CJG Robinson
2003-12-07 09:29:56 UTC
Blame it on the Republicans (and anti-rail Democrats local
and national.) After all, who needs 19th century technology
when everybody (including seemingly every other local resident)
owns an SUV?
(Blame the EPA for the death of the station wagon, but that's
another story. What, you thought SUVs were a market niche that
just magically appeared?)
Robert Lanza wrote:
Brian: METRO has officially given up any pretense of being able
to operate in the snow. PLease forward to interested parties.
Robert
------- Forwarded message -------
Subject: A washingtonpost.com article from []
Date: Fri, 21 Nov 2003 21:17:09 -0500 (EST)
and national.) After all, who needs 19th century technology
when everybody (including seemingly every other local resident)
owns an SUV?
(Blame the EPA for the death of the station wagon, but that's
another story. What, you thought SUVs were a market niche that
just magically appeared?)
Robert Lanza wrote:
Brian: METRO has officially given up any pretense of being able
to operate in the snow. PLease forward to interested parties.
Robert
------- Forwarded message -------
Subject: A washingtonpost.com article from []
Date: Fri, 21 Nov 2003 21:17:09 -0500 (EST)
Metro Will Limit Service In Snow
By Lyndsey Layton
Metro has a new strategy for dealing with heavy snow: Trains will stop
serving above-ground stations and run only in the underground portions
of the subway system.
"When we get large, deep, heavy snow, we're going to be running a
lifeline-only type of service -- trains 20 to 30 minutes apart,
underground only," said James Gallagher, Metro's deputy general manager
for operations.
Metro's policy has been to run full service through snowstorms. But
that policy led to decisions that crippled the system in February, when
a blizzard left 18 inches of snow across the region.
As the snow fell Feb.16, Metro officials kept the system running, in
part because it had delivered trainloads of spectators to an ice show at
MCI Center. "Our policy had been, 'If we take you there, we'll get you
home,' " Gallagher said.
Metro ran empty trains, known as polishers, to keep the rails clear of
snow. As the storm intensified, snow blew onto the track bed, ice coated
the electrified third rail and several polisher trains got stuck. The
system faced two problems: Tracks serving its eight outdoor storage
yards became coated with ice, marooning trains in the yards; and snow
and ice damaged the motors of the cars, causing them to break down.
About 300 cars were sidelined by mechanical problems as a result of the
storm.
After the storm passed, the roads were plowed and the region's
workforce returned to jobs, Metro still ran seriously diminished
service. The subway system needs 650 cars to run normal service; on the
first workday after the storm, it began service with 366 cars.
Crowding was severe on the nation's second-busiest subway system. One
frustrated rider watched 11 trains roll by, all too packed for him to
squeeze aboard. Many riders gave up, angry that they had paid a premium
rush-hour fare and unwilling to wait or jostle. They set off in search
of a bus, a cab or just a clear path along which to trudge.
It took six days to return to normal subway service, and it wasn't
until summer before all the equipment broken by the storm was repaired,
said Lem Proctor, Metro's chief operating officer for rail.
Most of Metro's rail cars are vulnerable in snowy weather because
all-electrical components -- motors, ventilation fans, fuses -- hang
from the undercarriage. Once snow coats the electronics or is sucked
into fans, water blocks filters and causes fuses to blow.
After snowstorms nearly paralyzed Metro in January 1996, transit
officials spent $1.4 million on equipment for keeping outdoor tracks
working under a foot of snow.
Under the plan announced yesterday, Metro trains will run underground
only, at intervals of about 30 minutes, when snowfall reaches eight
inches.
Transit managers also will store 300 rail cars in the subway tunnels to
protect them from weather, Proctor said.
It may not be long before the snow policy is tested. Proctor has
memorized the forecast for the winter: "Expect higher than normal
precipitation," he said.Ý
By Lyndsey Layton
Metro has a new strategy for dealing with heavy snow: Trains will stop
serving above-ground stations and run only in the underground portions
of the subway system.
"When we get large, deep, heavy snow, we're going to be running a
lifeline-only type of service -- trains 20 to 30 minutes apart,
underground only," said James Gallagher, Metro's deputy general manager
for operations.
Metro's policy has been to run full service through snowstorms. But
that policy led to decisions that crippled the system in February, when
a blizzard left 18 inches of snow across the region.
As the snow fell Feb.16, Metro officials kept the system running, in
part because it had delivered trainloads of spectators to an ice show at
MCI Center. "Our policy had been, 'If we take you there, we'll get you
home,' " Gallagher said.
Metro ran empty trains, known as polishers, to keep the rails clear of
snow. As the storm intensified, snow blew onto the track bed, ice coated
the electrified third rail and several polisher trains got stuck. The
system faced two problems: Tracks serving its eight outdoor storage
yards became coated with ice, marooning trains in the yards; and snow
and ice damaged the motors of the cars, causing them to break down.
About 300 cars were sidelined by mechanical problems as a result of the
storm.
After the storm passed, the roads were plowed and the region's
workforce returned to jobs, Metro still ran seriously diminished
service. The subway system needs 650 cars to run normal service; on the
first workday after the storm, it began service with 366 cars.
Crowding was severe on the nation's second-busiest subway system. One
frustrated rider watched 11 trains roll by, all too packed for him to
squeeze aboard. Many riders gave up, angry that they had paid a premium
rush-hour fare and unwilling to wait or jostle. They set off in search
of a bus, a cab or just a clear path along which to trudge.
It took six days to return to normal subway service, and it wasn't
until summer before all the equipment broken by the storm was repaired,
said Lem Proctor, Metro's chief operating officer for rail.
Most of Metro's rail cars are vulnerable in snowy weather because
all-electrical components -- motors, ventilation fans, fuses -- hang
from the undercarriage. Once snow coats the electronics or is sucked
into fans, water blocks filters and causes fuses to blow.
After snowstorms nearly paralyzed Metro in January 1996, transit
officials spent $1.4 million on equipment for keeping outdoor tracks
working under a foot of snow.
Under the plan announced yesterday, Metro trains will run underground
only, at intervals of about 30 minutes, when snowfall reaches eight
inches.
Transit managers also will store 300 rail cars in the subway tunnels to
protect them from weather, Proctor said.
It may not be long before the snow policy is tested. Proctor has
memorized the forecast for the winter: "Expect higher than normal
precipitation," he said.Ý