Silver Line / Blue Line problems

[Sand Box John]

"mtuandrew"
Sand Box John: I'd love to see that. Even if they're limited-distance trains (such as Mt. Vernon - RR Nat Airport) the more throughput in the City Center, the better.

It could be taken further then that. Run 1/2 of the Red line trains between Shady Grove and Glenmont, split the other 1/2 into 1/4 and run one of the 1/4 between Glenmont and Farragut North and the other 1/4 between Shady Grove and New York Avenue, use the dispatch and receiving track in Brentwood Yard as relay pocket track. Terminate all Silver line and 1/3 of Orange line trains in D&G junction.

[wrivlin]

I thought Metro couldn't end the Silver line at D&G... Also I feel like it would have been a better idea to end the Silver line at East Falls Church or Ballston. It would require more transfers but allows for more capacity for Blue and Orange line trains.

[JackRussell]

If they were to attempt to turn the trains like this, it would need to be some place where there was a center platform. And the problem is that there just aren't that many stations with a center platform. Had the Silver Line gone through *West* Falls Church, that might have been an option.

[wrivlin]

So, as a temporary fix, could a third platform be added to East Falls Church? Or add some trackage in the Falls Church Yard so that Silver trains can terminate at West Falls Church? Seems like either of these would be a lot less expensive than adding a second Rosslyn station, and could solve some of the problems Metro is facing.

[Sand Box John]

"wrivlin"
I thought Metro couldn't end the Silver line at D&G... Also I feel like it would have been a better idea to end the Silver line at East Falls Church or Ballston. It would require more transfers but allows for more capacity for Blue and Orange line trains.

The D&G pocket track is longer then the Mount Vernon Square pocket track. The only thing preventing WMATA from using the D&G pocket is fear.

So, as a temporary fix, could a third platform be added to East Falls Church?

The only way to do that would be to extend half the width of the platform 700' west and put a track next to it.

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<------------------------------------------------------------------>
                   \                 ------------   \   /
                    ---------------] |          |    \ /
< W Falls Church      /  -------------          |     X    Balston >
                     /   |    E Falls Church    |    / \
                    /    ------------------------   /   \
<------------------------------------------------------------------>

Or add some trackage in the Falls Church Yard so that Silver trains can terminate at West Falls Church? Seems like either of these would be a lot less expensive than adding a second Rosslyn station, and could solve some of the problems Metro is facing.

The trackage is there, problem is using said trackage requires going through 6 #8 turnout over a distance of about a mile at the restricted speed of 15 MPH. There also is the issue of getting in the way of the routine movement of cars between the shop and the storage tracks.

[YOLO]

Anyone wish the silver line was the one running every 12 minutes and OR/BL would be back to the normal 6?

[dcmike]

"MCL1981"

According to WMATAs own numbers not including Dulles Yard the storage capacity is 1316 with Dulles yard the number jumps to 1520. Storage capacity is not an issue however the balance of the storage capacity is. Alexandria, Shady Grove and Glenmont are negative in excess storage capacity.

It's not that simple. The arrangement of the yard storage tracks is not optimized for maximum efficiency. The capacity of typical track varies from between 6-12. When you have an eight-car train lay up and you berth it on a track with 12 car capacity, you effectively lose 12 slots in that yard. There's not enough room to put a six-car train in front of it without time consuming coupling and uncoupling operations. Not only that, but you also need wiggle room in each yard to facilitate moves and reconfigure consists.

[Sand Box John]

"dcmike"

It's not that simple. The arrangement of the yard storage tracks is not optimized for maximum efficiency. The capacity of typical track varies from between 6-12. When you have an eight-car train lay up and you berth it on a track with 12 car capacity, you effectively lose 12 slots in that yard. There's not enough room to put a six-car train in front of it without time consuming coupling and uncoupling operations. Not only that, but you also need wiggle room in each yard to facilitate moves and reconfigure consists.

That's one of the reason why I think WMATA should gets some funds to dig up the front yard a Glenmont to allow the extension of the storage tracks east to allow the storage of 2 8 car trains on each track. Rebuild the operations building and parking above the extended tracks.