Journal entry discussing some Yellow Line matters

[SchuminWeb]

In response to some folks' comments on the Twitter, I wrote this up in an attempt to explain turnbacks at Fort Totten:

http://www.schuminweb.com/schumin-web/journal/permalink.php?id=1337

The first half discusses train movements and track configurations, and then the second half discusses signage.  What do you think?

[79MetroExtraMD]

They do have a select few trains that head all the way to Greenbelt primarily before rush hour and after rush hour. I think a couple originate from Greenbelt. I see one at College Park around 650pm most days. I do wish they could provide maybe a few more trains to go the whole gamut to alleviate that brutal 20 minute wait for a Green during the later part of the night.

[WMATAGMOAGH]

They do have a select few trains that head all the way to Greenbelt primarily before rush hour and after rush hour. I think a couple originate from Greenbelt. I see one at College Park around 650pm most days. I do wish they could provide maybe a few more trains to go the whole gamut to alleviate that brutal 20 minute wait for a Green during the later part of the night.

Those are trains going to/from the yard that they let passengers ride, nothing more.  If you want to have additional Yellow Line service to Greenbelt, do you want to pay for it?  Why is the 20 minute wait between trains so brutal for you if every other branch has such a wait as well?

[Tristan]

Schumin,

Great write-up.  I just would point out the fact (if I didn't miss reading it) that the Yellow extension was primarily intended to increase off-peak service on the mid-city Green Line segment to get people to and from downtown, and it was much cheaper to use existing Yellow line trains ending at a rather useless terminal than it would have been to add more Green service.

So, in addition to the fact that it is operationally complicated, there's also the fact that the point of the plan, as funded by the District, was to increase off-peak service in a growing area.  Rush hour Green service was deemed sufficient in that area, so even if it was possible for full-time Ft Totten Yellows, there's a question as to whether it would actually happen.

You think the operator change pattern at Ft Totten is worth mentioning as well?

And I need you writing for this site! :-D