by Aaron M. Renn
Chronicling life riding the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA)
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A well-connected development firm stands to rake in millions in fees from a CTA management contract. d'Escoto, Inc. will get a large chunk of the fees to manage the CTA's reconstruction of the Ravenswood and Douglas L lines. That firm is owned by the father of one of Mayor Daley's most senior aides. [ Source: Crain's Chicago Business 1 May 2000 ]
On Tuesday a fatal accident on the Metra BNSF caused major delays on that line. A pedestrian was struck and killed by train 1209 in Berwyn. [ Source: Chicago Tribune 25 April 2000 ]
Metra should consider changing their motto to "Metra, the way to really freeze your ass off". Stuck going to work on Saturday, I decided to take Metra to the Loop. However, the train was 10 minutes late, it was windy and cool, and I only had on a light jacket. Ok, it was partially my own fault and I'm nitpicking. I'll admit it.
The route was down to one track due to repairs. The crossover is at South Bvld., where the northbound trains usually block at a signal waiting for the southbound train to pass before switching tracks. There was an announcement that the northbound train would be stopping at Main on the southbound tracks and would be running 10-12 minutes late because it had to sit at that signal. However, there was no mention that the southbound train was also ten minutes late, making the northbound one more like 20 minutes behind schedule. It's obvious the person making station announcements at Metra doesn't have a clue about what's actually going on out on the rails.
Lots more on the automated 'L' announcements this week:
Jeff Simon wrote:
I have a VERY odd experience with the Automated Announcement System on the Red Line. Moving from Milwaukee a year ago, it took me up till very recently to sleep through the rumbling of the train as it stopped and started outside my bedroom window - I live right at the Seridan stop.Now with the AAS, my partner and I are jarred awake at times with systems that are too loud - even well after midnight. The odd thing is, when I board the train to go to work in the morning, most of the time the volume is VERY low and the chimes and announcements can often be hardly heard at all. It's a nice switch at times, but I wonder about riders who are not familiar with the system and what station is next.
And Chris Rios says:
This is just wishful thinking and observation, but I remember when about a year ago there was one conductor on the Red Line (at least I heard most of the time on the Red Line) who was a real pleasure to have announcing on the train. He would say things like..."It's 10:30 at night and this is your wake up call, this is Berwyn. Make sure you have all your belongings and dress warmly, it's cold out there." And things similiar to that. He was better than any standard audible, nonear-splitting automated `L' announcements.
I know that motorman well and I agree. He was the CTA's best.
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