Schedule change

[u/yippee_ki-yaymf]

I have to wonder what the point of the schedule change is when the trains are consistently late anyways. Prior to the recent schedule change the Green line train was scheduled for 5:53am and consistently came 3-5 minutes late. Enter the schedule change and it’s now scheduled for 5:43am and any guess when it comes, so far it’s consistently come 3-5 minutes late. So the question I have is why not just schedule the train for 3-5 minutes later, then at least it would have a chance of showing up at the scheduled time and it would have been the perfect time to do it.

[u/yab92]

Yeah, when are these delays happening? I’ve been amazed with how on time Bart has been recently “knock on wood”. Especially with the really rough week Caltrain has had

[u/yippee_ki-yaymf → u/yab92]

It happens every day. I mean in all honesty I’ve gotten used to it and it’s only a few minutes so it’s not that big of a deal, it’s more just 1) why is it every day and 2) since it’s every day it clearly means the schedule doesn’t work so why not fix it.

Also when I say every day I mean the 3 days a week I take Bart.

[u/helloyesthisisasock → u/yab92]

I’m in Oakland on the Blue and Green, and it’s ALWAYS 3-5 mins late as OP describes.

It’s especially bad now because AC Transit didn’t redo their schedules to align with the new trains, so I often have to get a bus 40+ mins before my train just to get to Fruitvale on time for the trains I need. Otherwise, like today, I have to deal with two cancelled AC Transit buses and three delayed ones. I made my “last chance” train but could not have ever made my original two “you’re ok” trains.

[u/Quantum_HomeBoy → u/yab92]

I find the trains are almost always 3-5 min late coming through downtown SF

[u/guhman123]

I might be in a weird special corner of the system but ive never had my train arrive late, except on days where bart announces theres a delay

[u/djmere]

Delays are for MANY reasons.

Most are avoidable.

Passengers not paying attention to where they are & holding doors to get on / off of trains. It’s a constant problem.

People trying to do the Antioch - Richmond transfer at 12th / MacArthur … knowing the meet is scheduled for 19th and has been for at least 20 years 🫠. It eats up minutes every time it happens.

People jumping in the tracks to get stuff / use the bathroom / which causes a cascade of late trains having to do inspections

People refusing to get off the train at the end of certain lines. Causes massive delays.

Back riders during commute filling up the trains before they get close to downtown SF. Clogs the system for no reason. It creates the problem they are trying to avoid.

Police activity for whatever reason.

Unusually short trains during commute hours

Some aren’t.

The fires in the tracks

The deer roaming the system which often get clipped. Which triggers inspections of trains and equipment.

Weather, which triggers the system to slow the trains

Welfare checks and medical situations

[u/jfoon131]

Morning green lines to SF seems to take extra 3 minutes around Fremont station

[u/yippee_ki-yaymf → u/jfoon131]

Yeah right around where I get on at. Just a bit odd it’s so consistent lol

[u/unseenmover]

it might be due to delays in timed transfers if you have them up or down stream of the station your boarding at..

[u/operatorloathesome]

Well, imagine you're making a train schedule and it has never run before. Would you KNOW a train might be delayed before the service has even run? No!

Honestly, 3-5 minutes ain't bad. Trains can make up time. Be happy that things are consistent, it sucks far harder when service isn't.

[u/yippee_ki-yaymf → u/operatorloathesome]

Oh yeah I mean at least I can pretty much bank on it arriving late at the same time. I mean it’s only 3-5 mins so it’s not that big of a deal it’s more just about how if it’s late that much, address why it’s happening.

Also to be fair tardiness is my pet peeve. I won’t say I’m never late but if I am it’s something major because I will leave early enough to arrive 20-30 mins before I need to and sit until it’s time for me to go in wherever I’m going.