Guest metralink Posted April 6, 2007 Report Share Posted April 6, 2007 any word on how ridership is doing on the new UP north trains? did they add shuttle bus service up in Lake County to serve those new trains? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trainman8119 Posted April 6, 2007 Report Share Posted April 6, 2007 According to the conductor on the NW line train I was on tonight, ridership is decent with a lot of CTA overflow. However, it is coming at the expense of the rest of the UP commuter system. To operate these trains, they have been forced to take equipment off other trains creating serious overcrowding on all lines. The scuttlebut (and that is all it is at this point)is that they are now realizing the consequences of what they have done and are reviewing options to correct the situation. Trains that were SRO lost cars and now they are SRO, crammed and there is a lot of passenger grumbling going on. I have to tell you, there is no reason for trains to be leaving downtown at 8:30 and still have the vestibules overflowing as they are right now...and Cub traffic starts next week, which will really make the situation downright unbearable. I myself am thinking of going back to driving, high gas or not, because I cant stand being a sardine in the vestibules. Time will tell how this will all pan out. Needless to say, I am very disappointed on how Metra has gone about it. This was definitely a knee jerk decision. It occurred to me tonight why this has bothered me so much. Simply put, Metra has always worked within their means and did so for the benefit of its riders. However, with the bike fiasco, they have started to go away from that philosiphy. In the past, they would have gone with a minimal addition, adding a turn or two with the equipment already in place. After that, simply put, if they did not have equipment or manpower, it did not get done. No service was put in jeopardy. They have taken extra "protector" engines off trains to add these 7 trains in addition to severly shorting trains on all lines to accomodate this. Should an engine fail, there will be entire trains missed due to the lack of back up. It really bothers me that they have inconvenienced their loyal passengers in the hope of more revenue...which will come for sure. Once again, the regulars get screwed. Why should they be paying the price for the CTA's poor planning and execution. To me, this demonstrates why CTA, Metra and Pace should remain independent. If they were to become all one, you could bet the entire region will end up in the sewer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted April 6, 2007 Report Share Posted April 6, 2007 did they add shuttle bus service up in Lake County to serve those new trains?The only new train in Lake County is the Sunrise Express. With regard to shuttle buses, a 574 Lake Forest-Conway Park Shuttle Bug trip was adjusted. Not noted is that if you look at the 628 Braeside Shuttle Bug and Metra UPN schedules, the Braeside Shuttle Bug is there when the Sunrise Express stops. Originally it was only scheduled to meet the southbound train, but now also meets the northbound one. Great planning on Metra's part or just coincidence? B) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest metralink Posted April 7, 2007 Report Share Posted April 7, 2007 I would bet it was Pace that figured out hte 628 connection, Metra gives 2 toots about their passengers once they are on the platform Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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