Unsuck DC Metro: It's Not a Low Bar, it's No Bar

karah 81p · 626 weeks ago

Do they still publish train schedules? Pretty much says those documents are pointless (although we already knew that).

karah 81p · 626 weeks ago

Ah! http://www.wmata.com/rail/schedules.cfm

Great for a laugh.

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NoNo · 626 weeks ago

Metro uses 171 words to say: "Whateva i do wat i vount!" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZLVi4v7lSM

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karah 81p · 626 weeks ago

On Friday they were tweeting how good a job they were doing telling everyone about delays. I replied that we find out from other customers before they say anything. Which got me a pat reply thanking for my input.

I used to subscribe to their alerts until I finally gave them up as being less useful than using telepathy to find out what was going on.

4 replies · active 626 weeks ago

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Heather · 626 weeks ago

I agree with you, I just use the alerts as basically an "idea" of what's going on. But most of the time, I find out way too late. For example: I'll usually check for alerts in my email or on wmata.com before I leave work at 4:30, and generally, there's nothing. But by the time I get from Georgetown to the Rosslyn Metro, by 4:45-4:50, at times there are huge crowds, no idea what's going on, and when I get home sometime later, THAT is when I'll see alerts that were sent out....30 minutes after the incident actually happened.

I've just learned that going home at night is going to be a big gamble, and that trusting Metro is a big, big mistake.

karah 81p · 626 weeks ago

Exactly!

I was checking my alerts and/or their site right before leaving work and running into problems when I entered the system 10 minutes later. I would then get the alert an hour or two later.

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Heather · 626 weeks ago

It's very frustrating, isn't it? I've just learned to look over the railing at the platform for Franconia/Vienna, and if it's looking jammed, then that means there's a problem, and to not count on getting any updates on the little screens on the platform, since they don't work half the time anyways, or they don't bother to put the estimated arrival times in, and definitely don't count on PA system announcements. Ever notice how chipper they sound, when they're telling you that you're going to have delays, and how happily they thank us for our patience? I know it's rather a petty concern in the bigger picture of life, but it still does grind my gears.

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karah 81p · 626 weeks ago

Yes, I never can stand how they thank us for our patience. They need a dictionary. We are not being patient at all unless you define 'patient' as 'not starting an armed revolution'.

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guest · 626 weeks ago

Could WMATA pretty-please try to keep correct train spacing on the yellow line in the morning? It's really annoying to wait 9 minutes for a train and then, when it finally arrives, see on the PIDS that there's another one just 1-2 minutes behind it.

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John · 626 weeks ago

Like I said in the post about refunds: The only people who are actually getting refunds for Metro are Metro employees.

I also find it funny that Metro considers breakdowns and accidents "Beyond its control"

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governmentbasement 70p · 626 weeks ago

I got the same letter last week. I asked about a refund after the recent Orange morning meltdown. It's their own negligence causing these problems, they should at the very least offer a refund.

So its either issue refunds or pay overtime. . . Looks like its Paid Overtime. Sorry.

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@AftanSnyder · 626 weeks ago

"We regret that we could not grant your request and hope you can understand that Metro is prohibited from providing fare adjustments due to delays caused by accidents, breakdowns, road or traffic conditions, severe weather or other conditions beyond its control..."____So, basically, Metro will NEVER provide refunds for anything. Fabulous.

4 replies · active 626 weeks ago

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Matt G · 626 weeks ago

This doesn't make any sense. Prohibited by whom? By what? I've received a refund once before after a meltdown - of course that was under the Catoe administration...

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karah 81p · 626 weeks ago

I was lost by that 'prohibited' statement as well. AFAIK you can get them in some cases it just involves a lot more work and lost time than the refund is worth.

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Bill · 626 weeks ago

The answer is to tailgate in and out to make up for trips that you should be refunded for if Metro isn't going to do the right thing.

