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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!

Isn't there any way of repairing the frames to give them addition time in service? Welding in new bracing, for example.

Don't use the Free Ride pass too much in one day or you'll get a nasty letter from the CTA about that. That happened several years ago after using the CTA bus & L extensively on the annual October weekend of Open House Chicago, of which bizarrely the CTA was & still is a sponsor. That's how incompetent the CTA is!

This seems to be the most appropriate topic where to post. I will keep this brief. I did not think I was qualified for this; but when applying for my Illinois license plate renewal in December; because I could renew that for the [i]senior citizen[/i] rate, it had a tick box for querying eligibilty for the Regional Transportation Authority's '[b]Seniors Ride Free[/b]' pass. I already possessed the Half Fare permit. I thought that was all to which I was entitled. I ticked the box. I was prepared for someone to respond I did not qualify (but try again next year). The process involved presenting a copy of a filed Illinois IL-1040 form to check financial limitations. To my amazement, I was eligible for the Ride Free pass. I was approved for it back at the end of January. I thought it would have been sent to me semi-automatically once the R.T.A. learned of my eligibilty. That was erroneous. After a month, I went to the R.T.A.'s World-Wide Web site to inspect how to apply for it there. Because I had the Half Fare permit, [u]I could not apply for the Ride Free pass online[/u]. I had to physically visit one of the R.T.A.'s service outlets. Not all of its outlets have photography; and the R.T.A. wants to have a new(er) picture of you than what is on your Half Fare permit. I chose the outlet with photography at Damen & Lawrence on Chicago's north side. With everything else occuring here at the abode. I did not visit until Wednesday, 17 April. The "[i]up to ten working days[/i]" note notwithstanding, the pass arrived here on Monday, the 22nd. Wow. It must not have had many other applications to process. So I now have this pass. It is a moment when my transit use was going to throttle up anyhow; with warmer days and more significantly, [b]Illinois Craft Beer Week[/b] from 3-10 May, starting with [b]Beer Under Glass[/b] @ Union Station on Friday, the 3rd. We of the [u]Logan Square Draught Beer Preservation Society[/u] will conduct a [u]Pub Crawl[/u] of bars and pubs in [b][u]Avondale[/u][/b] on Monday, the 6th. I will send publications a proclamation of venues and times we will visit. I was out-&-about Monday, making copies of the handbill with the data, and shall distribute those in the upcoming days. If you want the data, contact me; or else look for it online at the Little Three Happiness Forum or FlyerTalk Forum [in the 'Community Buzz' rubric]. My main duplication store is Copy Max (two words - to avert copyright snags) at Milwaukee & Paulina, near the Division & Ashland Blue Line "L" station. After duplicating there, I went back to Ashland Av. to ride north to Cortland for the [b][u]Bucktown Pub[/u][/b]. I did not stay too long there. As I strolled back to Cortland & Ashland, a westbound route #73 Armitage bus came into view. I boarded it to ride to the Western "L" stop. The bus, from Chicago garage #1128, [i]had the new farebox[/i]. Here are photos of it; and for comparison, the new Pace bus farebox, so that you don't get the two of them mixed up.

Theres a post from Facebook L group shows #7109 and its mate on the test track. I believe we have up to #7129-30 at the factory being assembled through different stages.