So recently, there has been some buzz around issues with the Wi-Fi on the train. Specifically people have been complaining about how slow the connection has been and how it can cut out at certain points on the route and how the system overall was a piece of __insert your own expletive here___. Being a sensitive soul and one that doesn’t like to see a good thing turn sour I did a little digging to figure out what the extent of the problem is and what can be done about it.
Archive for the ‘passenger rail’ Category
What’s Up with the Train’s Wi-Fi?
Posted in MetroRail, passenger rail, Technology, train, Web, tagged wifi on October 15, 2010 | 17 Comments »
Rail Transition
Posted in MetroRail, passenger rail on January 8, 2010 | 5 Comments »
It’s been about one month since Capital Metro hired the new passenger and freight rail contractors, and we’ve reached some key milestones along the way.
Staffing
Herzog Transit Services has filled 58 of its 60 positions and has selected Terry Bruner for the position of General Manager. He has more than 30 years of experience in the railroad industry and has worked for Herzog since 1996. Most recently, Bruner served as Transportation Manager of the Trinity Railway Express in Dallas-Ft. Worth. His first day as MetroRail General Manager was Dec. 21.
Bold action on rail contract
Posted in Capital Metro news, MetroRail, passenger rail on December 12, 2009 | 1 Comment »
The follwing editorial is running in Sunday’s Austin American-Statesman:
Capital Metro’s bold action on rail contract is welcome
EDITORIAL BOARD
Sunday, December 13, 2009With its back against the wall, Capital Metro might have yielded to new contract demands by the company that has run its commuter and freight rail operations since 2007.
If You Build It…
Posted in economic development, MetroRail, passenger rail, train on May 29, 2009 | 2 Comments »
Austin-based high tech company Valence is interested in building a new production facility in Leander. One of the company’s big attractions is the proposed site’s proximity to Capital Metro’s passenger and freight rail line. Here are a couple of yesterday’s TV news stories about it:
Rail Safety Poster Winners
Posted in events, MetroRail, passenger rail, safety on March 9, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Tonight, at the AISD board meeting, 12 Central Texas students will be honored for the artwork they submitted in the Capital Metro Rail Safety Poster Competition.
Becca Coplen, an eighth grader at Canyon Vista Middle School, is the grand prize winner for the middle school category.
Earlier this year, Capital Metro and its volunteer coalition GROW (Grassroots Rail Outreach Working Group) invited students to submit artwork in a rail safety poster competition. Three winning designs (one each representing elementary, middle and high school campuses) will be printed and hung in every school campus and public library located within two miles of the Capital MetroRail tracks.
Kayleigh Treanor, a senior at Austin High School, won the grand prize in the high school category.
Six first-place and six second-place designs were chosen. First-place winners will each receive a laptop computer donated by Dell. Second-place winners will each receive a pair of running shoes donated by RunTex.
Cindy Carrosco, a fifth grader at Blackshear Elementary School, won the grand prize in the elementary school category.
The poster contest is part of an ongoing rail safety effort that began more than two years ago and has blanketed the community with messages about rail safety. When the Capital MetroRail Red Line begins service on March 30, train traffic along the tracks will increase significantly, and MetroRail trains are faster and quieter than freight locomotives.
1st Place Winners
Kayleigh Treanor, Austin High School, Grade 12
Becca Coplen, Canyon Vista Middle School, Grade 8
Cameron Henderson, Kealing Middle School, Grade 6
Cindy Carrosco, Blackshear Elementary School, Grade 5
David Hernandez, Blackshear Elementary School, Grade 3
Jaylin Mason, Blackshear Elementary School, Grade 1
2nd Place Winners
Rene Salazar, San Juan Diego Catholic High School, Grade 11
Kristin May, Running Brushy Middle School, Grade 8
Gustavo Lang, Running Brushy Middle School, Grade 6
Gerardo Torres, Blackshear Elementary School, Grade 5
Jonathan Garcia, Blackshear Elementary School, Grade 3
Stella Behal, Maplewood Elementary School, Grade 2
Honorary Participant
Cristal Garcia Marchan, Metz Elementary School, Grade 5
The students will be recognized today, March 9, at 6:15 p.m. (before the AISD Board Meeting) in the Board Auditorium at the Carruth Administration Center, 1111 W 6th. St., Room B-100.
During the Citizen’s Communication portion of the Board Meeting (roughly 7:15), Capital Metro will acknowledge the contest winners and their schools.
Welcome to Crestview Station
Posted in events, MetroRail, passenger rail on February 21, 2009 | 6 Comments »
In addition to the event at MLK, Jr. Station today, we’ll also be at Crestview Station from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., showing off the MetroRail train, helping people navigate the station and the new ticket vending machines, and generally getting Austinites ready to ride!
Eight of the nine MetroRail stations are ripe for transit oriented development, and a TOD is already up and running at Crestview Station. Midtown Commons is the transit oriented development adjacent to the Crestview Station. The development is still in progress. You can already lease retail/office space there, and the leasing office for the residential units has just opened.
