Nov 23, 2008 11:54 pm US/Eastern
Light Rail Service Is Up & Running
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
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Finally, some good news for light rail commuters--service is back up and running.
Finally, some good news for light rail commuters--service is back up and running.
But as
Jessica Kartalija reports, you'd still better plan ahead when it comes to your morning commute.
A raking machine was sucking up leaves and crews were hard at work along the light rail tracks. It's a last ditch effort to get people back on the track.
For the past two weeks, thousands of commuters have had to board buses between North Avenue and Hunt Valley. It isn't the first time this has happened and it won't be the last.
Here's the problem. When all those leaves gather along the train tracks, the trains slip when the leaves become wet. A computer system inside the train recognizes this and the train has to be taken into the shop.
"This is the nature of public transit and when you're talking about climate or equipment, there are no guarantees," said MTA spokesperson Jawauna Greene.
Some blame the MTA for opting back in 2000 not to buy a $4 million electronic system that would have prevented trains from sliding on slippery tracks.
"It's really not about pointing fingers or saying what were people thinking. You have to think about the environment in which the decisions were made," Greene said.
The MTA says it has found a way to operate trains on slippery tracks without wheel damage but some trains are still in the shop, meaning there's more of a wait for commuters.
"We're asking the public to get there a little early. Bear with us, we are doing everything we can. Our crews have been working overtime to come up with a solution," Greene said.
The trains were up and running, just in time for Ravens tailgaters to get downtown.
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