Why can't the new through train operate 30 min. later out of San Luis Obispo at 2:30 p.m. so that it may keep the 8:30 p.m. slot out of Los Angeles ? Wouldn't there be less opposing traffic later than earlier, as proposed. The stop at Norwalk/Santa Fe Springs should also be retained as long as Orange and Laguna Niguel get to keep their stops on selected Amtrak trains.
The proposed Northbound schedule from San Diego may be a disaster on weekends, especially during summer. Currently there are four weekend evening departues northbound from San Diego at 5:20 p.m., 6:20 p.m., 8:20 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. The new schedule has two weekend evening departues from San Diego to L.A. at 6:15 p.m. and 9:15 p.m., a three hour gap in service at a very busy time! The Phantom predicts those two trains are going to be extremely crowded.
The (lack of) evening service is something I've always thought deters many people from using Metrolink. Many people get off work at 6 and can't make it back to Union Station for the final 6:30 departure.
ReplyDeleteIf we lose the Amtrak trains between 7:30 and 10:30 as well, a later evening at the office could turn into a few wasted hours until a 10:30 train, not returning home until after 11pm..
Unless it's a secret plan to get people to explore the restaurant and evening options in Downtown while they wait (which of course it isn't), I think it will only deter more and more OC commuters from using the train.