![]() ![]() On transit, empty space is viewed as waste while on our roads no congestion is a holy grail. An analogy for motorists is that a highway totally jammed with cars does not move traffic at all well, and some empty space is necessary to ensure the road is usable. Service standards that allow for some empty space on vehicles are important because they guarantee some flexibility to absorb small problems without service collapsing. The phrase “adjusting service to meet demand” goes back over four decades. This is not the first time the system encountered that problem, and tuning out surplus capacity has been a generic issue across the network any time budget “efficiency” takes precedence over service. One side effect of the overall reduction in service on streetcar lines to a 10 minute level on many routes is that there is no spare capacity when delays occur, and wider headways make the effect on riders of any missing vehicle (either not in service or short-turned) greater. These are normal and have to be managed to the degree possible. There are, of course, ad hoc situations where accidents, short-term construction or special events produce conditions that are not “standard”. Lack of headway management for vehicles re-entering service from a short turn to “split” a gap rather than simply running behind a through vehicle and carrying few passengers.Lack of headway discipline at terminals and along routes.Too long times lead to extended layovers at terminals.Too short times lead to short turns to keep operators on time especially for crew changes. ![]() This may sound like an odd pairing, but both can produce erratic service.
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