New DC Metro order requires full emergency response for all breakdowns
DC Metro has issued an order requiring employees to initiate a full emergency response to any breakdown of a train, bus, or MetroAccess vehicle in the wake of several unreported incidents, including a small-scale runaway train incident, the Washington Post reports. An internal memo from Metro General Manager Paul J. Wiedefeld, obtained by the newspaper, says “additional steps are needed to achieve our organizational commitment to a ‘Safety Trumps Service’ operating ethos.” The order follows a March 26 event when a Red Line train broke down 100 yards from a station, stranding 109 passengers for more than an hour before they were escorted from the train. Two people were treated for dehydration and anxiety. Customers went more than 90 minutes without receiving instructions, leading two passengers to evacuate themselves, despite the presence of the electrified third rail. After passengers were offloaded, the train rolled more than 130 feet on its own before an employee could apply a hand brake; that incident was not reported.
Denver’s RTD shut out of funding under $4 billion state transportation plan
The Denver-area Regional Transportation District will receive no funding under the state of Colorado’s proposed $4 billion transportation package, reflecting the ongoing unhappiness of Democratic Gov. Jared Polis with the agency over its failure to build the commuter rail line to Boulder and Longmont, Colo., approved by voters as part of a 2004 initiative. Colorado Public Radio reports the transportation proposal, which has yet to be formally introduced, would include some $700 million for such things as an intercity bus network, funds for proposed Front Range rail service, and local transit throughout the state, but not in the Denver area. The rest of the plan would go to roads and road-related items such as electric vehicles. The RTD recently indicated it would resume planning work on the line to Longmont [see “Digest: RTD ready to revive planning …,” Trains News Wire, April 8, 2021], after Polis was highly critical of a suggestion by the agency’s recently hired CEO that there were better alternatives [see “Digest: Colorado governor says 2042 date …,” News Wire, Feb. 10, 2021].
Ridership remains light for revived Rail Runner service
Ridership for New Mexico’s Rail Runner Express commuter service remains light since trains resumed operation after being shut down for about a year, with the system’s operation manager saying ridership is not likely to return “until we probably go [to] the full service.” The Albuquerque Journal reports that 176 people rode the trains on March 8, the first day of operation, and the high figure in the ensuing month is 380. That’s compared to the 3,000 to 3,500 riders a day that used the 97-mile, 15-station system between Santa Fe and Belen, N.M., in February 2020, the month before it shut down because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The system is currently operating just six trains a day in each direction — with just four operating over all or most of the route. It is limited to 25% of capacity, and is not stopping at five stations which had the lightest use before the shutdown. It has not yet resumed weekend operation, but a spokeswoman says there is hope to restart the weekend trains as warm weather encourages day trips between Santa Fe and Albuquerque.
A hell of a way to run a railroad (or transit system) NO plans for emergency’s.