They finally opened on Tuesday. Anybody been on them yet?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/25/AR2010012502837.html?hpid=moreheadlines


It's gotta be alot better than those stupid people-mover things. But I'm surprised the trains won't take you to Concourse D, which is where alot of United flights arrive and depart from. You'll still be stuck using the people-mover things. That's sorta ridiculous.

Anyway, just wondering if anybody has experienced the new system yet.

Haven't been on it, but what I really want to see is the extension of Metro to Dulles, which the article says is coming in 2016.

Infrequent Flyer Wrote:
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> Haven't been on it, but what I really want to see
> is the extension of Metro to Dulles, which the
> article says is coming in 2016.


Maybe Not. Remember, it's not over until it's UNDER.

Infrequent Flyer Wrote:
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> Haven't been on it, but what I really want to see
> is the extension of Metro to Dulles, which the
> article says is coming in 2016.


There's too damn many people using Metro now. Imagine what will happen when they add the Dulles line. Ugh!

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http://bible.cc/1_corinthians/13-11.htm

WashingTone-Locian Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Infrequent Flyer Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Haven't been on it, but what I really want to
> see
> > is the extension of Metro to Dulles, which the
> > article says is coming in 2016.
>
>
> There's too damn many people using Metro now.
> Imagine what will happen when they add the Dulles
> line. Ugh!

Don't worry, we are already beginning to see Metro phasing in it's final solution to thin out the herd.

safe rider Wrote:
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> Don't worry, we are already beginning to see Metro
> phasing in it's final solution to thin out the
> herd.


I thought that was just their retirement plan.

TheMeeper Wrote:
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> It's gotta be alot better than those stupid
> people-mover things. But I'm surprised the trains
> won't take you to Concourse D, which is where alot
> of United flights arrive and depart from. You'll
> still be stuck using the people-mover things.
> That's sorta ridiculous.

That was my general thought, too, but at least the C&D concourses are connected if you do not mind walking. I fly out of Dulles at least once a week, usually on United, so these are a great addition.

If the designers took time to integrate ideas from airports like Atlanta and Pittsburgh this should be a pretty nice system. If the model was Metro...well, all bets are off.

Lydia250 Wrote:
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> I fly out of Dulles at least once a
> week.

For business or swinging?

I've walked from one end of C concourse to the other end of D- that terminal is seriously close to a mile long! I don't mind walking, but hropefully the train drops you off in a place that is convenient for the D side.

Now all they need are trains that go all the way out to the economy lots and I'll consider Dulles a pretty good airport.

Lydia250 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> That was my general thought, too, but at least the
> C&D concourses are connected if you do not mind
> walking. I fly out of Dulles at least once a
> week, usually on United, so these are a great
> addition.
>
> If the designers took time to integrate ideas from
> airports like Atlanta and Pittsburgh this should
> be a pretty nice system. If the model was
> Metro...well, all bets are off.

It's not operated by Metro, is it?

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13 4826 0948 82695 25847. Yes.

MrMephisto Wrote:
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> It's not operated by Metro, is it?

No, it's operated by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority

WHEW.

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13 4826 0948 82695 25847. Yes.

TheMeeper Wrote:
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> Now all they need are trains that go all the way
> out to the economy lots and I'll consider Dulles a
> pretty good airport.
>

The only good things about Dulles are the number of flights out of there that are direct and the amount of parking spaces available. Other than that, it sucks serious ass.

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http://bible.cc/1_corinthians/13-11.htm

MrMephisto Wrote:
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> WHEW.


Yeah, flying is a calculated risk as it is, but do you really want to double down on a Metro operated train while getting to your "deathbird" flight?

__________________________________
That's not a ladybug, that's a cannapiller.

WashingTone-Locian Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> TheMeeper Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
>
> > Now all they need are trains that go all the
> way
> > out to the economy lots and I'll consider Dulles
> a
> > pretty good airport.
> >
>
> The only good things about Dulles are the number
> of flights out of there that are direct and the
> amount of parking spaces available. Other than
> that, it sucks serious ass.

Up until about 6 months ago, I was flying somewhere for business every 3-4 weeks. Dulles was a fucking hell-hole. Security lines were bad, the rat maze you had to navigate to get out of the airport, the people movers, etc., made it very unpleasant.

