June 22. 2009 13:34

To offset these changes it would be nice if Ace could finally get WIFI up and running.

rcarson@rohmsemiconductor.com

June 22. 2009 14:07

@rcarson

I know it has been a long time coming, but Wi-Fi will be back on the train very soon. We have reached an agreement with a vendor to provide service and I will have more details coming in the next couple weeks.

D'Andre Berry
Strategic Development & Communication Assistant
ACE

D'Andre

June 22. 2009 14:10

I don't think you need two bike cars as most of time there aren't enough bikes to fill all the racks. Also you are making it harder for people who can't climb the stairs unable to find seats downstairs!!

Sharon Dyson

June 22. 2009 14:14

Even though I'm not happy about shortening the trains during the summer, I understand the need and the intelligence of doing this. But ... you don't say when this program will end. I'd feel much better if you also stated that the cars would be returned when school started again in August. Otherwise the temptation for ACE is to leave the trains shortened, and we know what a fiasco that was a few years ago. And with gas prices going back up, there will be increased ridership on the train. Good for ACE but uncomfortable for us passengers if we are crammed too many in a car.

Diana

June 22. 2009 15:47

This may not be the right time to comment, but the new seats on the cars are horribly uncomfortable. My legs are constantly falling asleep as I can barely reach the ground with my feet! Put the old cars back on!

rachel debord

June 22. 2009 16:03

I agree with Sharon's comment. You could offset the removal of a car somewhat by only having one bike car to add extra seating. The racks are never filled - I have never seen more than 3 bikes on the train.

Justin

June 22. 2009 17:34

"Wi-Fi will be back on the train very soon"

Back? I think, in a year of riding the first car, I managed to connect once, for about two minutes.

If wifi is going to be only as good as before, don't bother.

Seriously -- the work shuttle I take has wifi. Why doesn't the train?

mewallis

June 22. 2009 19:55

@mewallis

The Wi-fi service that we have been working on is 100% different than what was previously done. Earlier this year we ran a Wi-fi evaluation and received some really good feedback. I understand your skepticism and encourage you to try the system when it is available.

D'AndreBerry

June 22. 2009 21:32

We actually DO need two bike racks. The racks come in different sizes and it is difficult trying and squeeze one in and out when one bike is in between two other bikes. It depends on what time of day you use the train but in the mornings and afternoons, the racks are almost full. Whoever gets to the seats "downstairs" i think its first come, first serve.
Also, the seats are not to lounge around. If you listen to the announcement when you get on the train, it says to have your things on your lap or on the floor...not in the seat next to you. It's called a seat so that it can be used for another person.

Jaz

June 25. 2009 00:49

First off, there is no room to so call keep things on your lap. I log around a huge briefcase and it is impossible to carry this in my lap for 2 hours. Also, most of us, drag these bags on the wheels. Now, we should soil our clothing, because there is no storage area? I cannot believe ACE is taking trains away. Gas is going up, eachtime I board the train, it is pretty full. Thanks ace for cramming us all in again and only thinking our urself. I do believe you raised our ticket prices, where does that money go?

Ashe Macellios

June 30. 2009 05:25

1. Most trains need two bike cars for at least one section of the route on most days. Admittedly, #1 might be able to get by with one, although that's dicey when we hit Fremont (especially Tuesday through Thursday). #3 and #5 are both full of bikes by the time it hits Great America. All the sets need two bike cars going home: one would be insufficient for #4 and #6 over the Altmont, and one would be insufficient for #8 to Fremont and oftentimes to Pleasanton. A good way to illustrate this is the days that we've been reduced to one bike car due to school groups: the remaining bike car fills up and the bicyclists are left scrambling for tie downs in other cars, including asking people to move at the flip-up seats with tie downs. Finally, the conductors keep tallies of the number of bikes, so if they think we need two bike cars, that probably is the case.

2. While the seats on the lower level of the bike cars can get completely filled, I've never seen all the seats on the lower level of one of the other cars filled. Admittedly, I don't spend a lot of time in other cars, but I try to ride there if I don't have my bike, and I have never had a problem finding a seat on the lower level.

3. On rare occasion there might be a need to put something other than a person on another seat, but most people who put their bags on the adjacent seats only do it out of convenience (or maybe deliberately so no one will sit next to them), there is no reason their bag wouldn't fit on the floor.

4. WiFi service was discontinued about 3-4 years ago because it was useless through the Altmont and Niles Canyon. The new service was supposed to correct that, but so far that promise has not borne out, which is the working with the vendor that D'Andre is talking about. I'm guessing that no one's company shuttle is running along Altmont Pass Road or CA-84 through Niles Canyon. If they are, have them call ACE and sell them the Internet service they use.

S Terry Brugger, PhD

June 30. 2009 07:42

@ Terry

Regarding the Wi-fi, we now have service on ACE 03/06 on the car next to the locomotive. Equipment was just installed Saturday and service started Monday. Feedback so far has been good. In fact I am posting this while riding ACE 03. I encourage you to try it out and let me know what you think.

D'AndreBerry

June 30. 2009 14:26

Keeping 2 bike cars makes sense.
If you have ridden the train for a few years, you know that numbers of bikes increases with the warmer weather and the longer days....

KG

July 9. 2009 15:32

I hate the short trains. The seats are already so uncomfortable, add to that that now we are packed in like sardines and you have the makings of a very long nasty commute. The seats are so high that only my tip toes touch the floor (and I'm average height). This puts an extreme amount of pressure on the back of the legs. My feet swell and my legs ache by the end of the commute. Now with the train being so crowded you can’t even move around you're stuck in one position for the whole trip. As far as holding your things on your lap...please. Can you image a two hour plus commute, crammed in a seat, no circulation in your legs, and, having to hold your bags on your lap. It makes for a very unpleasant, unhealthy commute.

lisa

August 31. 2009 10:49

We are now approaching September, when will the 5 car trains return to 6 car trains? I agree with the some other posters here - The train is packed when I get on in Livermore in the mornings and I cannot find a seat. The train does not allow for the space needed for passengers to keep their belongings on the floor or in their laps. Have you seen the amount of belongings people take on the train with them? To ask passengers to hold onto their belongings for 1-2 hours is unreasonable. I ride every day, buy a monthly pass, and the lack of seating in the mornings make me seriously consider driving instead!

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