tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post3570997821764198469..comments2024-03-28T11:51:19.078-07:00Comments on Caltrain HSR Compatibility Blog: News Roundup, March 2015Clemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01374282217135682245noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-10542346890229410232015-04-06T19:08:01.745-07:002015-04-06T19:08:01.745-07:00BART beeps as it enters stations. (More a friendl...BART beeps as it enters stations. (More a friendly "BART-BART!") Not at billion decibels.<br />I don't know the agency/regulator's rules for beeping non-stop trains, but my experience as a passenger on platforms is that passing trains beep-beep also. It's not deafening, though, like the "here I am, arriving!" it is totally unnecessary.<br /><br />CPUC limits BART to 27mph entering (to stop) and passing through stations. I'd say "historical, due to old train control problems" except that BART has the same train hysterical control problems up to today!<br /><br />Yes, Caltrain should have been changed to "heavy rail" (meaning "regular old trains, anywhere except where the US Federal Railroad Administration screws things up".) Maybe there would still be some lower-decibel beep-beeping by non-stop trains, or maybe not even that. That could have been done. It should have been done. We'd be in an infinitely better position had it been done. Caltrain had the option. Caltrain knew it had the option. Caltrain was aware of the advantages of less terrible regulation. Caltrain could have swung it, politically and otherwise. Caltrain <i>chose not to try</i>. Because, in the end, Caltrain is about maximizing expense (consultant pork and scandalous agency overheads) and minimizing service (never solved problems are ones that need more more more more more money.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-32435135561630027652015-04-06T17:19:13.232-07:002015-04-06T17:19:13.232-07:00Anonymous, do you know the station horn rule of BA...Anonymous, do you know the station horn rule of BART, or other Heavy rail? If this is better than commuter rail, Caltrain should "Graduate" from FRA/commuter rail and join to heavy rail.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-69332860394246743182015-04-05T17:55:54.628-07:002015-04-05T17:55:54.628-07:00"To be fair, horn blowing is still quite comm..."<i>To be fair, horn blowing is still quite common at the San Carlos station. I would estimate about 90% of non-stopping trains do it.</i>"<br /><br />If they're not blowing the f**king horns, they're violating policy.<br /><br />Next time you notice a train engineer not blasting the entire county while passing through or stopping at every single station, write and complain to Noted Global Transportation Expert Jim Hartnett about this clear violation of Caltrain, CPUC and national safety standards and policies. Children might die!<br /><br />Sad to say, morris brown has been right all along.<br /><br />Caltrain's only going to blow the horns more with more trains, and Caltrain's only going to employ more sub-assistant-associate conductors the more trains they run, and Caltrain's only going to cost more to maintain with electrification, and Caltrain's promised to just make more useless stops to slow electrified trains below diesels.<br /><br />Just stick a knife in it. Stop throwing good money (billions of good money) after bad. It's hopeless. Absolutely hopeless.<br />Blow it up.<br />Give up.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-10109727488113116662015-04-05T16:59:57.909-07:002015-04-05T16:59:57.909-07:00Another option: http://picup.oliverlamm.de/files/I...Another option: http://picup.oliverlamm.de/files/IMG_1199281279_heavyguenni_web.de.jpgPeterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00326948451529910432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-53977351231008434802015-04-05T15:28:58.273-07:002015-04-05T15:28:58.273-07:00That's a good point, and a further argument fo...That's a good point, and a further argument for going high!Clemhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01374282217135682245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-26775133779060912712015-04-05T15:25:46.224-07:002015-04-05T15:25:46.224-07:00I think that partly has to do with the height of t...I think that partly has to do with the height of the platforms. People stand further back if they're four feet above the tracks versus only 8 inches.Peterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00326948451529910432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-42067272004895108212015-04-05T13:30:48.902-07:002015-04-05T13:30:48.902-07:00Caltrain has that too now, the PA states "tra...Caltrain has that too now, the PA states "train approaching" although the timing seems somewhat random. Germans have an innate understanding that it is best to stay back from the tracks. Peninsulans don't: they sit on the edge of the mini-high sipping their Starbucks while opening their laptop as the bullet bears down on them, only to jump aside at the last second after insistent horn blowing.Clemhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01374282217135682245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-43486550922408119112015-04-05T12:46:15.881-07:002015-04-05T12:46:15.881-07:00If I recall correctly, most stations in Germany ha...If I recall correctly, most stations in Germany have an automated PA message warning that an express train will be passing through. "Achtung bei Durchfahrt des Zuges."Peterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00326948451529910432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-68788709071486615552015-04-05T09:48:24.960-07:002015-04-05T09:48:24.960-07:00I suppose there is little or no incentive for the ...I suppose there is little or no incentive for the non-stopping train operator not to blow. If someone should manage to get themselves hurt, the question will probably be whether the operator sounded the horn or not. I surmise the attitude is therefore "might as well blow" ... even when nobody is even visible on the platform.