Comments on: Electric Busology 103- Squaring the Circle http://www.orphanroad.com/blog/2009/09/electric-busology-103 Puget Sound Transportation and Land Use Issues Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:55:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: mSkehan http://www.orphanroad.com/blog/2009/09/electric-busology-103/comment-page-1#comment-1510 mSkehan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://wp.orphanroad.com/?p=1850#comment-1510 Agreed! In fairness, some of trollies short-comings should be examined in a future segment. Several areas should be discussed: 1. Mainenance, both shop and overhead electic crews, along with supervisory assistance is much higher for trolley buses than for diesel due to problems with de-wiring, broken overhead wire, "FrankenBreda" buses and lack of system flexability for street detours. 2. When Metro decided to 'upgrade' to Kiepe poles and shoes, it resulted in slower performance of trollies. Speed limits were cut in half through 'special work' (line sections with switches or crossovers), and operators were forbidden from using reverse (the paper thin poles break when snagged)which cause a loss of operational manuvering. 3. Operator skills are much higher for trolley drivers than for regular buses (IMHO). Yet there is no system in place to retain experienced trolley drivers, but all the dis-advantages remain with driving the busiest routes in the system. Therefore, the turnover in drivers at Atlantic Base (trollies)is pretty high, and experience rate going down, leading to even more breakdowns. Agreed!
In fairness, some of trollies short-comings should be examined in a future segment. Several areas should be discussed:
1. Mainenance, both shop and overhead electic crews, along with supervisory assistance is much higher for trolley buses than for diesel due to problems with de-wiring, broken overhead wire, “FrankenBreda” buses and lack of system flexability for street detours.
2. When Metro decided to ‘upgrade’ to Kiepe poles and shoes, it resulted in slower performance of trollies. Speed limits were cut in half through ‘special work’ (line sections with switches or crossovers), and operators were forbidden from using reverse (the paper thin poles break when snagged)which cause a loss of operational manuvering.
3. Operator skills are much higher for trolley drivers than for regular buses (IMHO). Yet there is no system in place to retain experienced trolley drivers, but all the dis-advantages remain with driving the busiest routes in the system. Therefore, the turnover in drivers at Atlantic Base (trollies)is pretty high, and experience rate going down, leading to even more breakdowns.

]]> By: serial catowner http://www.orphanroad.com/blog/2009/09/electric-busology-103/comment-page-1#comment-1511 serial catowner Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://wp.orphanroad.com/?p=1850#comment-1511 This is where we get to the real question of how much commitment the society has to providing the service. WRT the overhead and the buses, we need to remember they are just part of the expense, which also includes the street, the street furniture, and, of course, the labor. Taken in context, it may make sense to spend more at the outset to buy quality equipment that works better. In theory, driving the electrics should be quieter and have less vibration and fumes. It should be simple enough to direct traffic and parking enforcement to concentrate <em>on the streets with the overhead wires</em>. It would make sense to keep those streets in top condition and improve those streets first because of the transit traffic. Drivers should get pay upgrades for each type of equipment they qualify to operate. Keeping the trolley on the wire will always be a challenge, but it doesn't need to be as bad as it is in Seattle today. It seems the present fleet of electrics is near the end of their service lifespans, and the agency will have the opportunity to really upgrade their equipment. Let's hope they do it. This is where we get to the real question of how much commitment the society has to providing the service.

WRT the overhead and the buses, we need to remember they are just part of the expense, which also includes the street, the street furniture, and, of course, the labor. Taken in context, it may make sense to spend more at the outset to buy quality equipment that works better.

In theory, driving the electrics should be quieter and have less vibration and fumes. It should be simple enough to direct traffic and parking enforcement to concentrate on the streets with the overhead wires. It would make sense to keep those streets in top condition and improve those streets first because of the transit traffic. Drivers should get pay upgrades for each type of equipment they qualify to operate. Keeping the trolley on the wire will always be a challenge, but it doesn’t need to be as bad as it is in Seattle today.

It seems the present fleet of electrics is near the end of their service lifespans, and the agency will have the opportunity to really upgrade their equipment. Let’s hope they do it.

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