Crowds Force METRORail To Cut Service (Houston)

Click2Houston - KPRC Television ^ | January 30, 2004 | KPRC Television

[hummingbird]

Hey, we ain't hillbillies!

We're hicks!

...what you said, Flyer! And proud hicks, at that! <8^)

[hummingbird]

Great work!

[VOA]

Even at street level is is prone to shutdowns with minor flooding. It hasn't happened yet,
but it's only been running for a month.

Wonder if the mass-trans experts in Houston ever visited Chicago?
(re: elevated rail)

But...it sure would be interesting to build the current rail cars with water-tight doors
and have the first submarine-lightrail system! Now that would give you mass-trans
with the appeal of an amusement-park ride.

[DeepDish]

Looks like they need a cow plow on taht train.

[humblegunner]

Thank you both!

You'd think that some smart city newspapers would occasionally print submitted work like yours on their editorial page.

You'd think so- but not in Houston. The Houston Comical has a policy
prohibiting opinions other than their own, and guess what flavor those are.

They love the freakin' train.

[humblegunner]

Hey, we ain't hillbillies!

We're hicks!

Don't fergit us rednecks or we'll kick yer a$$!

[DFW_Repub]

Hey, we ain't hillbillies!

We're hicks!


I agree, I have always noticed that the Houston area gene pool had something to be desired. At least the latino influx will help to diversify it.

[DFW_Repub]

Don't fergit us rednecks or we'll kick yer a$$!

That's right they will, right after them and their sister have a cigarette and shower up.

[humblegunner]

That's right they will, right after them and their sister have a cigarette and shower up.

How fortunate for you that you are spared this inbreeding problem,
as pigs and goats and sheep cannot sucessfully interbreed with humans.

But not for lack of trying, I'm sure.

[muawiyah]

"People were actually having to wait for the next train,"

Huh, guys ~ this happens with EVERY form of mass transit. It's all quite normal with light rail, heavy rail, subway, surface, trolly, or bus system!

People who regularly commute via any of these systems can tell you.

It would appear that few Freepers (leastwise not those on this thread) are aware of what really happens ~ that's my take on the various attempts to attribute crowding on mass transit systems to unbridled immigration.

Have you ever been on the Tokyo subway? There really aren't any appreciable numbers of immigrants crowding up that particular system. They had "pushers" to fill the cars!

Everyone's expectations for Houston's light rail system would seem to be misplaced.

The idea of just shutting down the system if the cars get crowded is absolutely incredible. Then there's this mention of the authority of the "officers" ~ visions of worker trains from SOWETO to JOBURG popped into my mind.

Looks to me like it's long overdue for "W" to send the Army into Houston to re-establish a Republican form of government, eh?!

[Flyer]

The idea of just shutting down the system if the cars get crowded

It was shut down not because of the full cars, but the drunk crowds on the streets.

They refurbished downtown to attract people and then ran a rail line right down the middle of where all these people are.

[hummingbird]

I agree, I have always noticed that the Houston area gene pool had something to be desired.

Oh, ouch...and the "sister" comment was very classy. Yes, indeedy, very classy. (And, you replied to the wrong post, I think. Oh, and I think you checked your sense of humor at the door.)

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

Jeez - what do you hillbillies do when you see a microwave oven or some other "modern convenience"?

I lived in New York for three years in the 60's, and the crap I saw on your trains will never be matched down here.

[Moonmad27]

The biggest irony is that the powers-that-be in Houston wanted this toy train to have it ready by the time Houston got the Superbowl in 2004, their big goal for at least 6 years. Here it is, Houston's big week - and the train can't handle the crowds. I moved to California in 1999, but my Houston property taxes still reflect the stupidity of the Houston high muckety-mucks. Every year I pay for a stadium for every sport known to man - and their latest unnecessary project like this train.

[muawiyah]

You still ought to get more train cars, eh?!

[TexasCajun]

It would appear that few Freepers (leastwise not those on this thread) are aware of what really happens ~ that's my take on the various attempts to attribute crowding on mass transit systems to unbridled immigration.

You are not from Houston or Texas. Once the Super-Bowl immigrants leave, I promise you, there will no longer be an over-crowding problem.

You can have my Chevy 4x4 pickup when you pry my cold, dead fingers from the stearing-wheel. (sorry Mr. Heston)

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

You still ought to get more train cars, eh?!

THEY ought to have none not more. I moved out of Houston 20 years ago when it became apparent that those who pay no taxes out numbered those who do at the polls.

[TexasCajun]

You still ought to get more train cars, eh?!

Longer trains would block vehicular and pedestrian cross-traffic. They all share the same road!

Maybe we can find you a job as Lee P. Brown's teaching assistant over at Rice?

[Kay Ludlow]

I must admit, as much as I hate the liberal environment, at least the underground subway system in Boston (the "T") seemed to work pretty well... except for the crowds that actually demonstrate that it works.

But is it self supporting? That would be the true test of whether it works well or not - if the riders are willing to pay the costs.

We have public buses in downtown/campus that look so crowded they must work great. They weren't crowded until the fare became FREE. When there was no cost associated many more people rode it. Of course, our taxes pay for that. The buses to the outlying areas are much less crowded, at $1.25 a ride...

[Rebelbase]

LMAO!