Muni Metro service is pretty good when they are running 3-car N/J and 4-car
L/M or L/K trains, spaced 3 minutes apart (20 trains/hr). Several problems
prevented this consistent level of service: 1) The Boeing LRV's broke
down, 2) The turnback at Embarcadero was a bottleneck at rush hour, and 3)
Traffic delays prevented consistent arrival of trains at the tunnel portal
for coupling.
Muni's $700 million solution to improve service was:
$400 million: Replace the Boeings with new Breda's. ...No argument here.
$220 million: Build a 180 degree loop at Embarcadero for faster turnback
and eliminate train reversing and the troublesome diamond switch. The loop
was later changed to switchbacks and a portal for E-line was added.
...Getting complicated, but still should help.
$80 million: Implement ATCS. Muni wanted to eliminate the train
coupling/decoupling operation because it was time-consuming, caused
equipment wear and tear, sometimes failed, and depended on cars arriving on
time. But running 1 or 2 car trains instead of 3 or 4 car trains meant the
subway would have to accommodate 40 trains/hr compared to the existing 20
trains/hr. Thus a new train control system, the ATCS, was needed. ...Very
complicated, some controversy here.
My opinion is: 1) ATCS does not increase travel speed. 2) ATCS does not
decrease travel time. 3) ATCS does not increase capacity (unless trains
are coupled). 4) The main benefit of ATCS is that delays in the subway
should clear up faster because the trains can run closer together.
The ATCS and MMT startup last week marks the culmination of an eight year
program to fix the Metro system. Of course, bugs in the ATCS are being
worked on and more Breda's are on the way. In my opinion, no real transit
improvement (decrease in travel time or increase in capacity) will have
been achieved, but the new equipment will improve reliability and prevent
further deterioration of service.
What could Muni have done differently to actually improve service? Good
question.