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| Re: Silverliner V problems, SL-V's to return (1407134) | |||
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Re: Silverliner V problems, SL-V's to return |
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Posted by TransitChuckG on Fri Sep 2 06:48:06 2016, in response to Re: Silverliner V problems, SL-V's to return, posted by TransitChuckG on Thu Sep 1 08:54:03 2016. From an Email I received.Big news to report, so we’ll hold the questions update for tomorrow. The first set of repaired Silverliner V cars returned to service this morning, running on the Fox Chase-Chestnut Hill West route. Cars 726-716-805-806 if you’re keeping track. I had a chance to ride on them and there was no hoopla, just a routine trip (though the better air conditioning of the Vs was welcome on a humid late summer day). One thing we DVARP members can do as the repaired cars come into service is allay people’s fears that the Silverliner Vs are unsafe. There was considerable testing of the new part both in the lab and out on the railroad, one of the cars was given an excruciatingly thorough inspection to make sure there weren’t any other hidden defects, and even with the defective trucks, taking the train is a lot safer than driving. There was a press event today at the Bucks County metal fabricator where the replacement equalizer beams are being produced. We learned that the beams are being made from plate steel, using a new design. That doesn’t mean that the design of the beams can now be blamed for the cracks that sidelined the fleet—there still haven’t been any conclusions drawn from the engineering analysis. There are plenty of new beams now, and SEPTA expects to be able to get 10 cars per week back into service. The pace is slow because it takes a considerable amount of time to almost completely disassemble the truck, take out the old beam, and reassemble it with the new one. So while it will take the better part of three months to finish repairing the Silverliner Vs, SEPTA is now expecting to be able to resume normal weekday schedules sometime around the middle of October, thanks to the equipment on lease from MARC, Amtrak, and NJ Transit. Another round of schedule changes was announced for next Tuesday. Most lines are affected, but the majority of changes are in reverse-peak service. The main thing is that service will be restored to Media and Elwyn as the Crum Creek bridge replacement is finished. Full details of the changes are posted now at New plans,and the schedules themselves will be posted Friday night. Download the latest schedule for your line over the weekend and check to see whether any of the changes will affect your usual commute. Some highlights of the changes: The second of the “clean-up” trains from Miquon on the Norristown line will be removed, as the first “clean-up” which presently leaves at 8:09 am will be pushed back to 8:16. Trains will be added outbound to Norristown in the early morning and both ways in the late night. Most other inbound trains from Norristown will be re-timed, so make sure to download the new schedule over the weekend. On the West Trenton line, morning departures 3705 and 3515 from West Trenton and Neshaminy Falls are being switched around—if you’re riding from stations between West Trenton and Langhorne, check the new timetable to see if your train will be stopping at your station. There will also be a new outbound West Trenton local leaving 30thStreet at 5:15 pm. The only other significant rush hour change is making the 6:03 pm Lansdale train into an express: first stop Glenside. Riders going to the local stops between Wayne Junction and Jenkintown can take the 6:11 Doylestown trip. More reverse-peak improvements: on the Wilmington line, there will be a new morning outbound train to Newark, returning after the rush hour, and on the Trenton line, there will be a new inbound train leaving at 6:40 pm. Finally, a few train numbers will be changing, so if you don’t see your regular train on TrainView, check for a different number. The next couple of weeks will be rough, but things on the railroad will be getting a lot better soon. Hang in there! Matthew Mitchell Commuter Rail Committee DVARP |
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