Seating Layout Options for Future LRT Trains

Engagement has concluded

March 25, 2024 Update:

The City of Edmonton sought public feedback on three seating options for future LRT trains for the Capital and Metro lines from March 7 - March 19, 2014.

The results of these public engagement opportunities will help inform ETS about the optimal seating layout for the new LRT trains. The results will be analyzed by the project team and published in a publicly available What We Heard report in Spring 2024.

LRT Train Procurement

Proactive fleet renewal helps ensure long-term service reliability. In addition, the LRT line expansion projects approved by City Council will require significant growth in the LRT fleet in the coming years.

The City is initiating a procurement order for up to 53 LRT trains. Approximately 37 will replace existing LRT trains that have been in operation for more than 40 years, and currently serve the Capital and Metro Lines. An additional 16 LRT trains will be procured to accommodate service growth. The seating layout of the new trains will be determined in late 2024 when the trains are ordered. It is expected the new LRT trains will start arriving and entering service in the next four-five years.

Accessibility Features

Each of the new LRT trains will have these enhanced accessibility features:

Priority seating

10% of seats will be priority
Clearly labelled
Moveable armrests
No seat pedestals, so much more room under the seat
Dedicated wheelchair spaces

Door functionality will be different

Doors illuminate when released and opened
Each door plays an audio tone to help riders locate it, similar to the Valley Line Southeast

On board announcements

Volume automatically adjusts to ambient noise

Passenger alarms

Passengers do not need to move more than five metres to activate an alarm
Alarms located in every wheelchair area
Touch strips will have a different texture and contrasting colour from the surrounding area

Three Seating Options

Each of the three layout options being considered by ETS has been used by LRT trains in other major cities. The seating layout that ETS ultimately selects would be the same for all future LRT trains.

The guiding principles that will be used to select the best LRT seating layout are:

accessibility
capacity
comfort
safety

Option 1 - Current Seating Layout

The current seating layout on the Capital and Metro LRT trains incorporates two different layouts:

Seating in the front and back of the LRT train is arranged face-to-face (crosswise from the walls);
Seating in the middle of the LRT train that runs along the walls (longitudinal seating).

Option 1: Current Seating Layout

Advantages

Disadvantages

Of the three options, this proposed design has the largest seating area.
Allows families and groups of three or four riders to sit together more comfortably.

People can put their feet on the seats across from them which can make the seats wet and/or dirty.
Some riders may feel uncomfortable facing someone when seated close together.
Due to less leg room, taller people can inadvertently block the seat across from them.
This is the lowest capacity option, mostly because this option has the lowest standing-room capacity.
On a crowded train, the layout encourages people to gather around the doors. Some riders may feel "trapped" in standing areas due to limited standing room.

Option 2 - All Seating Along the Wall

All seating would run along the side walls of the LRT train (longitudinal seating throughout the LRT train).

Option 2: All Seating Runs Along Wall (Longitudinal)

Advantages	Disadvantages
Of the three options, this design has the largest overall capacity, due to reduced seating capacity and maximum standing capacity. Most accessible seating from a barrier-free perspective.	Lowest seating capacity of the three options. Some people may be uncomfortably jolted, during acceleration and braking, when sitting sideways on bench seating. The long bench-style seating could encourage people to lay down, reducing seating for others.

Option 3 - Hybrid seating layout

This option includes two types of seating layouts:

Seating in the front and back of each train is arranged facing the centre of the LRT train (crosswise from the walls);
Seating in the middle of the LRT train that runs along the walls (longitudinal seating).

Option 3: Hybrid Seating

Advantages

Disadvantages

Grouped seats predominantly face the same direction so riders are not facing each other.
Seats stay cleaner because people can’t put their feet on the seat across from them.
Increased seating capacity from Option 2 (but less than Option 1).
Single seats on one side, so riders can choose to sit alone when a seat is available.
Increased aisle room from Option 1 due to increased standing-room capacity.

Could be less desirable for larger groups and families than Option 1, as it would be more difficult for groups to stay together in one seating block, provided seats are available.
Reduced overall capacity of the train when compared to Option 2 due to seating taking up more space.

March 25, 2024 Update:

The City of Edmonton sought public feedback on three seating options for future LRT trains for the Capital and Metro lines from March 7 - March 19, 2014.

LRT Train Procurement

Accessibility Features

Each of the new LRT trains will have these enhanced accessibility features:

Priority seating

10% of seats will be priority
Clearly labelled
Moveable armrests
No seat pedestals, so much more room under the seat
Dedicated wheelchair spaces

Door functionality will be different

Doors illuminate when released and opened
Each door plays an audio tone to help riders locate it, similar to the Valley Line Southeast

On board announcements

Volume automatically adjusts to ambient noise

Passenger alarms

Passengers do not need to move more than five metres to activate an alarm
Alarms located in every wheelchair area
Touch strips will have a different texture and contrasting colour from the surrounding area

Three Seating Options

Each of the three layout options being considered by ETS has been used by LRT trains in other major cities. The seating layout that ETS ultimately selects would be the same for all future LRT trains.

The guiding principles that will be used to select the best LRT seating layout are:

accessibility
capacity
comfort
safety

Option 1 - Current Seating Layout

The current seating layout on the Capital and Metro LRT trains incorporates two different layouts:

Seating in the front and back of the LRT train is arranged face-to-face (crosswise from the walls);
Seating in the middle of the LRT train that runs along the walls (longitudinal seating).

Option 1: Current Seating Layout

Advantages

Disadvantages

Of the three options, this proposed design has the largest seating area.
Allows families and groups of three or four riders to sit together more comfortably.

People can put their feet on the seats across from them which can make the seats wet and/or dirty.
Some riders may feel uncomfortable facing someone when seated close together.
Due to less leg room, taller people can inadvertently block the seat across from them.
This is the lowest capacity option, mostly because this option has the lowest standing-room capacity.
On a crowded train, the layout encourages people to gather around the doors. Some riders may feel "trapped" in standing areas due to limited standing room.

Option 2 - All Seating Along the Wall

All seating would run along the side walls of the LRT train (longitudinal seating throughout the LRT train).

Option 2: All Seating Runs Along Wall (Longitudinal)

Advantages	Disadvantages
Of the three options, this design has the largest overall capacity, due to reduced seating capacity and maximum standing capacity. Most accessible seating from a barrier-free perspective.	Lowest seating capacity of the three options. Some people may be uncomfortably jolted, during acceleration and braking, when sitting sideways on bench seating. The long bench-style seating could encourage people to lay down, reducing seating for others.

Option 3 - Hybrid seating layout

This option includes two types of seating layouts:

Seating in the front and back of each train is arranged facing the centre of the LRT train (crosswise from the walls);
Seating in the middle of the LRT train that runs along the walls (longitudinal seating).

Option 3: Hybrid Seating

Advantages

Disadvantages

Grouped seats predominantly face the same direction so riders are not facing each other.
Seats stay cleaner because people can’t put their feet on the seat across from them.
Increased seating capacity from Option 2 (but less than Option 1).
Single seats on one side, so riders can choose to sit alone when a seat is available.
Increased aisle room from Option 1 due to increased standing-room capacity.

Could be less desirable for larger groups and families than Option 1, as it would be more difficult for groups to stay together in one seating block, provided seats are available.
Reduced overall capacity of the train when compared to Option 2 due to seating taking up more space.