Awesome! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTJX05wey54&feature=channel We are getting closer for the new services. We need to open this venue as faster we can.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTJX05wey54&feature=channel
We are getting closer for the new services. We need to open this venue as faster we can.
Its really starting to smell like a dead rat in the house to me,somebody really screwed up either by getting kick backs or allowing things to be done that shouldnt have taking shortcuts or something !Thanks for the update...April huh ?
videomaker What kind of construction projects are they working on now? I thot all the stations were finished,did the FRA make them build something else or change something? Im out of the loop so to speak,I had computer trouble since before Christmas...
What kind of construction projects are they working on now? I thot all the stations were finished,did the FRA make them build something else or change something? Im out of the loop so to speak,I had computer trouble since before Christmas...
There were some issues with the station platform at Lamar, and the road crossing. Also all of the signal system and the grade crossing protection has to be worked on to be certified.
Tonight, the local news carried the story that Cap Metro has announced that the construction and certification of signals will be complete around March 1 and after two to three weeks of schedule implementation the system will (not should, according to CapMetro) be operational for passengers.
The signal system here in Leander is all now continuously lit, and swarms of signal folks have been all over the local grade crossings and block signals in the past few days.
It appears that the following is considered progress:
As of December 8, 2009, The FRA has approved the DMU doors for service,and has completed their dispatching logs and recordkeeping review. Of the remaining 24 waiver issues outstanding, as of December 9, 2009 19 have been completed and approved and 5 remain to be reviewed by the FRA.
Apparently a radio system is being installed and work on that should be complete by April 1, 2010 or earlier. The crossing work at Lamar Blvd. is apparently complete and various station improvements are to be finished by January 5, 2010.
There remains system computer reprogramming, operations modifications and construction projects as follows:
9 programming jobs total with one complete and 8 remaining to be completed.
8 Operations Modifications tasks with 7 complete and 1 remaining to be completed.
3 construction projects with all three remaining to be completed.
What all this translates to is that there are significant construction projects left, computer software needs to be installed, tested, approved and activated, and operations modifications need to be approved and tested and implemented. Naturally they have to get this past the unblinking eye of the FRA, more than enough of a challenge for this beleaguered outfit. While the tasks may not seem like much, they are far and away too many for a system that was supposed to be in operation long ago.
April 2010 sounds possible, but let's not all hold our breath. There isn't enough oxygen on this planet.
Have you heard any updates to the opening date?
Well,
Im still holding out til spring 2010 and they call the ambassadors back to help out with getting all the folks that will be riding it to their destination ! Pray that it goes well between now and then !
If they did suspend the runs, they have restarted them. I saw one and heard another yesterday in Leander.
Sam1 Capital Metro announced recently a fare increase for the Leander to Austin commuter rail service. This is the first time in my memory that a rail operator has announced a fare increase before beginning service. Oh, in case anyone has forgotten, the line is nearly two years late in opening, and it is approximately $30 million over budget. Supposedly it will open by March 31, 2010.
Capital Metro announced recently a fare increase for the Leander to Austin commuter rail service. This is the first time in my memory that a rail operator has announced a fare increase before beginning service.
Oh, in case anyone has forgotten, the line is nearly two years late in opening, and it is approximately $30 million over budget. Supposedly it will open by March 31, 2010.
I read the Newspaper and I can't believe they actually raised the fares without opening.
We estimate the last steps, including the final validation and a review by the FRA, to be complete in the first quarter of the year.
Is that a light I see coming at us I certainly hope so !
Processes – Develop and implement changes to some processes for addressing issues ???
What does that mean? Sounds like we're still in the brainstorming stage !
I can tell you that there were several rail consultants who tried to advise Capital Metro on the best way to make this thing work, but they chose not to listen to them, and in fact dismissed several with rail experience. The first mistake was in picking the Stadler cars knowing that they would not be FRA compliant. This was the first mistake of the many to follow.They should have went with conventional equipment and experienced railroaders and this thing could have been up and running within 18 months for less money and much less difficulty.
Sunbeam,
You said it right ! We cant keep pouring more concrete...I have faith that the powers that be will get the bugs worked out and the train will run eventually..The question is...If Cap Metro didnt know what they were doing from the start,why didnt they hire a consultant or costruction co.that did? Is this all about the $ sign? Now Im beginning to wonder if there was some corruption maybe going on ,you scratch my back,I'll scratch yours and we'll both make $$$ Hmmmmm...
