But there's no problem scheduling a 10 minute layover for every single
WES run at Beaverton TC, and 26 minutes for each WES run at Wilsonville.
For
every 90 minutes of service, the trains are in revenue service two 27
minute runs (54 minutes) and on layover 36 minutes. And THAT has to be
protected at ALL cost, while bus is nickel and dimed...keep pushing the
bus operators further and further, they don't need breaks nor do they
have the stressful job that a WES Operator (and Conductor!) have...
Must be the unions fault
ReplyDeleteAlso, it's not like you can interline WES with buses or MAX so the engineer and/or conductor go do a different route instead of sitting around.
ReplyDeleteThey don't care that this "is" "our" number 1, saftey hazard (physical and mental fatique). For a company that is pushing safety as it's number 1 concern, totallly ignores "our" issues and blames "us".
ReplyDeleteTHE WES IS NEVER LATE BECAUSE ITS SCHEDULED TO NEVER BE LATE!
ReplyDeleteBuses do not get that consideration!
First of all why does WES have to remain on a 30 minute schedule? The ridership clearly does not need service every 30 minutes.
ReplyDeleteI think Washington County and Wilsonville would be reasonable in accepting WES reduce to a 40 minute headway. This would STILL provide sufficient service with just a 10 minute longer wait time, while reducing overall costs by 1/3rd as WES would only need two trains to operate and not three.
Since the trip time is still 27 minutes each way, that would still provide 13 minutes dwell time for each run - still far more than enough to cover "rest", brake tests, etc.
Finally, since WES is part of the interstate rail network it is governed not by Oregon wage and hour laws (which TriMet seems to flout for bus drivers) but by federal Hours of Service laws. Which, WES Operators come nowhere near violating (since they aren't required to run freight trains when WES isn't in operation).
If Washington County/Wilsonville refuse to allow WES to reduce service by 10 minutes, then if I were TriMet's GM I'd basically say that it costs seven times as a bus...so it's up to you. Reduce WES, or reduce the 76 and terminate 96 service south of Mohawk, and charge Wilsonville for use of the Barbur TC and Tualatin P&R.
First of all why does WES have to remain on a 30 minute schedule? The ridership clearly does not need service every 30 minutes.
ReplyDeleteBecause that's how it's set up and probably how the contracts are written. And it's what interfaces with SMART's schedules.
I believe he is right about that...So let the passengers from the WES wait for the connecting ride, like all the other Trimet riders
ReplyDelete