[TRAINS: David Lassen]
BNSF maintenance to bring Metra schedule changes, grade-crossing closures Sept. 17-20
BNSF Line will see schedule changes, including some train cancellations, and closures of major grade crossings during a four-day maintenance project to replace 11,000 ties over a nearly 15-mile stretch of the three-track BNSF main line between Berwyn and Downers Grove, Ill. The project will begin the evening of Thursday, Sept. 17, and conclude on Sunday, Sept. 20. BNSF track gangs will work 12-hour shifts as part of the project. Similar intense maintenance projects have been held previously, most recently last October [see “BNSF track work to alter Metra schedules Oct. 25-27,” Trains News Wire, Oct. 24, 2019]. “BNSF clearly demonstrated over the past several years with similar tie replacement projects that a condensed timeline benefits our riders by reducing the impacts of slow orders and train schedule changes,” Metra CEO/Executive Director Jim Derwinski said in a press release. Details on the schedule changes and grade-crossing closures are available here.
BART shut down by Sunday computer issues
Bay Area Rapid Transit service was shut down for several hours Sunday by computer problems. The San Jose Mercury News reports that a systemwide computer issue prevented BART from its scheduled 8 a.m. opening, with the system finally reporting full operation shortly after noon. A Twitter thread posted by BART on Sunday afternoon said a field network device failed, “disrupting the operational communications network,” which “went into fail safe mode and shut down.” Engineers made a change to the system which is expected to prevent similar shutdowns in the future, the agency said.
Sound Transit names new executive director of operations
Seattle’s Sound Transit has named Suraj Shetty as its new executive director of operations. He will manage operations and maintenance, operations assets and technology, and related support services. His prior experience includes managerial positions in manufacturing and supply-chain roles in automotive, construction equipment, and consumer goods industries, including overseeing the setup of facilities in Asia, Europe, and the United States.
