Comments on: Boxer Reminds Metrolink: Train Crew Members Shouldn’t Ride Solo http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/09/21/boxer-reminds-metrolink-train-crew-members-shouldn%e2%80%99t-ride-solo/ Covering Los Angeles's livable streets movement Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:06:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: JRider http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/09/21/boxer-reminds-metrolink-train-crew-members-shouldn%e2%80%99t-ride-solo/comment-page-1/#comment-32901 JRider Mon, 21 Sep 2009 23:23:39 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/?p=12101#comment-32901 Yay. Senators making operations decisions. Always a good idea. Just like senators making engineering decisions to impose PTC. Yay. Senators making operations decisions. Always a good idea. Just like senators making engineering decisions to impose PTC.

]]> By: DJB http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/09/21/boxer-reminds-metrolink-train-crew-members-shouldn%e2%80%99t-ride-solo/comment-page-1/#comment-32851 DJB Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:17:03 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/?p=12101#comment-32851 Slight correction: "may be ponying up" :) Slight correction: “may be ponying up” :)

]]> By: DJB http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/09/21/boxer-reminds-metrolink-train-crew-members-shouldn%e2%80%99t-ride-solo/comment-page-1/#comment-32841 DJB Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:01:28 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/?p=12101#comment-32841 I'm glad the feds are ponying up for safety grants (even though they don't have any money that isn't borrowed) because, if anything, Metrolink should be running more trains with fewer cars each to improve its service frequency. The whole system, with its hundreds of miles of track has something like 45,000 riders on an average weekday, or approximately the same amount of riders as the Green Line. We know the problems: expensive fares, infrequent service, and a lack (no disrespect intended) of anything much, particularly jobs, at most Metrolink stops. These things kill ridership. It's a familiar vicious cycle of low ridership and revenue causing bad service and vice versa. So, again I think a key to breaking the cycle is more trains, with fewer cars each. Metro rail changes the number of cars per train to reflect demand, and Metrolink should too (if possible). What's the point of wasting energy and money to carry empty cars? With the money Metrolink saves, hopefully it can improve its service and lower its fares, thus improving ridership. I’m glad the feds are ponying up for safety grants (even though they don’t have any money that isn’t borrowed) because, if anything, Metrolink should be running more trains with fewer cars each to improve its service frequency. The whole system, with its hundreds of miles of track has something like 45,000 riders on an average weekday, or approximately the same amount of riders as the Green Line.

We know the problems: expensive fares, infrequent service, and a lack (no disrespect intended) of anything much, particularly jobs, at most Metrolink stops. These things kill ridership. It’s a familiar vicious cycle of low ridership and revenue causing bad service and vice versa.

So, again I think a key to breaking the cycle is more trains, with fewer cars each. Metro rail changes the number of cars per train to reflect demand, and Metrolink should too (if possible). What’s the point of wasting energy and money to carry empty cars? With the money Metrolink saves, hopefully it can improve its service and lower its fares, thus improving ridership.

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