(The following article by Michael Turnbell was posted on the Sun Sentinel website on July 15.)
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — CSX Transportation apologized to Tri-Rail riders Thursday for problems that have led to horrendous delays in recent weeks.
The Jacksonville-based company said it would hire a consultant to improve Tri-Rail’s on-time record by reviewing commuter and freight operations and an ongoing $334 million project to build a second track.
In the short term, CSXT says it is examining dispatching procedures to limit commuter delays.
In some cases freight trains have rolled down the tracks at rush hour — a violation of an agreement that is supposed to give commuters priority on the 72-mile track between Mangonia Park and Miami.
“CSXT sincerely regrets the most recent delays to Florida Tri-Rail passengers,” said vice president John Gibson. “We are constantly challenged by the difficult balance of serving both the Tri-Rail riders as well as our freight customers. … Clearly we are not satisfied with our performance.”
Passengers received copies of Gibson’s statement and a letter from South Florida Regional Transportation Authority executive director Joseph Giulietti on Thursday night.
About 12,000 riders were affected by delays Wednesday and Thursday.
“While I know many of you are becoming numb to these letters of apology, I am appreciative of the responsibility taken by CSX Transportation,” Giulietti said.
One day this week, Mark Goggin left his Tamarac home at 6:20 a.m. to get to the Cypress Creek station to catch a 6:45 a.m. northbound train. It didn’t show up until 7:30 a.m. He didn’t arrive in West Palm Beach until 8:20 a.m., nearly an hour late.
“I would’ve been there by 7:20 if I drove,” he said.
Goggin said passengers don’t know what to believe. “You hear one thing on the trains and you call Tri-Rail and you hear another. They never have their stories right.”
For the first 13 days this month, 33 percent of Tri-Rail trains have run on time, while ridership has plummeted 14 percent compared with the same period a year ago. Ridership was down 9.1 percent last month compared with June 2004, one of the most significant dips in riders since the Sept. 11 attacks.
“Both [Wednesday and Thursday], you endured two more days of unacceptable commutes,” Giulietti said. “With current delays averaging more than 40 minutes, frustrations are high on all ends.”
The second track work should be completed in March, allowing Tri-Rail to double the number of weekday trains and provide rush-hour service every 20 minutes.