The Rapid decline of the F Train

Peter T. Daniels <grammatim@> wrote:
: On Apr 13, 10:18?am, s...@panix.com wrote:

: > Then again, maybe the enired 6th Avenue line is screwed up. I used to be
: > able to catch a B or D at either Broadway-Lafayette or West 4th, so that I
: > could skip 14th and 23rd Streets, Haven't been able to make that
: > connection in weeks.

: How much time do you suppose that dazzling move might have saved you?

On a good day, with a V directly in front of the F, it is 5 minutes.
Without a V, it is three minutes. It is just a small part of the problems.

-SCH! (Stuart C. Hellinger sch@panix.com)

Peter Schleifer <pschleif@speakeasy.org> wrote:
: On Sun, 13 Apr 2008 14:18:39 +0000 (UTC), sch@panix.com wrote:

: >For some reason, they will no longer use the express tracks in Brooklyn to
: >route trains around problem trains,

: "Some reason" being the fire several years ago at Bergen St that
: destroyed the equipment needed to operate those switches (they can be
: moved manually which is OK for a weekend of diversions but can't be
: done in the middle of rush hour). Rebuilding was apparently not a
: priority, but it is supposed to be possible again real soon now.

: The MTA has promised to consider extending the V to Church as an
: express in 2012 (after the viaduct reconstruction is complete), so the
: switches should be operational by then.

Except that they can route trains around Ft. Hamilton, 15th Stree, 7th Ave
and 4th Ave and then go back to the local track. At least they could do
that a few months ago. They will not do that today.

Also, in a recent news article, the MTA was talking about extending the G
to Church Avenue, not the V. I think with the current volume, extending
the V makes more sense. In fact, it would be great for me, since Church
Avenue is my home stop!

None of this explains the poor car maintenance and the "new" less frequent
schedule with more crowded trains.

-SCH! (Stuart C. Hellinger sch@panix.com)

In article <fu1549$frc$2@reader2.panix.com>, <sch@panix.com> wrote:

> Peter Schleifer <pschleif@speakeasy.org> wrote:
> : On Sun, 13 Apr 2008 14:18:39 +0000 (UTC), sch@panix.com wrote:
>
> : >For some reason, they will no longer use the express tracks in Brooklyn to
> : >route trains around problem trains,
>
> : "Some reason" being the fire several years ago at Bergen St that
> : destroyed the equipment needed to operate those switches (they can be
> : moved manually which is OK for a weekend of diversions but can't be
> : done in the middle of rush hour). Rebuilding was apparently not a
> : priority, but it is supposed to be possible again real soon now.
>
> : The MTA has promised to consider extending the V to Church as an
> : express in 2012 (after the viaduct reconstruction is complete), so the
> : switches should be operational by then.
>
> Except that they can route trains around Ft. Hamilton, 15th Stree, 7th Ave
> and 4th Ave and then go back to the local track. At least they could do
> that a few months ago. They will not do that today.

They don't do that usually since the F would then get stuck behind a
relaying G train at 4th Ave. There are also times when they can't
reroute at Church Ave because there is no Tower Operator on duty.
>
> Also, in a recent news article, the MTA was talking about extending the G
> to Church Avenue, not the V. I think with the current volume, extending
> the V makes more sense. In fact, it would be great for me, since Church
> Avenue is my home stop!
>
> None of this explains the poor car maintenance and the "new" less frequent
> schedule with more crowded trains.

The daily timetable that currently runs on the F has not changed at all
since May 2004. If you have suddenly noticed a change then it is a
result of something not timetable related.
>
> -SCH! (Stuart C. Hellinger sch@panix.com)