PATCO Service Woes

Fair use quote: "COLLINGSWOOD, N.J. (WPVI) -- If you've noticed issues with PATCO service, you're not alone.
Trains have been overcrowded, skipping stations, and even canceling stops during the morning and evening rush.
Now, PATCO mechanics and electricians are working around the clock to deal with a frustrating series of motor breakdowns."


http://6abc.com/traffic/patco-working-t ... s/1708834/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Fox29 showed a train this morning "shooting sparks" as they called it and attributing it to the motor issues. It was a two car train and may have been the first run of the morning. The sparks appeared to be from the pickup shoes, I assume it was just knocking the light accumulation of rust off of the third rail from the overnight dampness.

I wonder if the fact that the PATCO cars are among the oldest rapid transit cars running in North America is a factor. I think the R32's on the NYC Subway are the only ones that are older (1963).

Just to hazard a guess...this is probably in some way related to the overhauls they're doing...and the NEWLY RETURNED cars, NOT the old ones. I am not confident about that, esp because IIRC traction wasn't supposed to be affected, but my it sure does seem like an awfully well timed coincidence.