A quick check of Amtrak bookings to / from PHL already show some sold out positions especially regional business and Acela first class. This during the September Pope's visit. It may be that additional cars have already been allocated but this poster has no way to find out.
As of now no additional traiins have been scheduled. It seems weekend trains should have been scheduled but the availability of crews needing their 48 Hours rest for week before and after may limit that option ? . SEPTA is going to limit passengers by not stopping at some stations during this time. No details published as far as I know.
At least Amtrak cannot claim not enough notice as it did for the women's soccer games in Vancouver.
Back in the day, if you wanted "surge capacity", you counted on a fleet of aged heavyweight coaches parked out in the coach yard somewhere. These days, you charter a bunch of motorcoach buses.
The closest thing to such spare capacity is in the commuter agencies where their equipment utilization peak is for 2 hours in the AM and 2 hours in the PM 5 days a week. There may be institutional barriers to throwing commuter rolling stock at a rush hour occuring outside those time, but it looks like SEPTA is being cautious to not be overwhelmed.
Why is a person expecting Amtrak to have spare Acela train sets on standby for such a contingency?
If GM "killed the electric car", what am I doing standing next to an EV-1, a half a block from the WSOR tracks?
Excerpt from Delaware County Daily Times, June 16
http://www.delcotimes.com/general-news/20150616/preliminary-public-transportation-details-for-popes-visit-to-philadelphia-released
Amtrak is prepared to move significant numbers of people into and out of Philadelphia for the World Meeting of Families convening. Amtrak officials are working closely with partners at SEPTA and New Jersey Transit to optimize schedules and accommodate as many people as possible. Amtrak will monitor and adjust seat inventory as needed as the World Meeting of Families approaches. Officials encourage passengers to book tickets as far in advance as possible, and based on those bookings Amtrak will add coaches – and possibly even operate extra trains – as necessary. All Amtrak trains will require reservations the weekend of the Papal visit. Passengers will not be permitted to purchase tickets on board trains.
Well Amtrak may get swamped. Septa's 2 day rail pass sale that started at 0900 this morning immediately crashed. Site set up for 1700 hits per second but got 5000+ per second. SEPTA going back to drawing board. Wonder why they did not plan to borrow some equipment from MARC and NJT ?
http://6abc.com/travel/septa-suspends-sales-of-pope-visit-passes/849411/
So we do know SEPTA cannot meet demand. Will this become a PR nightmare for SEPTA.
http://mobile.philly.com/news/?wss=/philly/news/pope/&id=316516851&
blue streak 1 Will this become a PR nightmare for SEPTA.
Will this become a PR nightmare for SEPTA.
My money is on "yes".
blue streak 1 Site set up for 1700 hits per second but got 5000+ per second. http://6abc.com/travel/septa-suspends-sales-of-pope-visit-passes/849411/
Site set up for 1700 hits per second but got 5000+ per second.
http://www.philly.com/philly/business/transportation/20150724_SEPTA_vendor_for_papal_passes_gets__500K_a_year.html says they tested for 1,700 hits per MINUTE.
Patrick Boylan
Free yacht rides, 27' sailboat, zip code 19114 Delaware River, get great Delair bridge photos from the river. Send me a private message
gardendance says they tested for 1,700 hits per MINUTE.
says they tested for 1,700 hits per MINUTE.
blue streak 1 gardendance says they tested for 1,700 hits per MINUTE. Interesting how no one can get the correct amount. Would't trust anyone especially SEPTA.
Was in an area to watch local Philadelphia TV over the weekend - without regard to SEPTA, the comments on the newscasts left me wondering if the rest of Philadelphia will be ready for the Pope.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Amtrak has just released its "POPE special schedule " . Quite a big increase. Loooks like a Thanksgiving schedule all over.
http://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/893/771/WMOF-W02,0.pdf
But would't you know Amtrak has not loaded the schedule into its web site. Left hand / right hand or is IT having trouble ?
Keystone schedule
http://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/282/302/WMOF-W10.pdf
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