Thirdrail7
Engineer
- Joined
- Jul 9, 2014
- Messages
- 4,542
It's not that hard to get keys made for the conductors.. They may even have keys already. I know that the hand crank wheel chair lifts that are locked up at many stations just use a basic switch key.Asking customers to Wait on the platform in the dead of winter is not good customer service, IMO.
Also, at WLY, the electric wheelchair lifts in the stairways to the tunnel are keyed, and powered on and operated by the station agent. This might be an issue unless the state of Rhode Island (who owns the building) pays someone to open/close the station, and clean and maintain the waiting area and bathrooms, which is what the Amtrak agent does, much the same as the situation at Kingston, RI (KIN).
It doesn't really make sense at WLY, and it's not as simple as "getting keys made."
With a ticket agent there, passengers with disabilities or impairments can check in prior to departure, the station agent monitors the train status and assists the passenger at the appropriate time, arriving train side before the train approaches, wheelchair (crank) lift in position and ready to board the passenger. No delay incurred to trains.
But conductors would need to leave their train (because, of course, you cannot actually see anyone waiting at the station side tunnel entrance while your train is blocking view), walk down the stairs into the tunnel, through the tunnel, up the stairs to the station side, to check to see if someone is boarding with a wheelchair. If this is the case, the conductor would need to operate the electric wheelchair lifts on either staircase, unlock and move the manually wheelchair lift train-side, board the passenger, then return and re-secure the lift. Not exactly the same situation
WLY has an average of 11 passengers per train. Additionally, the station is only open long to serve 4 of the scheduled 10 trains the stop on weekdays and none on the weekdays. Clearly, the majority of the passengers were not partaking in the services anyway. As for the conductor and wheelchair assistance, it is no different than most of the unstaffed stations throughout the nation.
Technology is being embraced. It is not like it was twenty years ago when you just had to show up to the station and mill around that platform while looking down the tracks, not knowing if the train was on time. With train trackers, apps and various websites, you can pretty know when to hit the platform. Besides, the train crews on the line are quite decent. They always come to a stop and look to the parking lot to see if someone emerges from a car.
Perhaps an arrangement is in the works for a caretaker.
As for BBY, there is a major station within walking distance.
It is a sign of the times and I'm honestly shocked these stations lasted as long as they did.
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