Austin commuter rail to skip some stations, run fewer trains

Opening date uncertain

Steve Hawley, Aug 26, 09.

Austin’s commuter rail line will skip some outlying stations, run more slowly than expected, and use just four trains instead of the five originally planned for, according to the Austin American-Statesman.

According to the article, Capital Metro Transit decided to skip stations on some runs to prevent passengers from outlying areas from filling the trains to capacity:

Foregoing the Leander and Lakeline stops on some morning and afternoon trips, officials said, might be necessary partly to ensure that passengers from those two stops don’t fill all the trains and preclude boardings at closer-in Austin stops. The change also was prompted by slower trains. Agency vice president Todd Hemingson said test runs have made it clear that the full 32-mile run will take about an hour, rather than the 48 to 52 minutes originally estimated.

Capital Metro also plans to use just four trains instead of five, because it has only four limited areas where northbound and southbound trains can pass each other.

The article notes that the commuter rail project has encountered numerous delays so far. Originally, Capital Metro expected the line to be operational by the spring of 2008, which was pushed back until the fall of 2008 and then to March 30, 2009. Capital Metro no longer lists a target opening date.

(Photo credit: sahmeditor)