Heather Curtis
WMAL.com
WASHINGTON (WMAL) – Virginia Railway Express riders are still finding themselves late for work in May even though fixes were made after major delays in April.
On time performance for VRE trains on the Manassas line plummeted from 87% in March to 39% in April as train operators got used to the new Positive Train Control system meant to prevent crashes. Even though fixes were made to the PTC system, delays have continued in May. Performance numbers are not yet available.
VRE CEO Doug Allen said delays in May have not been related to PTC but instead slow moving freight trains using the same tracks, reduced speeds due to track work and mechanical issues. The tracks used by Manassas line trains are owned by CSX, so a spokesperson said VRE has no control over things like track work.
“Our railroad on a regular basis we’re we’re, we have high 80s, 90% on time arrivals, and so we’re hoping to get back to that, but we feel got that the positive train control issues seem to be, have been taken care of, and now we can kind of focus back on getting our trains to operate on time on a regular basis,” Allen said.
Allen added they are doing everything they can to communicate with their riders including posting real time arrivals on an app and holding meetings. Wednesday they met with riders at the Crystal City station.
“They were expressing concerns and frustrations with the delays we have been experiencing, and we said, we don’t, I said, “I apologize. We don’t like them either. Here’s what they’re doing to address them,'” Allen said.
He said he understands that there has been a heightened sensitivity to delays because of the PTC issues, and they are working on getting back to a regular schedule.
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