Update on PATCO Car Rebuild

[TWTRTECH]

So, here we are in April. Has anyone actually seen or heard of the refurbished cars being tested? The first cars arrived over three months ago with an estimate of first revenue service in February, and now <crickets>.

Four pair of rebuilt cars are back from New York, and at the Lindenwold yard being tested by Alstrom personnel.

[ReadingAve]

Per an article I found on line (http://www.eveningtribune.com/x15121216 ... in-Hornell" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;), the first cars arrived back in March 2011. Now PATCO is saying the last of them should be here by the end of 2016. That's just short of 6 years.

120 cars, 6 years. Average 20 cars a year. Ouch.

[sammy2009]

I recently searched Google for some pics of the cars. I found some. The cars look good. Subway versions of the Silverliner V's. But would it had been better for PATCO to replace the cars with NEW CARS ?

[radioboy]

Anything new? Lots of radio silence.

[ReadingAve]

At the PATCO town Hall meeting in Collingswood back on May 8th, I asked John Hanson about the re-built cars. He said the plan was to introduce a two-car set into overnight service sometime this summer. Then they would try a four car set off-peak, and then eventually a full six car set. He didn’t say when we could expect the first six-car set. I didn't ask further as I'm sure he didn't know.

First two car set returned late November 2013 and here we are, July 2014, still waiting for something, anything. By now, I'm figuring the problem has to be with Alstrom. My guess is they bit off more than they could chew with this job.

[prr60]

The delays continue. Following prior reports of HVAC, communications, and braking problem, now train control software bugs are delaying the introduction of the refurbished cars. The DRPA called Alstom officials to Camden for a closed-door get-together last month. I suspect that was an interesting meeting.

Philly.com

[malagabill]

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20150 ... month.html

From the article:
"At long last, the first of PATCO's refurbished rail cars have passed their final tests and will be put into customer service next month."

[tommyboy6181]

I found this on YouTube. Someone took a short video of a test train.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZcZqPZnyoA" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[JeffK]

Bumping the thread with the latest (and not-so-greatest) news on the rebuild:

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local ... _cars.html

[ReadingAve]

So now it's the end of May

http://www.philly.com/philly/business/2 ... month.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

After all these delays, I don't understand the rationale of announcing it's finally going to happen in 5-6 weeks. Speaking for myself, I'm tired of hearing "it's going to happen" over and over. Why not wait until the end of May (or whenever they ARE ready) and simply announce, "Yes, they're ready and rolling starting tomorrow"?

Why take the chance of another PR black eye with one more "oops, sorry, not yet, new problems"?

[BuddCar711]

So now it's the end of May

http://www.philly.com/philly/business/2 ... month.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

After all these delays, I don't understand the rationale of announcing it's finally going to happen in 5-6 weeks. Speaking for myself, I'm tired of hearing "it's going to happen" over and over. Why not wait until the end of May (or whenever they ARE ready) and simply announce, "Yes, they're ready and rolling starting tomorrow"?

Why take the chance of another PR black eye with one more "oops, sorry, not yet, new problems"?

IOW, it is best not to hold our breath.

[TWTRTECH]

PATCO is preparing to send more cars to Alstom, starting with the older singles.

[CentralValleyRail]

So now it's the end of May

http://www.philly.com/philly/business/2 ... month.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

After all these delays, I don't understand the rationale of announcing it's finally going to happen in 5-6 weeks. Speaking for myself, I'm tired of hearing "it's going to happen" over and over. Why not wait until the end of May (or whenever they ARE ready) and simply announce, "Yes, they're ready and rolling starting tomorrow"?

Why take the chance of another PR black eye with one more "oops, sorry, not yet, new problems"?

IOW, it is best not to hold our breath.

Reading the comments on that article, LOL.

[chuchubob]

Even though the rebuilds have been testing since last year, I caught my first glimpse of them in action Tuesday at Collingswood. PATCO was single tracking on the westbound track because of maintenance work.

[tommyboy6181]

Per an article I found on line (http://www.eveningtribune.com/x15121216 ... in-Hornell" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;), the first cars arrived back in March 2011. Now PATCO is saying the last of them should be here by the end of 2016. That's just short of 6 years.

120 cars, 6 years. Average 20 cars a year. Ouch.

Even though that's a bad setback on a delivery schedule, it's still not as bad as the AnsaldoBreda contract in Buffalo with the NFTA. That contract started in 2006 to rebuild 27 cars and only 4 are completed so far. They've been given a drop dead date of December 2015 or the performance bond will be called. Their original completion date was supposed to be in 2010, yet the first 2 rebuilt cars only went back into service in 2011.