and leading
the train, all passen-
gers are seated facing
backward.
Engineer
Collapsible
components
Seating
Seating
When one train hits another, a series of devices are engaged to protect the engineer and
passengers.
Piston-like shock absorbers
allow the crush zone to move
back with the force of impact.
Device connects with impacting
car and then pushes back. It
includes a sliding sill to ease
movement.
Underframe absorber
Crushable space
Coupler
Both the front and rear of the new cars have an area designed to crumple in case of a crash and
absorb most of the impact.
Crush zones
Wheelchairs
Driver
Crushable tables
Wheelchairs
Bicycles
Bicycles
Crush
zone
Crush
zone
Crush
zone
Crush
zone
Rear
Front
Cab car rear
Total movement: 30 inches
Cab car crash sequence
Cab car front
Total movement: 50 inches
Trailer car
Cab car
Sources: Metrolink, Times reporting. Graphic by Matt Moody Los Angeles Times
