Dan- in your view is this the biggest remaining bottleneck to overcome before an opening date is provided? Are multiple classes of drivers not able to train simultaneously? Thx
I'll answer your second question as it is somewhat more straightforward: not really, but kinda.
There are only enough trainers to allow for one set of classes to be taught simultaneously (a morning class and an afternoon class). However, a substantial portion of the training is simply operating the equipment in the environment in which it is designed to be operated (i.e. on the line, in "service") and for much of that training I don't think that they don't need the trainers to be on every single train, just out and about to intercept any train that may be having issues.. As this is what the second class is missing, it seems as if they are planning to offer this part of the training to them as part of the revenue service demonstration period. (There is some other training that they need still, particularly off of the equipment at track level - this is also to be done at that time.)
As for your first question: to be honest, I don't know. I am not privy to the level of details that cover the handover from constructor to owner (or operator), and so I don't know what kind of targets need to be met, or what kind of process needs to be followed. But certainly as a layperson, you can see some things that indicate how close (or far) they are from being ready to open the system. For instance:
- appliances and equipment still be installed in stations
- temporary floor coverings still in place
- equipment laying around in what-would-be public areas
- panels missing within what-would-be public areas
- signage incomplete
- exterior hardscaping incomplete
All of these are among the last things done prior to opening. If one or more of these are present, than you can safely assume that there is more work going on than meets the eye, and that the line is still some ways away from being ready to use. And most, if not all of these are visible on the various locations of the Crosstown.
Dan