<br /><br />In Germany express trains whoosh past station platforms far faster and more frequently than Caltrain with nary a warning sound.Reality Checkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06974156676436895262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-69015149274146000122015-04-05T08:49:06.031-07:002015-04-05T08:49:06.031-07:00To be fair, horn blowing is still quite common at ...To be fair, horn blowing is still quite common at the San Carlos station. I would estimate about 90% of non-stopping trains do it. That still makes for a lot less horn blowing than in Menlo Park, but not zero.Clemhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01374282217135682245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-63172208398432203982015-04-04T23:28:19.640-07:002015-04-04T23:28:19.640-07:00With elevated tracks routine horn-blowing at the s...With elevated tracks routine horn-blowing at the station would be eliminated since there would be no pedestrian crossings. See Belmont (center platform) or San Carlos (outside platforms) for examples.Reality Checknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-73753616366569569742015-04-04T01:29:01.646-07:002015-04-04T01:29:01.646-07:00True full grade crossing will quiet the horns at t...<i>True full grade crossing will quiet the horns at those crossings, but not at the station</i><br /><br />This is a regulatory issue which needs to be resolved. If anything though. 4 tracks would actually help this because it would mean that many if not all non-stop trains would not pass by the platforms.<br /><br /><i>With electrification we lose not only tons of trees, but also will be subjected to the twenty foot high catenary poles and their electrical lines.</i><br /><br />Blocking your view of what, exactly?<br /><br /><i>The land takings in Menlo Park will be immense and forever divide the town. (even further).</i><br /><br />Even if 4 tracks happen (debatable) and substantial property takes are necessary (debatable), how would it divide anything? The corridor would be slightly wider but the effect of grade separation would be much better connectivity between the two sides of the tracks.Joeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16406340564037825796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-75514343137770860242015-04-03T21:28:47.139-07:002015-04-03T21:28:47.139-07:00Sorry... above should have said "from the sta...Sorry... above should have said "from the station North", not "from the station South"morris brownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-1082272195007596552015-04-03T21:26:39.014-07:002015-04-03T21:26:39.014-07:00Clem: Since my home is only about 450 feet from t...Clem: Since my home is only about 450 feet from the tracks, and my office only about one-quarter of a mile from the tracks,(and train station) I think I know pretty well how being near the Caltrain tracks currently affects the community. I have lived in my home over 40 years now.<br /><br />When a few years ago, when the mental giants who occupy the engineering facilities of Caltrain, decided raising the horns to the top of the cabs, the horn volume increase to the surrounding community was immense. It created an uproar in town and until Caltrain reverted to the lower position we suffered plenty. The surrounding foliage and structures do wonders to attenuate the horn noise. Elevate the tracks, and this comes back along with plenty of extra wheel and locomotive noise. <br /><br />True full grade crossing will quiet the horns at those crossings, but not at the station. With electrification we lose not only tons of trees, but also will be subjected to the twenty foot high catenary poles and their electrical lines.<br /><br />The huge impacts will be to the area in Menlo Park, (and also extending to Atherton) from the station south. There are tons of homes, apartments, and new residential development in the works along this part of the corridor. <br /><br />In any case this is only the least of the problems. If Gov Brown has his way, for sure HSR will run on these tracks, and it regardless of the lies and myths being propagated, will require 4 tracks, not the present 2 tracks. The land takings in Menlo Park will be immense and forever divide the town. (even further).<br /><br />BTW, UPRR certainly doesn't roll 4 long freights a day through the city. At night usually one, and sometimes one during the day also. <br /><br />Traffic gridlock is a problem only at Ravenswood (currently at least). In general the horn blowing is not continuous, but I'll admit some aggressive engineers at worse than others. Diesel fumes are not a problem. <br /><br />Morris Brownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-247344599466763542015-04-01T19:43:47.901-07:002015-04-01T19:43:47.901-07:00Morris, I think you've got that backwards. Co...Morris, I think you've got that backwards. Compared to a slightly elevated 100% grade separated and electrified rail alignment, Menlo Park today truly is a "shanty rail-abutting visual and audio monster plagued community". The diesel fumes. The clanging bells. The chugging locomotives. The traffic gridlock. The continuous horn blowing from one end of town to the other, especially as UPRR freights roll through four times a day... or