[OyCrumbler]

I think shutting down the lines or reducing frequency would generally be a poor idea as the cost of road congestion is massive and I don't think the roads have gotten all that emptied out, have they? Those roads cost a massive amount of time and money (those tolls really should go through) and what rather small savings you get from running lower frequency rail while still having to maintain rolling stock and track isn't worth much. I do think some operational savings in terms of greater automation is a good idea though as the ticket-checking process as it is now is really inefficient and not how most developed countries run their trains. Now's as good time as any to consider what ways Metro-North could better automate their processes.

Stat trends after that last variant drop still looks like ridership will be back to previous peaks by 2024 or so for Metro-North though this previous Monday's ridership was weirdly high. Perhaps some kind of counting system artifact from people buying peak fare multiple ride tickets?

[BobNJ1960]

Originally Posted by OyCrumbler

I think shutting down the lines or reducing frequency would generally be a poor idea as the cost of road congestion is massive and I don't think the roads have gotten all that emptied out, have they? Those roads cost a massive amount of time and money (those tolls really should go through) and what rather small savings you get from running lower frequency rail while still having to maintain rolling stock and track isn't worth much. I do think some operational savings in terms of greater automation is a good idea though as the ticket-checking process as it is now is really inefficient and not how most developed countries run their trains. Now's as good time as any to consider what ways Metro-North could better automate their processes.

Stat trends after that last variant drop still looks like ridership will be back to previous peaks by 2024 or so for Metro-North though this previous Monday's ridership was weirdly high. Perhaps some kind of counting system artifact from people buying peak fare multiple ride tickets?

Monday was the last day of a month. May be natural day for hybrid staff to go in. I tend to look at it by rolling 5 weekdays, and it appears we have leveled off at a giant drop vs 2019. NY's governor conceded that point, which likely means MTA consultants are indicating to her the drop off is not temporary.

[JayCT]

Breeze Airways has announced new non stop service to six new cities from Bradley. They include Nashville; Akron/Canton, Ohio; Savannah, Georgia; Richmond, Virginia; Jacksonville, Florida; and Sarasota/Bradenton, Florida. I like the Jacksonville service because no other airline offers it. I have family there and would love to have non stop service there. Jay

https://westfaironline.com/145934/br...adley-airport/

[Lincolnian]

Monday night around 7 pm I was walking the dog down by the Windsor train station. The Amtrak train stopped and about 10 people got off. 3 walked to the condos/apartments near the station pulling their suitcases. Another small group started walking pulling their suitcases toward the neighborhood near downtown, and the rest got in their cars parked by the station. There are small groups of people using this station all during the day mostly boarding for southern destinations but some taking it north to Springfield too.

The gaping hole in this transportation network (for Windsor) is a break in the link from the Windsor station to Bradley International Airport. The bus does not offer a direct connection from this popular station to the airport. Those same people using the train would have to take a train to Windsor Locks and then a bus to the airport. In most cases, the people are looking to take the train or a bus not both. To take a train and bus to make a 5 mile trip is an inconvenience (and costly) especially when someone now needs to coordinate 3 schedules to fly out. An Uber or Lyft from the area is $25 to $30 which is very expensive given the short distance and it is considerably more than a $1.75 bus fare.

The train system is an underutilized asset. CT Rail has certainly improved the situation but there is considerable room for improvement. The state needs to take a more active roll in working with cities and towns along the rail corridor to better coordinate with CT Transit, CT DOT, and the CT Airport Authority. This is imperative to ensure that the systems compliment each other and offer as seamless transfers as possible for the users.

[synchem]

Originally Posted by Lincolnian

Monday night around 7 pm I was walking the dog down by the Windsor train station. The Amtrak train stopped and about 10 people got off. 3 walked to the condos/apartments near the station pulling their suitcases. Another small group started walking pulling their suitcases toward the neighborhood near downtown, and the rest got in their cars parked by the station. There are small groups of people using this station all during the day mostly boarding for southern destinations but some taking it north to Springfield too.

The gaping hole in this transportation network (for Windsor) is a break in the link from the Windsor station to Bradley International Airport. The bus does not offer a direct connection from this popular station to the airport. Those same people using the train would have to take a train to Windsor Locks and then a bus to the airport. In most cases, the people are looking to take the train or a bus not both. To take a train and bus to make a 5 mile trip is an inconvenience (and costly) especially when someone now needs to coordinate 3 schedules to fly out. An Uber or Lyft from the area is $25 to $30 which is very expensive given the short distance and it is considerably more than a $1.75 bus fare.

The train system is an underutilized asset. CT Rail has certainly improved the situation but there is considerable room for improvement. The state needs to take a more active roll in working with cities and towns along the rail corridor to better coordinate with CT Transit, CT DOT, and the CT Airport Authority. This is imperative to ensure that the systems compliment each other and offer as seamless transfers as possible for the users.

Yea the main issue for Windsor/Windsor Locks train is it follows the river, whereas BDL is 3-4 miles West. Although there is a track that goes north into Suffield and loops back down towards BDL next to the Dairy Cream. Not sure if those could be utilized for a light rail option into BDL from the Windsor locks station.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by Lincolnian

Monday night around 7 pm I was walking the dog down by the Windsor train station. The Amtrak train stopped and about 10 people got off. 3 walked to the condos/apartments near the station pulling their suitcases. Another small group started walking pulling their suitcases toward the neighborhood near downtown, and the rest got in their cars parked by the station. There are small groups of people using this station all during the day mostly boarding for southern destinations but some taking it north to Springfield too.

The gaping hole in this transportation network (for Windsor) is a break in the link from the Windsor station to Bradley International Airport. The bus does not offer a direct connection from this popular station to the airport. Those same people using the train would have to take a train to Windsor Locks and then a bus to the airport. In most cases, the people are looking to take the train or a bus not both. To take a train and bus to make a 5 mile trip is an inconvenience (and costly) especially when someone now needs to coordinate 3 schedules to fly out. An Uber or Lyft from the area is $25 to $30 which is very expensive given the short distance and it is considerably more than a $1.75 bus fare.

The train system is an underutilized asset. CT Rail has certainly improved the situation but there is considerable room for improvement. The state needs to take a more active roll in working with cities and towns along the rail corridor to better coordinate with CT Transit, CT DOT, and the CT Airport Authority. This is imperative to ensure that the systems compliment each other and offer as seamless transfers as possible for the users.

CTRail is a relatively new transit service. It will take years for ridership to build. There is a gap in the service to Bradley International Airport but that’s something we will just have to live with, at least until the state provides transit service on the Griffin Line which would connect Downtown Hartford to the airport. Of course who knows when, if ever, that will happen. Jay

[JayCT]

Metro North will be adding 66 trains to its service. It doesn’t indicate what being added to what lines but they say weekday service will be up to 89% capacity pre-pandemic. That’s good since ridership is only at 50% on weekdays. Jay

https://westfaironline.com/145993/mt...kday-schedule/

[BobNJ1960]

I am hoping they update ridership numbers soon. Last ridership day shown 2/28, usually it would be 3/8 or 3/9 shown by now.

[JayCT]

Well it looks like Connecticut will soon be making the switch to mileage based exit numbers. We have known about this for a while. Nice it is finally happening. Jay

https://www.ctinsider.com/news/artic...T-17000946.php

[JayCT]

Yet another article on the nightmare that is I-85. We’ve been through this so many times over the past 40 years yet nothing has been done. You have people arguing why do anything when it’s just going to attract more traffic. It was designed for a very different era and I think that after 64 years, it’s long overdue for an upgrade. JMHO, Jay

http://www.wagmag.com/the-gordian-kn...rfield-county/