When you swing by today to tour the train, you can sign an apartment lease to live next door!
Crestview Station Open House
TODAY
6920 North Lamar Blvd.
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
very limited parking available at the adjacent TOD
Welcome to MLK, Jr. Station
Posted in MetroRail, passenger rail on February 21, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Capital Metro continues the MetroRail Station Open Houses today. Today you have your choice of two stations: MLK, Jr. and Crestview, both from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Yesterday the group of Capital Metro staff who are volunteering at the open houses took a bus to MLK, Jr. Station to be trained on the use of the ticket vending machine and to tour the station. I snapped a few photos–it’s beautiful!
This station has a musical theme, with musical notes portrayed in the metal guardrails and on the glass canopy shelter above. The station paving stones are made to look like piano keys.
The MLK, Jr. Station is one of two stations that will have rail connector bus routes direct to major centers of employment. There will be two connectors from MLK, one to UT and another serving the Capitol Complex.
MLK, Jr. Station Open House
TODAY
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
1719 Alexander Ave.
very limited parking along Alexander
Welcome to Plaza Saltillo
Posted in community, events, MetroRail, passenger rail on February 14, 2009 | 3 Comments »
Welcome to Plaza Saltillo!
Today Capital Metro welcomes the community to beautiful Plaza Saltillo Station to tour the Capital MetroRail train, pick up schedules and learn to use the new electronic ticket vending machines.
Plaza Saltillo is unique and beautiful. Inspired by the plazas of Mexican cities, and named for Austin’s sister city of Saltillo, Mexico, Plaza Saltillo was built in 1998 and boasts a beautiful courtyard and fountain, a space for outdoor vendors, and a bandstand. The city of Saltillo donated the ornate, traditional benches that are found throughout. Plaza Saltillo was a collaborative project between the city of Austin, Capital Metro, and an east Austin cultural group called Ole Mexico. Since 1998 it’s been the site of many celebrations, and today we can add one more to the list.
The presence of the bright red MetroRail steel framing for the platform–an identifying hallmark at every station–as well as the electronic ticket vending machines (not to mention the uber-sleek train itself), lends a modern edge to a plaza that is steeped in tradition and full of community memories. Soon it will serve as a gateway to downtown business, and as the first welcome to passengers who exit the train in east Austin. 
Today you can be a part of it all, and be one of the first to see how fitting Plaza Saltillo is as host for Capital MetroRail. We’ll be there, as will the train, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Plaza Saltillo Station Open House
TODAY, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
412 Comal
Bus routes: 4, 320
Great Turnout in Leander
Posted in events, MetroRail, passenger rail, train on February 7, 2009 | 10 Comments »
Wow! More than 1,000 people joined us today for the Capital MetroRail open house at the Leander Station. Visitors had the opportunity to tour the train, practice using the ticket vending machine and ask lots of great questions. With just a few weeks to go until the big grand opening event (Saturday, March 28– mark your calendar), it really was a amazing to see and hear how excited people are.
If you didn’t make it to today’s open house, we have more coming up this month. See Gerardo’s post for the complete schedule.
In addition to the MetroRail train, we also had an Express bus on display at today’s open house; and our friends at the Leander Fire Department showed off some of their trucks and equipment which were especially popular with the kids.
"This is only a test"
Posted in MetroRail, passenger rail, safety, train on February 5, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
If you happened to be traveling on 183 through Leander last Thursday, you may have done a double take at the Leander Station. Several fire engines, police vehicles and ambulances were on the scene participating in a Capital MetroRail emergency preparedness drill.
The scenario: A car has collided with the MetroRail train at the Leander Station crossing. Eighty passengers onboard the train, as well as the driver of the car, have varying degrees of injury. Ready? And, go!
At 10:58 a.m., the train engineer called into dispatch to report the collision, and thus set in motion the drill. Within minutes the Leander Police Department was on the scene, followed by the fire department and EMS. The drill lasted almost four hours, and every angle of the response was analyzed and evaluated by safety experts.
What was the point? Obviously the main answer is to help us prepare for this kind of situation. “It’s new,” says Leander Deputy Fire Chief Bill Gardner. “It gives us a good opportunity to practice a unified approach.” If a crisis of this magnitude actually occurred, it would require the help of and response by multiple departments in surrounding communities.
Following the drill, the participants debriefed and got useful feedback from the evaluators. A few other drills are planned between now and the Red Line debut on March 30.
Here is some footage from the drill taken by Joe Wrubleski in Capital Metro’s training department. In the video, yours truly plays the part of newscaster. Note to self: don’t give up day job.
CapMetroATX Twitter Updates
- Come by the CapMetro booth at @VivaStreetsATX!! We're all decked out--prizes await you ow.ly/i/29q20 ^MA 12 hours ago
- We've fired up the bubble machine--ready for @VivaStreetsATX to start!! ow.ly/i/29p2X ^MA 13 hours ago
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