Merry Christmas

With a little help from the Angry Birds Cast!

Schedule Changes to Amtrak Cascades Service 1/3-3/31

Union Pacific Railroad is going at it with Track Maintenance again, this means some changes to Cascades and Coast Starlight Service from Jan 3 thru March 31.

Trains 500, 506, 516, 501, 513, 507, & 509 have no changes.

Train 504 and 508 will not run.

Coast Starlight 11 will depart Seattle at 11:45a arrive Portland at 3:50p & 14 will depart Portland at 6:20p and arrive Seattle at 10:45p.

Train 508 is canceled, and replaced with 514, departing Portland at 5:15p arriving Seattle at 8:50p. Judging by the travel time, this train will still be Talgo Equipment.

This leaves a bigger gap in morning departures from Seattle, and delays one Portland departure by almost an hour. The Coast Starlight will run the entire route from Seattle to Los Angeles by train. Schedules revert back on April 1st 2011. The WSDOT Passenger Service Notice is here.

TriMet employs its usual 'MAX is Priority' Plan

TriMet has been awarded a federal grant for a system to recoup the energy from braking. It will cost $4.2 Million, to save $168,000 in energy costs. Thats a little over 23 years to recoup the cost spent. $4.2 million will buy 7 hybrid buses, or 10 regular buses (approx costs).

This is the usual stance TriMet takes, they get money, ask for money, set aside money for MAX and rail projects, and continue to neglect the deteriorating bus system. Are you surprised?

As 2010 comes to a close

Its another year in the books. Personally for me it was a year of a lot of changes. I have relocated from Portland to Seattle, and added driving transit to my frequent transit riding lifestyle. Without a doubt, TriMet is still a focus in my blog, now that I work with a similar company, its interesting to see the comparisons. I have started a twitter feed to send out my rants and raves on. I also want to thank some of the Seattle bloggers for the warm welcome, and partaking in my blogging adventures. Heres a look back at some of the highlights (and lowlights?) of 2010, plus, of course, a year-end video, my yearbook of some of my favorite videos made throughout the year.

Poll Results: McFarlanes Approval rating is at 24%

Heres the results to the most recent poll regarding McFarlanes performance as GM with TriMet. A total of 33 vote were logged, a record for this blog, but I think represents an accurate view of my readers. Why do you feel McFarlane deserves a 24% approval?

Approve	8 (24%)
Dis-Approve	25 (75%)

(Approve 24.24% Disapprove 75.76%)

Translink SkyTrain turns 25 tomorrow

SkyTrain, a 100% automated Rail Mass Transit system turns 25 tomorrow. Read more about the opening day celebrations 25 years ago, and an issue of Vancouver Rapid Transit Project Quarterly from 1985 on Translinks blog, The Buzzer.

Translinks Reindeer Buses

Vancouvers Translink has taken Christmas to a new fun level, With Reindeer buses. Big antlers, big red nose, eyes, and decorated inside, its a fun way to celebrate this time of year.

Translinks blog, The Buzzer, has a story on the history of the buses, and links to photo galleries to get a closer look at the decorated vehicles.

Vancouver BC Translink Trolley Bus floating around Seattle

Vancouver BCs Translink has loaned a New Flyer E40LFR Electric Trolley bus to King County Metro for a very short time, So we can try it out, stare at it, slobber all over it, etc etc.

I hope we get a whole bunch of these, I have taken a ride in a few while in service in Vancouver, and they are nice.

VeloBusDriver was able to get some shots of it, including the photo to the left, and has uploaded them here, take a look.

Oran also got some shots and the videos below.

Take the Poll: McFarlanes Approval Rating

Only one week left to vote, if you haven't already, on if you approve or disapprove Neil McFarlanes' work as TriMets GM over the last few months. The Poll is on the right in the sidebar. Feel Free to comment as well.

And not just for TriMet employees, but Riders too. Is he taking the system in a better direction for you, over Fred Hansen?

The end of the Day-Pass as we know it...is near

Thats right kiddies, effective January 1st 2011, Day Passes at Metro are out! Also gone, Family Fares. However, you will need 25 cents more to travel around town starting the same day. Since you will need a higher Pass denomination, that will be $9 more a month.

This brings me to my fares suggestions.