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Discussion related to DC area passenger rail services from Northern Virginia to Baltimore, MD. Includes Light Rail and Baltimore Subway.

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 #1603361  by Sand Box John
 
YOLO
Looks like the new GM wants to open up silver line ph2 by late October, hope they can actually meet that timeline


That is what Adam Tuss was reporting from unnamed sources a month ago.
Metro Testing Silver Line Extension, Has Target Date for New Service
 #1604786  by perfbill
 
Over the past several months I have almost never seen a moving train on the west 5 of the DTR, but have seen some activity on the Greenway.This morning that was a bit shocking, since I saw, honestly, a 7K near Loudoun County Parkway. So, perhaps they are slowly being filtered back in, but tested in a place that currently doesn't matter.

The rust is not surprising given these ongoing delays and non-use. This is no way to CONDUCT a railroad. (Sorry, it was there)
 #1604912  by geico
 
YOLO wrote: Wed Aug 17, 2022 9:49 am Today's scheduled safety training is mega delayed because the rails havent been maintained in years. Lots of rust on the rails and bolts

https://twitter.com/AdamTuss/status/1559909316433526787

https://twitter.com/AdamTuss/status/1559914919465738240
You would think they would have run a train or a rail polisher first.
 #1608514  by perfbill
 
Not really moving forward, and the frustrations with the lack of 7k cars and under-use of those that are available continues to be a problem. But they have at least compiled something to occupy us as we anticipate Ashburn to Wiehle opening up. Behold, a timetable for average times. You'll have to look at multiple sections to break down some of the specific distances/times, but it is encouraging. Ashburn to Union Station 74 minutes. Takes me more time now between driving (2 miles from Ashburn station) to Wiehle, then training from there, including parking and walking and wait. Once intervals are back to 6-12 minutes, this will seem more worthwhile. Enjoy.

https://www.wmata.com/rider-guide/silve ... pdates.cfm
 #1608618  by Sand Box John
 
JDC
Metro is saying it is ready to open the Silver line phase II for Thanksgiving 2022, but it does not have enough railcars so....guess not? https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/loca ... s/3186030/. Pissing match between Metro and the safety commission to ensue.


Silver Line extension operationally ready to open for passengers by Thanksgiving
WMATA Press Release
10 19 2022
 #1609031  by perfbill
 
At last. Since they are not up for reelection, I think that Warner and Kaine actually had constituents in mind more so than politics. OK, a rosy view, but let's be optimistic. At least we appear to have a clear go for launch. Maybe. I hope.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/transpor ... ro-trains/
 #1609096  by YOLO
 
This is interesting
Metro’s board also said will look at something Metro has never really done before – running an express train once a Silver Line extension to Dulles Airport and Loudoun County opens. The idea is to have trains between Ashburn and Rosslyn potentially skip around seven stations east of Reston. Metro says an express train could save around four to six minutes for people using Dulles Airport and would reduce a very long trip between Ashburn and D.C. by the same amount. However, because Metro only has two tracks it is limited in what it can do with a potential express train.
https://wjla.com/news/local/metro-wmata ... ndy-clarke
 #1609101  by KTHW
 
I can’t see it happening just because Metro can hardly manage its existing schedule and service (unless they bring back ATO). I do wish WMATA had a few more three track stations that would allow a little intermixing and passing, but at this point it’s too late.
 #1609118  by justalurker66
 
The trick on double track is to hold the express train the number of minutes one wants to save. So on an "every 5 minutes" schedule with multiple station stops, hold a train 5 minutes (until the following train has to stop before the station where the express is holding) then let the "express" make up that time as it passes stations and catches the train in front of it. This trick avoids crossing trains over through slower than track speed crossovers and maintaining a schedule that allows opposite running trains for passing.

Some commuter rail use this trick for delayed trains where they will "run express" to make up time. But scheduling a train to leave a station later is a trick that gives the appearance of an express - and the benefit of an express for the passengers who would have missed the normal departure time for that train. Cancelling a train to increase the gap between trains can extend the gap that can be made up by an express (12 trains an hour spaced 5 minutes apart? Cancel one to create a 10 minute gap ... hold the train before that gap 9 minutes and one has an up to 14 minute buffer to use to run the train express before it has to slow for the train ahead.)

Expresses work better with high speed crossovers with intricate schedules or third track for passing. But the appearance of an express can be created.
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