“Commuter railroads need to be transformed into regional rail services that run during times other than rush hour if they are to remain relevant and survive in their markets.”
I’m not saying I agree, I’m not saying I don’t. What I am wondering though is if each operation should be considered individually.
We need *driverless* commuter rail lines to reduce the marginal costs of just running the trains all day. The more frequent and reliable the service the more people will use it. The decline in commuter rail is just the decline in 9-5 schedules downtown. But a comprehensive rail transit network is for everyone, not just commuters.
I’m not sure rail labor unions would go along with that sentiment. I remember the times when some railroads were intent on having trains operate with a single person in the locomotive cab, cab control car and so on and so forth. In other words, no second crewmember on board. If I remember correctly, that arrangement didn’t sit well with certain operating unions. So there’s that. It’s not that the technology isn’t there to provide for that capability. If I’m not mistaken, the new light rail system in Hawaii is driverless.
Yeah, I know, I’m very much against the rail labor unions here. We should treat and pay railroad workers well, but we should make trains driverless where we’re able!
I used to live in Capitol Hill and work in Lakewood night shift and it irked me how i couldn’t use the commuter rail line. The last morning train left for downtown right as I got off work. If it ran at least hourly (and was better integrated with Pierce Transit), people would rely on it more.
Speaking of integration with local transit, the PC Lakewood transit center and the ST SR512 transit center are both less than a mile from the Sounder stop, but it’s not a walk that’s amenable to transfer. Why can’t the transfer point for both be the train station? It makes little sense unless you want Sounder to just be a boondoggle.
Trains are the healthiest transport for people and the planet. We don’t need a $10M study to know that we need more mid-day trains for the 80% who travel them. Add an extension to Lacey/Olympia
“Commuter railroads need to be transformed into regional rail services that run during times other than rush hour if they are to remain relevant and survive in their markets.”
I’m not saying I agree, I’m not saying I don’t. What I am wondering though is if each operation should be considered individually.
We need *driverless* commuter rail lines to reduce the marginal costs of just running the trains all day. The more frequent and reliable the service the more people will use it. The decline in commuter rail is just the decline in 9-5 schedules downtown. But a comprehensive rail transit network is for everyone, not just commuters.
I’m not sure rail labor unions would go along with that sentiment. I remember the times when some railroads were intent on having trains operate with a single person in the locomotive cab, cab control car and so on and so forth. In other words, no second crewmember on board. If I remember correctly, that arrangement didn’t sit well with certain operating unions. So there’s that. It’s not that the technology isn’t there to provide for that capability. If I’m not mistaken, the new light rail system in Hawaii is driverless.
Btw that’s nuts that Honolulu was able to build a light rail system. Isn’t a gallon of milk $8 there?
Not surprising given that Honolulu light rail construction ran into the billions of dollars.
Yeah, I know, I’m very much against the rail labor unions here. We should treat and pay railroad workers well, but we should make trains driverless where we’re able!
I used to live in Capitol Hill and work in Lakewood night shift and it irked me how i couldn’t use the commuter rail line. The last morning train left for downtown right as I got off work. If it ran at least hourly (and was better integrated with Pierce Transit), people would rely on it more.
Speaking of integration with local transit, the PC Lakewood transit center and the ST SR512 transit center are both less than a mile from the Sounder stop, but it’s not a walk that’s amenable to transfer. Why can’t the transfer point for both be the train station? It makes little sense unless you want Sounder to just be a boondoggle.
Trains are the healthiest transport for people and the planet. We don’t need a $10M study to know that we need more mid-day trains for the 80% who travel them. Add an extension to Lacey/Olympia