Unsuck DC Metro: More Sneaky Service Cuts?

Thursday, December 20, 2012

More Sneaky Service Cuts?

Update: Metro told the Examiner they do it every year. Can anyone remember an announcement about this ever?

Remember, Metro has already cut overall service, so I wouldn't put something like this past them.

Comments (16)

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+4 Vote up Vote down

John · 638 weeks ago

I don't see many 8 car trains to begin with. That being said I haven't seen an 8 car train in forever

+9 Vote up Vote down

bmfc1 74p · 638 weeks ago

Since Monday is not a holiday for Feds, service should be at the standard level (make your own joke here) and not on a reduced schedule.

+11 Vote up Vote down

Stan Dessel · 638 weeks ago

Being the holiday season, we're just trying to make out customers a little more cozy on their commutes to and from their destinations.

Season's greetings, and you're welcome!

+3 Vote up Vote down

Andrew. · 638 weeks ago

I began noticing a lack of 8 car trains around a month ago. I commute from Shady Grove to Woodley Park every day and noticed on my evening commute home that there were no 8 car trains showing on either of the PID's. Waiting at Grosvenor for the next train i checked both PIDS again, still all 6 car trains. This is a pattern I noticed for a few days. Every once in a while you get the odd 8 car train, but now I just assume I'll be crammed into a 6 car train.
A couple of years back, it used to be that the 6 and 8 car trains would alternate. It would be interesting to see what the ratio of 8 to 6 car trains is now.

+4 Vote up Vote down

@JaundiceJames · 638 weeks ago

My favorite is when the sign says the train will be 8 cars and then it turns out to be 6. That's REALLY sneaky.

+5 Vote up Vote down

Red Line Rider · 638 weeks ago

So, please don't all thumbs down me, BUT -- what's the big deal with having 6 car trains now? There are significantly fewer riders -- at least on the red line. I would rather they have fewer cars that fewer trains running. It doesn't make sense to use additional resources when they are unnecessary. It is a waste of money for WMATA and ultimately us. I will say that it may have been helpful if they told us these things instead of figuring them out ourselves.

3 replies · active 638 weeks ago

+5 Vote up Vote down

Daily Rider · 638 weeks ago

It may fit the demand during this season, but they should at least tell the riders that this is being done.

+1 Vote up Vote down

Dan Stessel · 638 weeks ago

Also, I can buy the argument starting SATURDAY, but I would imagine that a majority of people are still going to through tomorrow. And if they wait until January 7 to restore 8 car service, watch that Thursday and Friday after NYE be a complete clusterfuck.

+3 Vote up Vote down

@FixWMATA · 638 weeks ago

I think more than anything we're driving home the lack of communication here. 2 less cars on 1 in 5 trains is essentially the same as cutting service. My point has been about the lack of communication to paying riders. Some riders (I know because I used to do this) would wait at the car 7 and 8 spots waiting for an 8-car train every day. People form habits. To change service without something so simple as a single tweet is rude.

+6 Vote up Vote down

DZB · 638 weeks ago

The driver on my train this morning was announcing at every stop that it's 6-cars only from now until January.

+3 Vote up Vote down

Rory · 638 weeks ago

I'm approaching two years driving after 30 years as a mass transit commuter. The final nail in Metro's coffin was when it became too hard to use my wits to get a comfortable ride -- wait for an eight-car, travel at off hours, even ride a couple stops in the wrong direction before heading back out in the right way.

Question: for a long time, an eight car train would inexplicably be labelled a two car train on the display boards. Did they ever fix that?

1 reply · active 638 weeks ago

+2 Vote up Vote down

Nick · 638 weeks ago

"2" car trains still appear regularly on my commute (glenmont branch of red line), and used to the past few years when i rode the vienna side of the orange line.

+16 Vote up Vote down

JAKE · 638 weeks ago

My very lovely driver on the red line this morning said "sorry for the packed cars, some genius at headquarters decided that its 6 car trains from now until january 2" which was awesome after waiting 21 minutes for a red line train to shady grove this morning.

+3 Vote up Vote down

G. Orwell · 638 weeks ago

6 is 8; 8 is 6.

+2 Vote up Vote down

Feel Wood · 638 weeks ago

It seems Metro has also cut Rush+ service starting today, at least on the Orange Line. At Dunn Loring at 7:00ish this morning there was not the normal train to Largo mixed in with the New Carrollton trains. Just six minute headways for 6-car trains to New Carrollton as it used to be before Rush+. But why do I doubt that Metro restored those trains to the Blue Line?