Some of you may recall the fiasco that was the bridge replacement project on Metra's Union Pacific North line. Bridges over Chicago streets were going to be replaced on the century-old embankment carrying the UP (previously C&NW) tracks. A necessary project, of course, but with serious flaws:
1) Service was going to be single-tracked through the work zone, and the schedule was significantly rewritten so that only one train would be passing through the zone at a time.
2) A right-of-way wide enough to carry three tracks -- it used to have three operating tracks, but now has only two -- was going to be only two tracks wide after the work, which many people thought a shortsighted, penny-wise and pound-foolish, plan.
The new schedule turned out to be a disaster for commuters, especially since the single-tracking meant that only one train missing its "slot" would delay at least one other train for at least as long as the late train passed through the single-track zone. :wacko: The project was suddenly halted and the old schedule restored.
Well, it was recently announced that the project will resume using two tracks, so no schedule revision is needed, and preserving the entire width of the right-of-way for potential three-track service.
1) Service was going to be single-tracked through the work zone, and the schedule was significantly rewritten so that only one train would be passing through the zone at a time.
2) A right-of-way wide enough to carry three tracks -- it used to have three operating tracks, but now has only two -- was going to be only two tracks wide after the work, which many people thought a shortsighted, penny-wise and pound-foolish, plan.
The new schedule turned out to be a disaster for commuters, especially since the single-tracking meant that only one train missing its "slot" would delay at least one other train for at least as long as the late train passed through the single-track zone. :wacko: The project was suddenly halted and the old schedule restored.
Well, it was recently announced that the project will resume using two tracks, so no schedule revision is needed, and preserving the entire width of the right-of-way for potential three-track service.
