Someone explain to me again why SEPTA is so much more effiecently ran than PAT....

[Debbie1125]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

Obviously this is an apples to oranges comparison in multiple ways: SEPTA has a very different market, a very different system, a very different recent history, and so on.

And the premise is false anyway--SEPTA was able to defer service cuts this year because they had a bunch of money allocated to projects they could put on hold temporarily, but if the state continues to underfund public transit past this year, they will start facing similar problems.

This is true. A few years ago SEPTA was faced with the possibility of eliminating many routes and severe service cuts to others. Even though the article says no fare increases are planned until 2013, that doesn't necessarily mean it won't happen.

Plus I think SEPTA was the recipient of some of the stimulus money. The transit agency also has benefitted from increased ridership due to high gas prices.

[DarkWolf]

Originally Posted by pman

Which doesn't mean they are better run...only better funded. Lire has had one disaster after another this year, metro north has spent a decade working on its tracks,never delivered the promised speed upgrades to Amtrak,and still has its hand out. CT got stimulus money but that's not terribly relevant to the point at hand.

Actually they are better run , and funded. They've replaced most of there fleet , upgraded and expanded there system. The New Haven line and Branches are being upgraded as we speak , its a complex upgrade. It will be done by 2020. There hasn't been any problems on Metro North in a while aside form the New M8's. There were no promised speed upgrades , unless you mean 110mph.

[pman]

Originally Posted by Nexis4Jersey

Actually they are better run , and funded. They've replaced most of there fleet , upgraded and expanded there system. The New Haven line and Branches are being upgraded as we speak , its a complex upgrade. It will be done by 2020. There hasn't been any problems on Metro North in a while aside form the New M8's. There were no promised speed upgrades , unless you mean 110mph.

Mostly better funded actually. Metro north isn't well run at all. For all.the new equipment lirr has had plenty of problems. Mnrr doesn't even have the ability to properly track its costs. Amtrak trains don't make it anywhere near 90 let alone 110...and yes there were promised trip time improvements that got lost in the bottomless money pits at mnrr.

[BrianTH]

Just a general comment, but better funding often makes you look better run as well. Lots of investments can improve your operating efficiency--everything from trains versus buses to newer vehicles to better fare technology to customer-friendly services like next-vehicle systems and so on. And investments that lead to increased ridership will often reduce the relative weight of any legacy cost issues you might have.

[DarkWolf]

Originally Posted by pman

Mostly better funded actually. Metro north isn't well run at all. For all.the new equipment lirr has had plenty of problems. Mnrr doesn't even have the ability to properly track its costs. Amtrak trains don't make it anywhere near 90 let alone 110...and yes there were promised trip time improvements that got lost in the bottomless money pits at mnrr.

Do you know anything about the MNRR , or are you just assuming? They've replaced all but a few miles of there tracks , now the long Catenary replacement is underway....its complicated.....Thats CDOT and Not really the MNRR....by the end of the decade the New Haven line should be faster..... The MNRR is more stable and up to date then the LIRR..... Amtrak really isn't in a place to criticize the MNRR , since there getting this NEC upgrade for free. There at fault for almost all the NJT and Septa delays.

[pman]

Originally Posted by Nexis4Jersey

Do you know anything about the MNRR , or are you just assuming? They've replaced all but a few miles of there tracks , now the long Catenary replacement is underway....its complicated.....Thats CDOT and Not really the MNRR....by the end of the decade the New Haven line should be faster..... The MNRR is more stable and up to date then the LIRR..... Amtrak really isn't in a place to criticize the MNRR , since there getting this NEC upgrade for free. There at fault for almost all the NJT and Septa delays.

Its mnrr and yes I know. Rather than building a flyover at shell they built at grade and signed a contract with mnrr that was to result in reduced trip times by the end of the last decade but mnrrs endless money pit meant they never finished the job. According to conndot mnrr basically has no idea what its costs are and use a high level formula. Amtrak also has problems with south end catenary that should have been addressed years ago if they weren't funneling money into ld services and bloated mgmt/consultants but that doesn't make mnrr well run. Simply running a train every ten minutes may improve otp but look.at trip times, they're ridiculously slow. Njt appears well.run but they're very well.financed so its hard to say if its run better or just has more
money. I'd also add Amtrak allowed njt to.add more service than the old railroad could handle without requiring adequate capital money.