The Rapid Of Cleveland (My 1,100th Video)

November 20th, 21st, 23rd, and 24th, 2020

In my first visit to Cleveland, Ohio, it's a video of the Rapid lines of the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA). Consisting of the rapid transit Red Line and the light rail Blue and Green Lines, this system features two aspects unusual to North American transit:
1. A rapid transit line that runs with current collection via pantograph and overhead catenary (the only one left in North America since the CTA converted the Skokie Swift to third rail in its entirety).
2. A rapid transit line that shares track and stations with light rail lines. Three stations on the system are shared by all three lines, with separate high-level and low-level platforms at each end of the stations for the two modes.

48 LRV's (801-848) used on the Blue and Green Lines were built by Breda in 1980-1981.
60 rapid transit cars (181-200, with cabs at both ends; 301-340, with cabs at one end and hostler controls at the non-cab end) used on the Red Line were built by Tokyu Car Company in 1984.
Only 34 and 40 cars remain operational in both fleets, respectively.

At the time this video was made, service on the Waterfront Line (served by the Blue and Green Lines) was suspended until March, 2021, due to an ongoing track and roadbed renewal project in Tower City station that left only one through track available, and the Red Line using it both ways. As a result, Blue and Green Line LRV's were originating/terminating on the eastern center stub track at Tower City.