is it night? And all those huge vacant lots. About the only redeeming feature of the rail corridor through Menlo Park is the historic depot, the oldest in California. There is not much else worth clinging to here.Clemhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01374282217135682245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-71596045049383009592015-04-01T16:48:22.317-07:002015-04-01T16:48:22.317-07:00Downtown Menlo Park has only 55 feet, but of cours...Downtown Menlo Park has only 55 feet, but of course who cares except for residents of Menlo Park, many of whom would like to maintain their quality of life and not see their city become a shanty rail abutting visual and audio monster plagued community.Morris Brownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-38981791208230899772015-03-31T20:23:42.582-07:002015-03-31T20:23:42.582-07:00Routing HSR from San Jose up to Oakland would be n...Routing HSR from San Jose up to Oakland would be no picnic either. The proponents of an East Bay HSR route via the SP Mulford Line (former BART director Robert Allen) tend to gloss this over, but there would be dozens of grade separations needed just like the peninsula. And contrary to what we usually read in the local press, there is <a href="http://caltrain-hsr.blogspot.com/2009/03/why-they-chose-caltrain-corridor.html" rel="nofollow">plenty of room</a> to expand peninsula rail capacity.Clemhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01374282217135682245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-3321795338066680652015-03-31T12:28:53.928-07:002015-03-31T12:28:53.928-07:00I guess I honestly don't understand why HSR ha...<br />I guess I honestly don't understand why HSR has to go to San Francisco via the Peninsula. After all the costs of upgrading the old SP trackage wouldn't it be just about the same cost to build a new transbay tube? Make it four tracks instead of two and give BART a boost by linking into its existing tracks between West Oakland and the wye. <br /><br />The Transbay Terminal is between Mission and Howard at Main, right? That's only three blocks from the water. A new tunnel for HSR and BART could come down Howard to the terminal with BART peeling off to the north just before it, undercrossing the existing tunnel and the new T subway line before heading out Geary. Lord knows the Bay Area needs a subway along Geary before it needs ANY OTHER major transportation improvement. Nearly 100,000 riders every day take one of the four versions of the 38, and there are buses both a block to the north on Clement and two blocks to the south on Balboa serving the area as well. Muni unfortuntatly can't pay for it alone. But with HSR funds to build the tunnel BART has the ability to build the subway inside the city. <br />Anandakoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15397105362372268883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-86981955754461203982015-03-16T23:24:52.805-07:002015-03-16T23:24:52.805-07:00I have yet to hear from a single transit advocate ...I have yet to hear from a single transit advocate who is even slightly positive about Hartnett's new position.<br /><br />Should be interesting to watch CBOSS in the coming months. They're wrapping up the easy part (installation) and starting into testing & commissioning. That is the program phase where schedules and budgets usually blow out, because this stuff is much harder than it looks. Where the steel wheel hits the rail... Anybody remember the MUNI Meltdown?Clemhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01374282217135682245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-8599678959716654972015-03-16T21:02:13.723-07:002015-03-16T21:02:13.723-07:00The PA Daily Post (not on the internet) in an edit...The PA Daily Post (not on the internet) in an editorial opinion, took deadly aim at the appointment of Hartnett to be the CEO of CalTrain, replacing Scanlon.<br /><br />Dave Price, the editor, really has exposed the whole situation. When "friends of CalTrain" try to put a measure on the ballot to subsidize CalTrain's operating deficits, this ridiculous appointment of Hartnett, who has no background for managing a large organization, or any real "train knowledge", will sway plenty of voters to say no.<br /><br />So much ammo to again subject CalTrain to incompetence and bloated budgets. All should remember the price tag for CBOSS is at $231 million. That PTC system, which just had to be invented at CalTrain, rather than use an off the shelf system, is so bloated in cost it really is a major scandal. (The electrification project just got a boost in cost of $300 million)<br /><br />Anyway, you can read the Post's editorial at:<br /><br /> http://www.scribd.com/doc/258943715/Opinion-on-Hartnett-s-appointment-as-CalTrain-CEO<br /><br />Morris Brownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419444332771213285.post-41837281218088106972015-03-16T17:46:47.151-07:002015-03-16T17:46:47.151-07:00That was some world-wide search they did to find s...That was some world-wide search they did to find somebody uniquely qualified to triple-dip the county, county and tri-county payroll and then soon enough triple-dip the pension systems, all while continually gutting bus service, widening the freeways, and blowing out the rail capital budgets with consultant overheads that reach towards 100%.<br /><br />And just imagine! Finding <i>the perfect staff person</i> to run a multi billion dollar engineering program based on best global economic and technical practices sitting under their noses, knocking back a few drinks right at the same bar in cosy Redwood City.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com