Silverliner Vs Out of Service - Schedule/Service Discussion

dcipjr wrote:I'm not surprised it's the trucks that are at fault. Ride quality is terrible on the Vs. They are less jerky (I'm guessing due to the newer motors) but they seem to bounce and wiggle like crazy at speed.

I've always wondered about this. Over about 70 MPH they bounce like crazy even on smooth continuous weld rail. There is no way that is good for wear and tear on the trucks.

dcipjr wrote:What about borrowing some retired HHP-8s from Amtrak to run the push-pulls? They aren't good quality either, but maybe there are some of them around.

Watching the press conference on 6ABC's site, they said they're talking to both NJ Transit and Amtrak for capacity lease options. The most obvious sources would be remnant Amtrak AEM-7s and HHP-8s, Jersey Arrow IIIs, etc. Maybe those could run on the Amtrak-owned lines if they don't have the PTC equipment needed for SEPTA property.

Other things from the press conference:
- First found in car 812
- They're still working on an enhanced Saturday schedule, similar to weather contingency schedules, will be released tomorrow.
- 5 SLVs had no cracks, many had at least minor cracks. Cracks are progressive in nature vs. risk of sudden failure and can be detected.
- Appears to be a welding issue, some may be repairable, others are definitely not
- Trucks are under warranty
- Expecting DNC to impact subway lines more than RRD
- Cynwyd line will not operate. Trolley tunnel blitz postponed indefinitely.
- Looking to add temporary parking near MFL, BSS, NHSL, trolley stations.

Hoping I don't need to get to the city too much during peak in the coming months ...

khecht wrote:

dcipjr wrote:I'm not surprised it's the trucks that are at fault. Ride quality is terrible on the Vs. They are less jerky (I'm guessing due to the newer motors) but they seem to bounce and wiggle like crazy at speed.

I've always wondered about this. Over about 70 MPH they bounce like crazy even on smooth continuous weld rail. There is no way that is good for wear and tear on the

dcipjr wrote:What about borrowing some retired HHP-8s from Amtrak to run the push-pulls? They aren't good quality either, but maybe there are some of them around.

Watching the press conference on 6ABC's site, they said they're talking to both NJ Transit and Amtrak for capacity lease options. The most obvious sources would be remnant Amtrak AEM-7s and HHP-8s, Jersey Arrow IIIs, etc. Maybe those could run on the Amtrak-owned lines if they don't have the PTC equipment needed for SEPTA property.

Other things from the press conference:
- First found in car 812
- They're still working on an enhanced Saturday schedule, similar to weather contingency schedules, will be released tomorrow.
- 5 SLVs had no cracks, many had at least minor cracks. Cracks are progressive in nature vs. risk of sudden failure and can be detected.
- Appears to be a welding issue, some may be repairable, others are definitely not
- Trucks are under warranty
- Expecting DNC to impact subway lines more than RRD
- Cynwyd line will not operate. Trolley tunnel blitz postponed indefinitely.
- Looking to add temporary parking near MFL, BSS, NHSL, trolley stations.

Hoping I don't need to get to the city too much during peak in the coming months ...

They should at least stop operations on one of the CH lines

dcipjr wrote:I'm not surprised it's the trucks that are at fault. Ride quality is terrible on the Vs. They are less jerky (I'm guessing due to the newer motors) but they seem to bounce and wiggle like crazy at speed.

What about borrowing some retired HHP-8s from Amtrak to run the push-pulls? They aren't good quality either, but maybe there are some of them around.

The HHP8's were retired for very good reason. Septa would be better off with a few AEM7's or NJT ALP44's if any of them are stored serviceable, assuming that they are compatible with the Bombers. Obviously the power restrictions still exist on the Reading side so any additional P-P's would have to be on Amtrak.

Are MARCs old recently retired coaches still around or were they scrapped?

What I find amazing is that they have nothing at all on their web site yet. If you were not paying attention to the news, you'd have no idea that this was happening.

Here is a novel thought, maybe Septa can use the push pulls all day! That could sure help take the bite out this service issue.