I reached a point that, even though I live closer to Dulles than National (even with a connection), I'd take a flight out of National over Dulles unless one of the following conditions existed:

1) The flight was international and not available at National (ie., Heathrow or Tokyo).
2) The flight out of DCA involved a connection of more than 2.0 hours.
3) The flight at IAD was on a widebody aircraft and I'd basically be guaranteed an upgrade with my FF status (mid level elite v. uber elite).

ITRADE Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

>
> Up until about 6 months ago, I was flying
> somewhere for business every 3-4 weeks. Dulles
> was a fucking hell-hole. Security lines were bad,
> the rat maze you had to navigate to get out of the
> airport, the people movers, etc., made it very
> unpleasant.
>
> I reached a point that, even though I live closer
> to Dulles than National (even with a connection),
> I'd take a flight out of National over Dulles
> unless one of the following conditions existed:
>
> 1) The flight was international and not available
> at National (ie., Heathrow or Tokyo).
> 2) The flight out of DCA involved a connection of
> more than 2.0 hours.
> 3) The flight at IAD was on a widebody aircraft
> and I'd basically be guaranteed an upgrade with my
> FF status (mid level elite v. uber elite).

Fortunately I don't travel as much as I used to and when I do it's usually Philly, NY or somewhere I can drive or take a train to. The few times a year I do have to fly, I can tolerate Dulles. But I sure the fuck wouldn't want to deal with that bullshit on a monthly or weekly basis.

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http://bible.cc/1_corinthians/13-11.htm

And just think, they're building a fifth runway at Dulles. When it opens, they'll be able to accomodate three simultaneous takeoffs or landings. The place will be even more crowded.

TheMeeper Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> And just think, they're building a fifth runway at
> Dulles. When it opens, they'll be able to
> accomodate three simultaneous takeoffs or
> landings. The place will be even more crowded.


Yes, it is an important historic site and architecturally speaking it is one of a kind. But, man, that place was NOT designed for the modern era of air travel. It really was impractical within a decade of its dedication and has progressively gotten worse over the years.

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http://bible.cc/1_corinthians/13-11.htm

Why is everyone excited by Metro coming to Dullas when the raise the price of riding? They are Millions over budget and not safe for the workers

---------------------------------------------------
W.W.S.D. what would Scooby Doo



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/28/2010 03:28PM by graymoose1.

graymoose1 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> Why is everyone excited by Metro coming to Dullas
> when the raise the price of riding?


They aren't raising fares to pay for the extension. I also think it will be great to take metro to IAD. It's sorta ridiculous that a busy airport in a big metropolitan area isn't connected to the subway system.

ff Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Lydia250 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I fly out of Dulles at least once a
> > week.
>
> For business or swinging?


Someone is paying attention ;)

Business, although I have met new "friends" at the Red Carpet Club over the years. As a 1K Mileage Plus member - largely due to regular trips to Sydney, London and Buenos Aries - I also have access to lounges at several international airports which offer a good deal of privacy.

Future headline: "Metro Train Strikes Airplane After Brake Failure"

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13 4826 0948 82695 25847. Yes.

lol

---------------------------------------------------
W.W.S.D. what would Scooby Doo

Will be interesting to see which set of pigs rules the roost there once the Metro extension gets to Dulles. Really what do either of them do to prevent crime. Dulles cops write tickets for no blinkers out on the access road by Tysons and the Metro cops just had another year of increased crime on the rails.

I might profit from this aggregation and open a donut shop on the future IAD Metro platform. Safe and piling up the revenue.

Heh. The Aerotrain was only running for 2 days before it had to shut down. It was out of service for 40 minutes yesterday.

http://www.news8.net/news/stories/0110/700924.html

It's a good thing they still have those people-movers sittin around. I wonder if they'll keep a few on hand, just in case. I can imagine what a nightmare it will be if the train ever has a serious malfunction.

TheMeeper Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Heh. The Aerotrain was only running for 2 days
> before it had to shut down. It was out of service
> for 40 minutes yesterday.
>
> http://www.news8.net/news/stories/0110/700924.html
>
>
> It's a good thing they still have those
> people-movers sittin around. I wonder if they'll
> keep a few on hand, just in case. I can imagine
> what a nightmare it will be if the train ever has
> a serious malfunction.


Half of the people movers will be kept in service to transport people to the D concourse which isn't serviced by the train.

