The MTA said,it will explore Skip-stop service on the becuz of its "On-Time" performance study. The came in DEAD LAST.

I was going to make a post about this as well...according to the article in the post today the worst three lines are the 4,2 and 5 which are all express trains. Can someone please provide me some insight as to why trains that run express would have a worse on time percentage then trains that run local and thus would have more chances for something to go wrong?

I read the Daily News table, the bottom six lines were all IRT lines the ,,,, and the . Only the did a little better than the & lines.

I do not veyr often type in all caps.

THIS IS THE FREAKING DUMBEST IDEA EVER.

Well, they are just considering the Skip-Stop Service. There is nothing in writing. When the gets S/S Service or not. It is up to the BROAD. IT'S Not To Us!!!!

Proves why a SAS and improved signal system is needed badly on the West Side and East Side IRT. Where is money from Washington and Albany as Sam says for infrstucture improvements both on raillines and an aging Interstate highay system? That right it goes to American Loyalty the CEO of Exxon-Mobil lol.

Biggest reason for the #2, #4 and #5 always being late is simple. Overcrowding which leads to congestion. Congestion=slow paced trains. Slower Paced trains=delays.

Can you say, Mass Confusion?

The 4's delays are caused by congestion, not by too many stops.

So most A Division lines have gotten worse with their on-time performance, while most B Division lines haven't experienced the same worsening of on-time performance rates? I think I know what at least part, if not most, of the problem may be.

*cough* ATS *cough*

What's ATS?

I meant "BOARD" not "BROAD". ok..

Automatic Train Supervision. Here's a link that can explain it better than I can:

http://parsons.com/about/press_rm/potm/06-2004/index.html

To be honest, I'm not well versed in the complete details behind its operation. I do know that it was supposed to be a way to centralize control of the trains rather than have them being controlled by dispatchers in master towers throughout the A Division. The same thing was done with the Canarsie Line, along with the installation of CBTC on that line.

The problem is that from what I've heard is that since it has been online, the system has had far too many issues and that many of the "signal problems" that have occurred recently on the IRT are a result of problems with ATS. One of the side perks to ATS was that information for the arrival times of trains was supposed to be made available in all IRT stations by 2007 (the same info boards that are on the L).

Those information boards haven't even been installed in many IRT stations to date.

On top of that, the project is supposedly overbudget and late.

From personal experience, A Division trains seem to be inconsistent in terms of speed in certain areas these days. For example, from Bergen Street to Atlantic Avenue going N/B, the 2/3 move fairly quickly (as long as there are no workers in the tracks or a train close ahead of it). These days, the 2/3 seem more likely to crawl into Atlantic Avenue, with no other train in sight ahead of it.

Whatever the issue is though, skip-stop is not the solution the 4's problems.

Skip stop will do more harm than good for the 4 line. It works on the J/Z since the stations that are skipped aren't as busy as the express stations. That won't be the case on the 4-ridership along Jerome Avenue is spread evenly.

(4)/(8) skip stop service and 138 St bypass

approximate hours (skip stop)

6:30am-7:00pm S/B (from Woodlawn)
7:00am-7:30pm N/B (from 125 St)

(4) and (8) skip 138 St all day in peak direction (reverse peak trains will stop at 138)

138 St Bypass hours
6:00am - 12:30pm S/B (from Woodlawn)
1:00pm - 8:00pm N/B (from 125 St)


(4)

125
138 (reverse peak direction only)
149
161
170
176
183
Fordham
Bedford Pk
Mosholu
Woodlawn


(8)

125
138 (reverse peak direction only)
149
161
167
Mt Eden
Burnside
Fordham
Kingsbridge
Mosholu
Woodlawn

Greatone nice try. However if skip stop failed on a slightly less busy #1 and #9 lines north of 168th, what makes you think, it could work on the very busy #4 line? The Local station along Jerome are busier than the #1.
I seen the #4 reach SRO by the time it reaches Burnside during the morning rush hours. That why it wont work.

Only other solution i might propse, is to "dead head" a few #4 in morning rush weekdays between 6-8am from the Bedford Park yards and start it at 167th. This is similar to what the MTA does after Yankee Games at the stadium.

Another alternative would be to send a limited number of 5 trains down the 7th Avenue line, creating more space for the 4.

I don't think sending some 's down 7th Ave doesn't solve anything. When those 7th Ave bound 's from the Bronx stops @ 149th/GC, people are going to get off to take the . Making it more pack causing even bigger delays.

Maybe the MTA should have the and have it operate like the / format. Just a thought. The reason why the 's, 's and 's are in the same situation these lines share tracks Brooklyn. I'm pretty sure this On-Time performance study includes both NB and SB services. Just look at the tracks map on nycsubway.org.

Skip-stop service doesn't work on the IRT. Remember the /. Skip-stop Service works better on the IND/BMT like: / back in the 90's and / now.

The Jerome Avenue express would skip too many important stops (like Fordham).

The reason for the delays of the IRT is probably this-
More people use the lines.
The cars are narrower, so less people can fit.

WHICH LEADS TO...
Door holding
Increased dwell times
Delays

This is a good solution. It'll give the Lexington Avenue portion an emptier 4 train and separate the crowds in the Bronx and Manhattan.

I was referring to R7's idea, not skip stop

Not if it's done correctly. You have / format service, starting 4 locals at Burnside and 4 Expresses at Woodlawn. The Express makes all stops to Burnside then 149 and 125. This way people in the North Bx get a quicker ride and S. Bronx people have a chance to get a seat. Starting trains at 161 would back up the line. I remember when I was about 7 one of the PM 4's was always a <4>. Saved a lot of time getting home from school. The 4 might not have many stops but it's screaming for BX exp service to speed things up.

The main problem I often deal with is that the Bx service is erratic. 2 weeks ago I missed the train at KB, 7 minutes later a train comes and skips the stop, running express to Burnside. Another 6 minutes later a 4 shows up and it was beyond full. Then the train crawled all the way to GC. I would have done better taking the Bxm3 or MNRR.

I agree on all points in this message. It would be nice for Bronx local riders south of Burnside to get a seat.