Abstract: A side wall for a rail vehicle body includes an outer skin, an insulating layer adjacent an inner face of the outer skin, a structural layer adjacent an inner face of the insulating layer, a finishing layer adjacent an inner face of the structural layer and a window. The insulating layer provides at least one of a thermal and an acoustical insulation. The structural layer has a longitudinally aligned top door frame member, vertical left and right door frame members and a plurality of diagonal structural members oriented at an angle comprised between 1 degree and 89 degrees from the top door frame member. The plurality of diagonal structural members defines a lattice structure having a plurality of openings there in between. The window covers at least a portion of one of the plurality of openings.

Abstract: A method for evaluating damage and providing passenger assistance in emergency events involving mass transit vehicles (MTVs), especially emergency events occurring in a tunnel, includes: (a) providing, on-board the MTV, at least one unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), each UAV including a controller comprising a processor and memory; (b) determining, by the controller of the UVA while on-board the MTV in the tunnel, a change in at least one of the following: an acceleration, positive or negative, greater than a predetermined acceleration, an angle greater than a predetermined angle, a temperature greater than a predetermined temperature, and the presence of particles, gas or both greater than a predetermined concentration; (c) in response to the determining in step (b), the UAV separating from the MTV and becoming airborne within the tunnel; and (d) following step (c), executing, by the UAV, flight movement of the UAV within the tunnel.

Abstract: A side wall for a rail vehicle body includes an outer skin, an insulating layer adjacent an inner face of the outer skin, a structural layer adjacent an inner face of the insulating layer, a finishing layer adjacent an inner face of the structural layer and a window. The insulating layer provides at least one of a thermal and an acoustical insulation. The structural layer has a longitudinally aligned top door frame member, vertical left and right door frame members and a plurality of diagonal structural members oriented at an angle comprised between 1 degree and 89 degrees from the top door frame member. The plurality of diagonal structural members defines a lattice structure having a plurality of openings there in between. The window covers at least a portion of one of the plurality of openings.

Abstract: A method for evaluating damage and providing passenger assistance in emergency events involving mass transit vehicles (MTVs), especially emergency events occurring in a tunnel, includes: (a) providing, on-board the MTV, at least one unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), each UAV including a controller comprising a processor and memory; (b) determining, by the controller of the UVA while on-board the MTV in the tunnel, a change in at least one of the following: an acceleration, positive or negative, greater than a predetermined acceleration, an angle greater than a predetermined angle, a temperature greater than a predetermined temperature, and the presence of particles, gas or both greater than a predetermined concentration; (c) in response to the determining in step (b), the UAV separating from the MTV and becoming airborne within the tunnel; and (d) following step (c), executing, by the UAV, flight movement of the UAV within the tunnel.