CTA Tattler

Second the kudos to the CTA track workers. Thanks for all the hard work, folks!

So I guess that means we are about 1/2 way through the 3-tracking project. I don't think I can actually recall being stuck on a train for an extended amount of time due to a switching problem or major backup of trains. I'm sure some people have not been as lucky, but considering that most of us a year ago were convinced it would be complete transit meltdown, the CTA has done a pretty good job with the first phase of the project. I can only hope the upcoming Southbound 3-tracking over the next 10 months will be just as smooth. It would really be a pain to be late a lot to work in the morning or have to allow 90 minutes or something to travel 7 miles.

I never did see any difference after the 3 tracking went into effect. You sat and waited before it started, and you sit and wait now. Looks like we might finally be on our way to no waiting at last, at least there.

The one that really kills me is on the northbound Red just after Jarvis. I don't know if I've ever not experience a 3 to 30-minute wait just before Howard. Always about signals, according to the canned announcement. Any news about them working on this? I can only hope that completion of the new Howard station will finally be the fix.

I love that they put all four into service one day, then the next day took it down to two.

Here's an e-mail I sent to the CTA regarding Southbound Three-tracking starting in April '08:

I'd like to offer an idea(if your planners haven't already thought of it) for providing more AM capacity on the Red, Brown, Purple Track 1 Single-track, aka "Southbound" Three-tracking at Belmont and Fullerton starting at the beginning of April:

All Brown line stations from Kimball to Southport that are open as of April '08 will be able to berth 8 car sets, and most stations from Belmont south will be able to berth 8 car sets.

What if during AM rush ONLY, every other Brown line set runs with 8 cars, followed by a 6 car set? Before and at Belmont, an announcement on the 8 car sets would indicate express service from Belmont to Fullerton. Every other Brown line set would skip Wellington, while the remaining Brown line sets(6 cars) and all Purple line sets(6 cars) would still make that stop, giving that station frequent service.

Of course, something like this would only work if there is only 1 (or 2) station(s) that are currently open and cannot berth 8 car sets.

And this temporary "AM crush/every other Brown line 6 car/8 car sets" would only be used until the corresponding stations are open for 8 car service. For instance, Diversey opening/Wellington closing later this year and Chicago platform extension come to mind. (not sure about the Armitage platform extension)

The idea is that this will help during the worst hours of southbound AM service through Belmont and Fullerton on a single track. After the "height" of AM weekday rush, 6 car sets making all stops would be used thoughout the rest of day. The PM rush will not "need" 8 car sets due to northbound dual tracks being completed AND the current practice of keeping an extra 6 car Brown Line set(s) in the South Loop pulling into Adams/Wabash at the "height" of the PM rush.

Of course, this requires a lot more car movement and coordination in the Kimball yard/station in the AM to keep trains running frequently, but it is possible.

Please look this over, and see if this is an option for increasing "capacity", as AM service "frequency" gets reduced this April.

(Please don't hate me Wellington passengers, if we all have more AM capacity, everyone might be able to get to work on time)

now we will continue to see 4 red lines trains show up at fullerton northbound vs 1 brown line and 1/2 purple line.
or 3 brown line trains southbound vs 1 red line train and 1 purple line.