JUST AS THE MBTA’S COMMUTER RAIL operator is starting to get a handle on its shortage of working locomotives, the company is facing a mysterious problem with the wheels on its passenger coaches.
Since March 9, Keolis Commuter Services has been unable to meet daily requirements for passenger coach availability, racking up fines in the process. Keolis officials say the wheels on the coaches are the primary culprit; the wheels have been plagued with nicks and hairline fractures that are not dangerous but have to repaired before they worsen and become a safety problem.
Keolis was required to have 362 coaches available for daily service through March 31, and then 366 coaches after that. The commuter rail operator hasn’t met the target since March 9, with coach availability falling to a low of 331 on March 20 before recovering to about 350 more recently. By contrast, Keolis met the passenger coach target every day but one between Jan. 1 and March 9.
David Scorey, the general manager of Keolis, told the Fiscal and Management Control Board on Monday that the nicks and hairline fractures on the wheels are not unusual, but he’s seen nothing like what’s happened since mid-March. He estimates 70 coaches were identified with the problem over a two-to-three week period. “We’re trying to figure out why so many in such a short time,” he said.
Scorey speculated that there could be some defect in the metal or that the braking systems being used on the trains could be placing unusual stress on the wheels. He said a technical specialist has been hired to determine the cause.
While Keolis struggles with its passenger coaches, the company appears to be getting a handle on its locomotive shortage. The company met its requirement to have at least 67 locomotives available on Tuesday through Friday last week, a big improvement over past performance. Keolis and T officials reported on a series of initiatives designed to boost the availability of locomotives by overhauling older engines and repairing defects on 40 newer trains in the fleet.
As temperatures begin to rise, T officials said one other problem has surfaced. The air conditioning units on 45 recently overhauled coaches require modifications. The officials said the repairs are under warranty.
Hopefully the T’s new technical specialist will be attending the Wheel-Rail Interaction Conference in Montreal in June. Wheel-rail interaction is of worldwide interest: a few weeks ago, an Italian train derailed for mysterious reasons in the throat of the railway station of Luzern, Switzerland, closing down the whole station (except for the narrow-gauge tracks) for several days.
That’s a really good idea. I wouldn’t limit it to just the MBTA’s new technical specialists though. I looked up who already registered and Keolis signed up three people. Other attendees are engineers, investigators, manager and other involved in rail maintenance, track engineers, etc. The conference is relatively easy to get to and is timely. Almost everywhere I worked signed staff up for conferences. If the right group of people attend then the conference will be worth it.