SAVE YOUR BACK ISSUES The New York Subway Never Sleeps
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Wreck Trains by Ron Dukarm Available through the
Erie Lackawanna Historical Society
ONCE UPON A TIME, the New York sub- way was uncrowded on weekends and late at night. More recently, patronage has re- mained heavy throughout the day and the night, Among the many reasons for this al- teration may be the introduction of the MetroCard in 1998, which reduces the cost if a ride. New and much more attractive equip- ment maybe another factor, along with the fall in the crime rate and the rehabilitation of many stations, The changing demograph- ics of the city also plays a part, as many more young people now live in the city. There is a downside to the more constant
use of the subway. It is more difficult now for management to find the time to clean and maintain the stations and rolling stock. A plus is increased revenue because of in- creased use. Thanks to Doug Barron for the information.
Detroit: People Mover and Light Rail Among the victims of Detroit’s well-known major population exodus has been the People Mover. The elevated rail line serving down- town never lived up to its promise, with pa- tronage always below original expectations, resulting in the need for hefty subsidies. For many years the Detroit People Mover
This 100 page, five chapter spiral bound book includes 153 photos of Lackawanna, Erie, and EL wreck cranes and their associated equipment. Most of these photographs are being published for the first time. The book also includes 36 drawings and equipment charts. Ron thoroughly covers the complete roster of wrecking cranes, wreck trains, and wrecking procedures of all three railroads. Ron also provides the first ever explanation of Erie's mysterious Maintenance Of Way numbering system.
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ELHS membership at $35 per membership cycle. Cycle includes four issues of our magazine “The Diamond” and four newsletters with modeling
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48 FEBRUARY 2012 •
RAILFAN.COM
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charged a 50-cent fare. Fiscal malnutrition in the summer of 2011 led its board to raise the fare to 75 cents. As it was, the fares cov- ered only about eight to ten per cent of oper- ating costs, with the remainder of the ex- pense made up from subsidies from federal, state, and local sources. The Detroit City Council cut $1 million from the People Mover budget, a move that rippled back and will prevent the People Mover from getting $5.6 million in state matching funds. On a good note, however, it is hoped that
a light rail line along Woodward Avenue will help spark a renaissance. The FTA has indi- cated it will support construction of a 19- stop line along Woodward from downtown to 8 Mile Road. The overall project cost is esti- mated to be $550 million and its completion depends on $300 million in federal money. The project has a long way to go, including creation of an oversight agency to adminis- ter the light rail line. Thanks to Ken Borg for the news.
New Rapid Transit Cars for Chicago Bombardier has a $1 billion order for 706 new rapid transit cars for the Chicago Tran- sit Authority. The 5000 series cars will be built at Bombardier’s Plattsburgh, N.Y., fac- tory, and will offer a.c. propulsion, an inno- vation for the CTA. This permits regenera- tive braking, which should offer lower energy and maintenance costs, benefits that have been enjoyed by the NICTD/South Shore Line since it adopted a.c. propulsion around the turn of the current century. Thanks to Eliot Swart for the information.
South Shore Line Worries As no surprise, the current economic reces- sion gripping the U.S. has affected com-
muter rail properties. The South Shore Line service of the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District experienced a down- turn in ridership in 2009 and is expecting a further dip of eight to nine per cent in 2010. Transit properties in Indiana receive money from the Public Mass Transit Fund based on gross sales tax receipts and predictably sales tax revenues declined 7.2 per cent and passenger revenue declined 4.5 per cent. South Shore Freight, a separate business that pays NICTD for trackage rights, had less business and its rental payments ebbed 20 per cent in 2009. Adding to the problems, union health care costs are expected to rise 18 per cent in 2010 as part of a nationwide plan for railroad workers under United Health Care Systems. To counter the difficulties, service cut-
backs at the South Shore to the tune of one train and a possible fare increase in 2010’s third quarter were under consideration. The Great Panic, as the Wall Street Journal’s economics editor David Wessel has dubbed the current economic swoon, has reduced employment in the Chicago Loop by 40,000 to 50,000 jobs and the Metra rail commuter services are suffering drops in patronage and revenue. On an upbeat note for NICTD/South
Shore, completion of installation of new cate- nary and the new signal system is expected to be completed in 2011. Thanks to Bill War- rick and Steve Scalzo for the information.
Flashes METRA, the Chicago area commuter rail service, has published some interesting cost estimates in its monthly newsletter for rid- ers. It showed a variety of comparisons on the monthly Metra fares from various origin points and driving costs for similar pairs. The cost estimates are from the Dayton, Ohio, “Drive Less, Live More” committee’s calculator, and assumes depreciation of ve- hicles and parking costs. (See www.drive
lesslivemore.com). For example, the month- ly Metra fare from Naperville to downtown Chicago is $172.25. Driving one’s car has a monthly cost of $1,244.80. Nothing is cheap in transportation, and despite its many con- veniences, driving a car is more expensive than some of its alternatives. Thanks to Steve Scalzo for the information. The AMERICAN PUBLIC TRANS- PORTATION ASSOCIATION reckons that if gasoline averages about $4.00 per gallon,
PLEASE SEND light rail, tran- sit and commuter rail news items and correspondence di- rectly to Prof. George M. Smerk, Emeritus Suite, Kelley School of Business, 1309 East Tenth Street, Bloomington, IN 47405-1701.
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