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sbc · 626 weeks ago

but the reason they gave ("unscheduled track maintenance") actually doesn't fall into any of those categories!

* it's not an accident (I mean, I guess an accident could've caused a need for track maintenance, but they didn't say that)

* it's not a breakdown (the track was the problem, not the train)

* it's not a road or traffic condition

* it's not severe weather

* and it's not beyond their control. metro can control how it does maintenance.

So I think they can give a refund now even if they were prohibited (which I think they're not)

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stupidraidersfan 80p · 626 weeks ago

These circumstances include, but are not limited to: a sick passenger, a stupid passenger, mechanical problems caused by passengers, and passengers causing safety issues. We are perfect, no refund for you.

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Stan Dessel · 626 weeks ago

You got a reply.

You're welcome!

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Guest · 626 weeks ago

I'm curious about what Terry XXXX emailed to Metro to get this response.

1 reply · active 626 weeks ago

dcn8v · 626 weeks ago

I'm curious what Paolo e-mailed, given the language in the response about the "courteous service" expected from Metro employees.

bullsumner · 626 weeks ago

According to NBC4 News, Metro did provide refunds for those passengers who were charged peak fares during Monday morning's commute, because Metro had not adjusted their clocks after the beginning of DST. http://www.nbcwashington.com/traffic/transit/Some...

So apparently depending on how blatantly Metro fouls something up, that is the deciding factor for issuing refunds.

1 reply · active 626 weeks ago

dddddda · 626 weeks ago

I entered after 9:30 on Monday, and still see no credit for being charged the peak fare. They *said* they were issuing the credits, but they, at least, haven't gotten around to me.

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Concerned · 626 weeks ago

New Slogan! Metro + : we may get you there at some point maybe.

1 reply · active 626 weeks ago

SammyDC · 626 weeks ago

This slogan just about covers it all. After 25+ years of riding Metro, my take these days is that when I see the train on the platform I'll get on the train (if possible; it could get offloaded or be way overcrowded). Alerts mean nothing; posted train arrival times mean nothing; "headways" are the emperor's new clothes; and even if I make it onto a moving train, it just may break down before I get to my destination.

Dezlboy · 626 weeks ago

Is Metro still promising Corpse - less Fridays?

3 replies · active 626 weeks ago

unsuckdcmetro 92p · 626 weeks ago

haha. i'd completely forgotten about that.

anon · 626 weeks ago

What do you expect. Where is the oversight? Former drug abusers are in charge then get promoted. What do riders expect? Ethics is not just a word, it is a series of ongoing actions. I see sloppy work throughout and who is to blame? Congress is to blame for not stepping in and getting a handle on these matters and swiftly replacing the incompetent with competent and more.

Guest · 626 weeks ago

Only during Lent.

@suzer · 626 weeks ago

On Monday on the way home on the Orange line there was an announcement about a "bad" train at Rosslyn. We were all so glad that we weren't on the bad train and spent the next few minutes speculating what had the bad train done ...

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nhunter344 · 626 weeks ago

Ive given up on trying to get metro to comp me when my 33 minute commute turns into and hour and a half or more. Ive just resorted to piggybacking on such occasions or if Im very annoyed, just walking through the gate near the station manager.

anon · 626 weeks ago

Does anyone have the AP for Plans A, B, and C for getting to work on most redundant trains that go down causing delays days? My employer is not too happy and is rather MAD!

1 reply · active 626 weeks ago

dddddda · 626 weeks ago

I know of a number of ways to get from my home to work using Metro (rail, two buses that get me there, a third bus that gets me close enough, and a fourth bus that will get me to a CaBi station that isn't too terribly far), but, whenever there's been a rail meltdown, the buses have never worked out. Largely because they consider 20 minute headways "frequent" service on the buses (and then good luck with them showing up even approximately on time during rush hour). So, Uber. They can usually pick me up within 5 minutes, and, while it isn't cheap, it's certainly worth it to avoid the PO'ed boss.