The New Old Gardens Curve Is Now Open

Metropolis, BR March 13th 2014

A 56 Trolley enters Old Garden Stn at 20 MPH, double the speed of the old curve. 

After two crippling weekend closures of the Trees Avenue Elevated, the new Old Gardens Curve is finally open to trolleys. The 7, 16 & 56 have been impacted greatly by the amount of construction and reroutes trolley had to face the past few weekends but it's not over yet! More construction is set this weekend to add a solid support and remove the remains of the old curve. This construction will once again divert Route 56 over Central Avenue and the 7 trolley to Waves Loop but the kicker this time is Route 16 service will run to Waves - Bl of Bays instead of Parkside Loop. The past two weekends, conflicts has arisen abot the 16 & 5 sharing the underground loop. The station can only hold one trolley at a time due to how small the platform and signal block before it is.

The new curve as seen from the parking lot of Central Stn.

 The new curve is larger, nicer, easier to maintain and now letting trolley pass a double the speed then before. The old curve was built in a S formation due to Eastwick Avenue's dramatic change in width before Trees Avenue. This meant all trolley has to slow down to 10 MPH to clear the curve with almost no space for trolleys to swing without dangling dangerously over the intersection. The new curve is a much more opened J formation allowing a wider base to turn at faster speeds. Trolley can now swing around at 20 MPH and quickly jump to 27 MPH between the Old Gardens Curve and the Central Ave Curve & Interlocking. While time impact is only reduced 1 minute it still play a vital part in making the trolleys in Metropolis run better and faster.

Faster trolleys mean less of a wait. 

Ridership Boom May Bring 8-Car Trains and more to the 65

Metropolis, BR. April 16th 2014

Some 65 Elevated stations have space for 8 car trains.

The 65 Elevated Railway line is a short but busy reminder that Metropolis is a busheling city that needs to transport people around. The train tackles the core of the Midtown and Downtown districts of Metropolis Island as well a being a vital link for Boga Island residents who have to transfer at Blue Beach from 26 trains. Recently, ridership number have been soaring. So much so, the Night Bat shuttle buses that replaces service at night runs two articulated or "bendy" buses back to back to transport the night club crowds. The city is making a proposal to Metropolis Transit to run 8 car trains at all times, and even considering overnight "Bat" service. 

65 Train as seen from the Consedux Bridge. 

The 65 currently runs 6 cars like most Metropolis Elevated Railway trains but unlike the other lines, even the much longer and far reaching 47 Line, the 65 is becoming crowed. Many passengers let the train go during rush hour or take the 43 or 61 trolleys to avoid the crowed rush hour trains. The problem is a few of the station including the major Isle Glass Tower station in the Downtown Loop do not have long enough platforms to hold 8 car train citing the 6 car limit on all lines. Metropolis Transit says if they are properly funded they will be happy to make the necessary changes to make the 65 an 8 car Line. The city of Metropolis agrees, while they are in talks with the state Treasury department to secure funding for upgrades.

Overnight Busing may come to an end. 

Another push for the 65 is the extension of overnight rail service instead of busing the line every night. This comes as ridership on Night Bat buses skyrocketed when a new condo complex along Waves Avenue opened. The night club scene in Metropolis is also ever expanding especially in Midtown. The 65 recently has been using 6 cars at all times to hold ridership. TWU269 and Metropolis Transit will meet about it in the coming days. For one thing though, overnight service on the 65 is more possible the 8 car service since it boils down to union talks at that point.