TheMeeper Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Heh. The Aerotrain was only running for 2 days
> before it had to shut down. It was out of service
> for 40 minutes yesterday.
>
> http://www.news8.net/news/stories/0110/700924.html
>
>
> It's a good thing they still have those
> people-movers sittin around. I wonder if they'll
> keep a few on hand, just in case. I can imagine
> what a nightmare it will be if the train ever has
> a serious malfunction.

To test the thing they had to run it for something like 30-days straight, 24-hours straight, without a snag before they could open it to the public. Talk about Murphy's Law. Doesn't matter how much you prepare, some kind of shit is always going to happen.

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http://bible.cc/1_corinthians/13-11.htm

A firefighter left a door open in the tunnel. Not exactly a malfunction...

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13 4826 0948 82695 25847. Yes.

MrMephisto Wrote:
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> A firefighter left a door open in the tunnel. Not
> exactly a malfunction...

Seriously. I shudder to think what would have happened if Metro built the Aerotrain. The train would probably run over the firefighter then find a way out of the door and through the concourses, flattening everyone in its path.

jhey Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> Seriously. I shudder to think what would have
> happened if Metro built the Aerotrain.


It would cost more to use it every year and at night and on weekends you'd have to wait half an hour for it. And everybody who worked there would immediately become rude and less competent.

What I can't believe is the fact that the aiport authority spent 1.3 billion for this short track system, but doesn't have any of the money to pay for their portion of the metro to Dulles ( even after 900 million in federal money and a special tysons and dulles corridor tax). Instead, they say they are going to have to raise the tolls twice or even maybe more and possibly still come up short).

jhey Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> MrMephisto Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > A firefighter left a door open in the tunnel.
> Not
> > exactly a malfunction...
>
> Seriously. I shudder to think what would have
> happened if Metro built the Aerotrain. The train
> would probably run over the firefighter then find
> a way out of the door and through the concourses,
> flattening everyone in its path.

It would have been like "Christine," but with a train.

--------------------------------------------------------------
13 4826 0948 82695 25847. Yes.

Everyone I know that flys a lot of business also prefers National much more than Dulles. I fly jet blue a lot to CA so I have to use Dulles.

unbeknownst to me, rode the Aerotrain on opening day and yesterday after the return flight. I used to work in a subway and can tell you that the brakes are awful jerky on that thing for such a new train, I foresee mechanical issues within 6 months. Also I had to go up and down several escalators to get to it. The only Airport more fucked than Dulles is Charles De gaulle in Paris. Reagan National is alot better.

MrMephisto Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> jhey Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > MrMephisto Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > A firefighter left a door open in the tunnel.
>
> > Not
> > > exactly a malfunction...
> >
> > Seriously. I shudder to think what would have
> > happened if Metro built the Aerotrain. The
> train
> > would probably run over the firefighter then
> find
> > a way out of the door and through the
> concourses,
> > flattening everyone in its path.
>
> It would have been like "Christine," but with a
> train.

I was thinking Thomas the Tank Engine having a roid fit.

i > u Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> safe rider Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
>
> > Don't worry, we are already beginning to see
> Metro
> > phasing in it's final solution to thin out the herd.
>
>
> I thought that was just their retirement plan.

"That didn't make me feel better about shooting a woman in the back."

Infrequent Flyer Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Haven't been on it, but what I really want to see
> is the extension of Metro to Dulles, which the
> article says is coming in 2016.

Given the speed those construction workers are moving on the toll road I can't believe the work will be done until 2387. I drive that road every day and I honestly can't see a difference from the way it looks now versus two months ago.

I mean, fuck, how long does it take to level out some ground and lay some tracks? Yeah, the part through Tysons will probably be a real bitch, but the toll road should be the easiest part, aside from where they will have to move the bridge supports because they are in the middle of where the tracks will be running.

Final Plan:
Attachments:

They are eventually running the train to Udvar Hazy? That has to be a joke.

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http://bible.cc/1_corinthians/13-11.htm

no its true

This train is d' bamb!

WashingTone-Locian Wrote:
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> They are eventually running the train to Udvar
> Hazy? That has to be a joke.


'running the train'

*giggle*

i like where your head is at Elle

I like where your gonads are, Strife.

I aim to please

We're lucky we men have that ability.

I've been on it a couple of times, i like how the tunnels are all lit up. Very Nice Ride.. Can't wait till it all opens up.

Mofo Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Everyone I know that flys a lot of business also
> prefers National much more than Dulles. I fly jet
> blue a lot to CA so I have to use Dulles.

I did too, until Dulles changed the security and the train.