Comments on: Re: Opening Day

By: transfer person

transfer person — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 22:02:30 +0000

hm, okay. So if we want to be on the first “public” rides at 10am, we should show up at Mt. Baker, although those rides will only last for 5-7 stops. If we want to ride the full length, starting at Westlake or Tukwila should be fine.

By: Oran Viriyincy

Oran Viriyincy — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:42:47 +0000

It’s only long enough for three cars, a four car train cannot reverse direction in the stub tunnel, according to the ST Link Operations Plan.

By: Tim

Tim — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:22:46 +0000

The first trains of the day (I’m pretty sure) will start at Mount Baker, with one going North and one South. So I guess they’ll deadhead out of the yard.

By: Tim

Tim — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:17:56 +0000

Can I at least ride through the PSST?

And does that mean the shadow buses will be running in the tunnel? So, ST’s DE60LF’s?

By: Tim

Tim — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:16:12 +0000

Then the bus people don’t get to enjoy the bands. Dang.

By: transfer person

transfer person — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 20:56:41 +0000

The regular trains running throughout the weekend will be picking up from every station along the line.

Yes, but will the *first* pick-up in each direction definitely be Westlake and Tukwila? I’ll have to go through the archives here, but in the past someone suggested/mentioned that initially an empty train will head north and then head south and first pick people up at sodo or somewhere.

By: Chris Stefan

Chris Stefan — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:15:45 +0000

I think the stub tunnel was built long enough for 4 cars. At some point the construction for U-Link is going to cut the tunnel length down to only hold 2 cars, but I don’t know if that has happened yet.

By: Barman

Barman — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:55:02 +0000

I think it’s long enough for three. Oran had a video of a three car train running through the tunnel, so it must be possible.

By: AJ

AJ — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:17:53 +0000

And isn’t the stub tunnel only long enough for 2 cars anyhow?

By: Ben Schiendelman

Ben Schiendelman — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:55:45 +0000

Because we don’t own enough cars to run 3-4 car trains every 5 minutes.

By: Ben Schiendelman

Ben Schiendelman — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:53:49 +0000

I’ve got one already. ;)

By: Colin

Colin — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:50:08 +0000

Does anyone know why they aren’t running longer trains on opening weekend? Seems like this would be the time to run the 3 or 4 car trains…

By: Lloyd

Lloyd — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:25:47 +0000

Ben – you’ll need an “Undrivers License”

By: Jessica

Jessica — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:22:42 +0000

Glad I’m bringing my own chair ;)

By: Lloyd

Lloyd — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:19:36 +0000

It will not really matter how many spaces are held for others beyond the terminal stations… there will be tens of thousands of folks all over the place angling to get a ride. Be prepared for LONG waits – a friend an I waited for about 2 hours for the Portland Streetcar on its opening day in 2001 and apparently the crowds were huge in Phoenix last winter. As stated previously, wear comfortable shoes, bring water and a ton of patience. There IS NO secret way to get on.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:18:27 +0000

5 AM wakeup call (I’m staying Friday night at the Mayflower) for 5:30 AM arrival? ;)

By: Jessica

Jessica — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:17:00 +0000

I know I’m camping out at the Mayflower (before I learned of the weekend 10 AM opening, still going to spend Friday night there).

My family is up here for opening weekend (my mother thinks she’s going to drive in from Bellevue – good luck with I-90 and SR-520 being a mess anyways, let alone with I-90 repairs – and I laughed in her face(it’s ok if you all want to also))

By: Colin

Colin — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:15:42 +0000

The regular trains running throughout the weekend will be picking up from every station along the line. The majority of people will probably be getting on at Westlake and Tukwila (the ends of the line), but you can also get on at any of the other stations along the route. As was mentioned before, you’ll have to get off at the end of the line (Westlake or Tukwila) and stand in line to get back on, so you’ll probably want to maximize your ride by getting on at one of the early stations.

They told us that people may start lining up as much as 2 or more hours before the trains start running. Volunteers have been instructed to show up at 7 on Saturday, with the trains not starting until 10, in anticipation of early crowds.

They weren’t specific on how many would be let on at each station. My thinking is that they’ll try to keep the waits fairly consistent at each station, so if there are 3000 waiting at Westlake and 300 waiting at SoDo, they’ll probably let 200 per train on at Westlake and only 20 per train at Sodo. That’s what I’d do. They didn’t say that was what would happen, so it may be that they have a set number of spots reserved for each station. The majority of boardings should be Westlake and Tukwila.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:11:40 +0000

Count me in!!

By: Colin

Colin — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:06:15 +0000

I can confirm that from what I was told by ST personnel this weekend. The DSTT will be trains only.