May 7, 2008 4:33 pm US/Eastern
Light Rail Reductions Frustrate Commuters
MARYLAND (WJZ) ―
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Commuters braved another challenging day along the light rail system.
WJZ
Commuters braved another challenging day along the light rail system. Cracks in a wheel forced the state into emergency inspections.
Mike Schuh reports the temporary solution is very painful for the riders.
Three-quarters of the light rail fleet has been pulled from service. Those reductions are being seen and felt by the riders.
"It's chaos," said Darius Gwathney, who rides the light rail daily.
There are more than 800 steel wheels in the light rail fleet. Every single one of them needs to be checked after an accident in April.
"On April 23, there was a derailment fracture in a wheel and we want to make sure we're going a step beyond [to make it] totally safe for customers and operators," said Paul Wiedefeld, MTA Administrator.
Now it's the passengers screaming for mercy. The system is running with just half the usual number of cars.
Some riders turn away when they see a train so packed. Sometimes the doors can barely close. Many of the stairwells are packed full.
"I think they should be prepared for this situation," said James Phelps, a rider.
The reason this is taking so long is that maintenance can only complete an inspection and make repairs to one car per day.
"We can do a truck a day, two axles or four tires," said Howard Gross, MTA Maintenance.
Even so, most cars are expected to be relieving the backup by next week.
The MTA has called in outside engineering firms to help them solve their problems. They are also investigating if any other transit systems are having similar troubles.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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