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How is Dallas Trinity Commuter rail and Dart doing now they have been whacked with a "Nor Easter" Style Snow Storm.

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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Monday, March 2, 2015 1:53 PM

That would depend on if the equipment is equipped with sleet scrapers or not.  Based on prior posts, that may well be one of the issues.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
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Posted by Electroliner 1935 on Monday, March 2, 2015 12:24 PM

Earlier new photo showed significan ice on contact wire. Could that be their issue?

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Posted by BaltACD on Sunday, March 1, 2015 6:40 PM

CMStPnP
zugmann

 

Very little street running via DART light rail, they kept the street running portion open and shutdown the portion outside the core street running portion.     The street running is in the downtown core and even there the ROW is dedicated to the LRV's and very, very little of it is shared by cars.

So it is either a "show up to work" issue with employees, or there were system issues, not sure which.    Like I stated in earlier threads DART uses Class 1 type RR signaling (looks like reverse CTC on both tracks).    They use fairly heavy rail and good ballast, very well built system.    Maybe falling ice from buildings and bridges might have been an issue but then again the accumlations were so small it would be hard for me to believe that was the case.

A city that has no winter storm fighting equipment would make it very difficult for a work force to report for duty without taking undue risks.  Local contacts I have in the Dallas area report Ol'Mom's Nature is the chief of snow removal.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by CMStPnP on Sunday, March 1, 2015 5:42 PM

zugmann
Manpower problems?  Traffic accidents/backups along the street running portions?

 

Very little street running via DART light rail, they kept the street running portion open and shutdown the portion outside the core street running portion.     The street running is in the downtown core and even there the ROW is dedicated to the LRV's and very, very little of it is shared by cars.

So it is either a "show up to work" issue with employees, or there were system issues, not sure which.    Like I stated in earlier threads DART uses Class 1 type RR signaling (looks like reverse CTC on both tracks).    They use fairly heavy rail and good ballast, very well built system.    Maybe falling ice from buildings and bridges might have been an issue but then again the accumlations were so small it would be hard for me to believe that was the case.

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Posted by zugmann on Sunday, March 1, 2015 3:56 PM

CMStPnP
No idea why DART light rail cannot operate in those conditions.

 

Manpower problems?  Traffic accidents/backups along the street running portions?

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any

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Posted by CMStPnP on Sunday, March 1, 2015 3:36 PM

We only got 1 inch of snow and only approx 1/4 inch stuck to the roads if that and not for long.   It soon turned to ice or slush depending on the temp.   No idea why DART light rail cannot operate in those conditions.    It's sad, IMO.    I am originally from Wisconsin and this is laughable to watch.   Not only mass transit issues  but the housewifes of Dallas metro swarmed the grocery stores like a flock of locusts and ran them out of basics like Milk, eggs, etc.    All for 1 inch of snow and some colder than normal weather but nothing really crippling.

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Posted by ndbprr on Sunday, March 1, 2015 6:25 AM
Well I know this will be picky but that area can't possibly experience a nor'easter. A nor'easter is when a low pressure area just off the coast sucks up ocean moisture and dumps it on land. Kind of a hurricane without the winds. If Dallas had been hit with one they would have feet of snow. Think Boston. Lots of rain off the gulf yes but no nor'easter where the wind is from the norteast.
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Posted by zugmann on Saturday, February 28, 2015 4:26 PM

From Dart's website (which is on the net):

 

DART Rider Alerts

 

Subject: DART and TRE update 3p Feb 28
Effective Date: 2/28/2015

DART and TRE update 3p Feb 28

The T is now operating limited bus service based on local road conditions. TRE still on Saturday schedule. T customer support available at 817-215-8600.

DART buses, rail on Saturday schedule. Some DART bus routes also delayed by local road conditions.

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

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How is Dallas Trinity Commuter rail and Dart doing now they have been whacked with a "Nor Easter" Style Snow Storm.
Posted by trackrat888 on Saturday, February 28, 2015 2:45 PM

All the news has been about highways but nothing on the net about transit. BTW the DART trolleys were built in Elmira NY and they know something about bad weather

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