Anyway, back to the original thread. Capital Metro apparently never consulted with anyone when it went for the low bids on the signaling systems and automatice warning devices for grade crossings. There is virtually no one in Cap Metro with rail experience. Veolia does not actually operate the system yet, and has not approved Cap Metro's work in order to start running the system, so this is pretty much all Cap Metro's doing. And, yes...responsibility should go all the way to the top. The shame of it is, a passenger rail system does make a lot of sense for Austin if it is done correctly; there are 2 other potential ROW's that could be developed for rail. There is only so much concrete that can be poured to fix the transportation problem.
videomaker No Common sense! I wonder if they should have a standard for the entire system.Jav, You got that right ! Is the club meet to run trains this w/end?
No Common sense! I wonder if they should have a standard for the entire system.Jav,
You got that right !
Is the club meet to run trains this w/end?
Danny:
We are having a Club Meeting at 10:30AM then Open to the public from 1PM-5PM. Are you coming down? I am debating of visiting the Train Show in San Antonio. Let me know..
javier
videomakerI cant help but wonder tho if he was pressured by the board to resign
Probably; this sort of face-saving resignation usually is what you get after failure/scandal/ For example, the recent resignation of the president of the University of Illinois following an admissions scandal. From the PR announcement, you'd never think the scandal was related. Just spin.
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
WOW ! Sure was a long letter of resignation..I cant help but wonder tho if he was pressured by the board to resign,under defferent circumstances, I would not question it..However ,I dont guess they can blame him for all the startup problems...
videomaker " If a business operated with that perspective, the CEO would be out the door in a heart beat."
" If a business operated with that perspective, the CEO would be out the door in a heart beat."
He is. Just on the news tonight....head of CapMetro is "retiring" after eight years of screwing everything up. Claims he is leaving it al in better shape than he found it. KVUE has the story:
http://www.kvue.com/news/top/stories/093009kvue_Gilliam_retire-cb.1cfbef8c6.html
but you DO need someone to do system integration if you don't.
Well, one or the other, it really helps when it works like its suppose to when the dispatcher pushes the button ! LOL
videomaker,like getting all the computers,hardware and software from the same supplier.
-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/)
videomaker " If a business operated with that perspective, the CEO would be out the door in a heart beat." Sam, I agree totally,I just read the report on TRA,I also read in the lastest UPDATE from CapMetro that they apparently didnt think of all the stuff that must be considered before starting this project,like getting all the computers,hardware and software from the same supplier...Doah !
Sam, I agree totally,I just read the report on TRA,I also read in the lastest UPDATE from CapMetro that they apparently didnt think of all the stuff that must be considered before starting this project,like getting all the computers,hardware and software from the same supplier...Doah !
No Common sense! I wonder if they should have a standard for the entire system.
videomaker Hello fellow commuters ! I just read the Sept update from CapMetroRail and it sounds like someone just woke up and decided to hire an outside consulting firm to help with identifing some of the problems and finding a solution.. Halleluya ! Overall it sounds like they made some progress in the last month and there may be "light at the end of the tunnel" Im hopeful !
Hello fellow commuters !
I just read the Sept update from CapMetroRail and it sounds like someone just woke up and decided to hire an outside consulting firm to help with identifing some of the problems and finding a solution..
Halleluya !
Overall it sounds like they made some progress in the last month and there may be "light at the end of the tunnel" Im hopeful !
According to a Capital Metro announcement released yesterday, the light at the end of the tunnel should arrive by the end of the first quarter 2010. Management said that train service would start sometime during the first quarter of next year. If they get it running before March 31st, I will be surprised.
The project is at least $15 million over budget and two years behind schedule. This is for a 32 mile rail service that will run on an existing right-of-way. Cap Metro's CEO said that he regretted setting a start date for the rail service. If a business operated with that perspective, the CEO would be out the door in a heart beat.
It was great to see you last week at the Temple Model Show. I 'm to know they hired someone from the outside who could figure out the problem with the Capmetro. In my opnion they should clean house from the top.
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