Push pulls are already in full use at rush hour. Off peak service isn't the concern here, peak service is. What I think actually could help is having no outbound service in the morning and expressing all trains out to the suburbs to increase the number of trains heading into the city.

Also, since the Silverliner Vs use the same trucks as the Silverliner IVs and BSL cars, couldn't they just use trucks from the other cars on the Vs, or are they incompatible?

I'm hearing no way will SEPTA be close to having the repairs done by the end of August (despite claims by Knueppel). Anybody from SEPTA's VEM here that can provide a reasonable estimate (guesstimate)?

jackintosh11 wrote:What I think actually could help is having no outbound service in the morning and expressing all trains out to the suburbs to increase the number of trains heading into the city.

Selfish mode on:

Please, no! There are a good amount of us who are reverse commuters! This would be disastrouos for a lot of them, who have no other transporation alternatives. (At least I have a hybrid car and commute to New Jersey with its lower gas prices, but I have gotten accustomed to not having to deal with rush hour traffic.)

Less selfish mode on:

I can understand if this gets done on the West Trenton line and most others, but outbound service on the Trenton line, because of the transfers to NJT, and the Airport line at this time should be kept. Even the Paoli/Malvern/Thorndale line doesn't have more justificationn than West Trenton for keeping this service.

jackintosh11 wrote:What I think actually could help is having no outbound service in the morning and expressing all trains out to the suburbs to increase the number of trains heading into the city.

I wouldn't do this on all lines. I think they'd at least want to keep it for Wilmington/Newark and Trenton, and maybe have the airport service run through to Jenkintown or Glenside. Paoli/Thorndale should be covered by Amtrak, CHE/CHW by bus service.

Amtrak doesn't have enough trains or capacity to take the Paoli/Thorndale ridership, there are plenty of regionals, however Amtrak won't be willing to have their service suffer with 9 extra stops, likewise for Wilmington travel, in reality all expresses should go local except bombers (if they last the day), one of the hill lines should be annulled with the other taking on the load (supplemented with local bus service), airport should go to hourly service, trains that normally go in yards should turn for extras where needed, take into account crews will be set for weekday schedule and adjusted on the fly, crews need to be qualified on any lease equipment, at such short notice it's easy to come up with ideas but not so easy to implement them

Ian Bush of CBS3/KYW1060 is reporting a 50% reduction in service planned for the Paoli/Thorndale line from a normal weekday...

https://twitter.com/ianthebush/status/7 ... 1599347714

How much extra capacity does the BSL have?

If it is a substantial amount, why doesn't Septa use Fern Rock as the terminus on the Reading side? It takes a half an hour to go from FRTC to 30th, so Septa could free up a substantial amount of seats by turning trains even quicker.

Or run norristown inbound trains to CC to Norristown instead and put bodies on the NHSL/MFL. Keep looping a set or two of trains on the Norristown line to get bodies onto NHSL and skip wasted time from the trunk to 30th. Would you rather spend more time in transit or wait an hour for a train that skips you?

Suspend CHE and terminate trains PRR trains at 30th / SS and flip them there. Why waste time in the tunnel to Temple when MFL/BSL exists?

Flip Trenton trains at Bridesburg to use Shore interlocking and run a bus convoy down Bridge Street to FTC with police escort to speed it up. This saves a half hour of silverliner transit time to Temple.

Bustitute Fox Chase line to FRTC to free up vehicles

This way they can get extra cars onto Thorndale line where there aren't realistic ways for people to take alternatives. Think of the chumps at Wynnewood or Narberth who are going to get bypassed.

This whole plan of bypassing stations isn't feasible since it's going to realistically be October until the situation is fixed. Septa needs to think outside the box and think of ways to turn trains faster. 50% reduction in seats. This is unprecedented.

If they don't scrounge for every last piece of surplus equipment on the Eastern Seaboard, this going to absolutely wallop long-term ridership.

I sure hope there's a liquidated damages clause in the Hyundai warranty for this eventuality cause holy cow.

Hoo boy. Just a Saturday schedule for Warminster: all locals, hourly service. This isn't going to be much fun.