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4310 has been placed back in service

Reference on gillig.com to this story that Ithaca, NY has pulled its 7 Proterra buses, because of structural issues, is buying 5 Gillig diesel buses, and intends to buy Gillig electrics. Problem doesn't seem to be electric, per se, but Proterra's composite body: "The electric buses were pulled on Wednesday, March 13 following mechanics’ discovery of the frame of one of the buses separating from the axle while it was on a lift. This rendered the bus “unfit for service... "

#8608 entered service yesterday out of C.

Also the damage to that train was that the one hit by the thost train like 10 years ago now or it was involved in some else

Do we know if SSL currently strictly adheres to south track = outbound, north track = inbound as much as possible, or are they more flexible? If the latter, that might explain why they constructed the platforms they way they did. Additionally, money issue?

The threshold for more frequent service was low enough that doing the stopping patterns like this still suffices lol. And ironically, they’re still saving time with level boarding, although I’m not sure how much is saved vs high levels in both directions. Miller has a new stub track and two high level platforms, and that’s where most of the new service is beginning/ending. Portage & Dune Park still aren’t seeing more than what, 2tph per direction? I imagine that also reduces the time penalty of only using one platform

The WB platform definitely should have been built high level to improve boarding and alighting times going to the Loop.

The issue isn't so much that they didn't build two high level platforms but 1. I thought the WB side should have been the one with the high level platform. 2. If the idea is to spend up service, why does the WB train have to cross over to the EB track to serve the station? O thought the purpose of double tracking was to eliminate conflicts between EB and WB trains having to share the same track. 3. It doesn't matter if one side has a low level platform just as long as it has service. The trains should be ADA compliant and the platform should be also since it is also new.

Don't feel bad...I thought the same thing that both sides would be high platform. Maybe it will be corrected in the future. 🚉😕 🤷🏾‍♂️

Forgive me for thinking the purpose of double tracking was that trains in each direction would have their own platforms. I thought that's how they would accomplish faster travel times and more frequent service.

For the question of how trains are stopping at the new high level platforms: https://chi.streetsblog.org/2024/04/10/south-shore-line-double-tracking-concludes-new-schedule-to-be-unveiled-in-may

Any more units recently hauled off. I see the boneyard is beginning to become full with flyers.

Ok thanks. It would have seemed like the hugh level platforms at Portage and Ogden Dunes should be north of the WB track for faster boarding abd dwell time fir inbound trains .

I wonder what the reasoning was behind two south of the track side-platforms at Hammond, Miller and 11th vs just doing a single island platform like NJT's Union station, or even East Chicago, especially since gauntlet track was installed

I want to say I heard or read this as well elsewhere, I'll try to see if I can find it. Dune Park Portage/Ogden Dunes The high-level platforms are to the south of the eastbound/outbound/southern track, and the low-level ones are to the north of the westbound/inbound/northern track. Miller and 11th St are configured similar to Hammond (the current station at least)

I amend my prior prior post in that a review of the verbosity indicated there was a point about a transit card, but about half way through reinforced my second point, which I previously declined to make.

I haven't seen there. Is the low level platform on the south side of the EB track? Is the high level platform between the EB and WB tracks? Or are both platforms to the north if their respective tracks? Update: it appears that both platforms are side platforms which seem to indicate that EB trains cross over to the WB track to stop at the high level platform. Perhaps that will happen the majority of the time with the low level platform being used to avoid conflicts between EB and WB trains.

On my weekend trip, the high level platforms at Portage and Dune Park were used in both directions. The low level platforms might only be used at rush hour.

Rust is hard to maintain let alone band aid once it reaches the beam of the frame. The overall structural integrity of the bus is soon to be compromised deeming it unworthy to even repair. Now it's caught early enough they can attempt to patch it up. However, Rush is still rustvand it will eventually showcase its true power.

The other strange thing I saw from the videos (I have not been out there), is that they operate the 300 series Highliners in 3-car consists instead of even numbers. Thus, even though I thought they ran 2 6-car trains, they might run 4 3-car trains. That may also explain how 26 cars rented from Metra can fill in for 32 cars for the Monon Corridor, while also expanding service on the mainline.

Update: Gary Metro, Beverly Shores and Carroll Avenue are low level platform stations whereas Miller, Portage/Ogden Dunes*, Dune Park* and 11th Street are high level platform stations. *From the videos that I've seen regarding the double track work, I believe the WB (inbound) platforms are high level and the EB (outbound) platforms are low level platforms for Portage and Dune Park, respectively.

It's weird seeing a artic on the 29 seen 4182 on there last night then today somebody on 79th pissed off it was 3 79 buses back to back & 1552 was being towed into 7 like going to sit in the boneyard Snapchat-387902916.mp4 Snapchat-1357109469.mp4 Snapchat-1094140318.mp4

And pertinent to TRANSIT FARE. 🫥 I was going to refer to something else regarding to a certain person heading to the DMV,* but won't. ------------ *Giannoulias says Illinois now has a DMV.

There may be a way, but aside whether it is physically possible to weld a sister to rust and assure its structural integrity, 630 are scheduled for retirement and their replacements are here or on the way in the next maybe 10 months, so it makes no economic sense, especially if shops are short staffed. Except for maybe a couple of Legacy Fleet vehicles, the CTA doesn't run a restomod show for MotorTrend TV.

I'm glad this was a BRIEF POST!