Thursday, May 26, 2011

RIOC Explains Causes For Roosevelt Island Tram Service Disruption Earlier This Week - Problem With Communication Antenna and Entrance Sensor Now Fixed

Image of Tram Workers Fixing Communications System

Reported earlier this week on Roosevelt Island Tram service interruptions. The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) provides the following explanation:
There were two separate and unrelated events which occurred this week resulting in an interruption in Tram service.

On Monday, May 23rd at approximately 3:48 PM, the North Cabin lost communication with its WIFI antenna causing the cabin to pause between towers 2 and 3. The WIFI antenna is a wireless communication link that Tram operators use to send and receive information from the control room to the cabins. The connectors to the WIFI antenna, located on top of tower 3, became loose due to occasional vibration of the towers caused by high winds from the recent severe weather. The issue was resolved by 6:48 PM and rush hour service was resumed.

The second event occurred on the morning of Tuesday, May 24th at 7:38 AM. The South Cabin experienced problems with the Entrance Sensor on the Manhattan side station. The Entrance Sensor pinpoints the cabins location as it enters and departs from each Tram Plaza station and guides the Tram staff to operate the cabin at the appropriate speed for safe docking. A faulty wire connection to the Entrance Sensor caused the circuit breaker to trip in the electrical panel. The problem was addressed and service was resumed at 10:00 AM.

It is important for our Tram personnel to take the necessary precautions to remedy any issue related to the Tram and its service in order to ensure the safety of our passengers and proper operation of the Tram.
Image of Tram Workers Fixing Communications System

9 comments :

Gregor said...

The wind, weather, and shaking as the tram passes over the towers, is never going to end. This is a (practically) brand-new system but its sophisticated electronic components cannot stand up to shaking caused by the weather or passing over the towers. The manufacturer should be sued for not making the tram rugged enough to withstand the weather or the trips back and forth wherein the cabins shake in passing over the towers. POMA did a poor job of designing and building the new tram if it cannot stand up to the weather or the effects of traversing the tower tracks. If RIOC doesn't sue them, then the taxpayers, whose moneys paid for this boondoggle, should.

Anonymous said...

Gregor, the antenna on top of the tower did not become lose because of the cabin traversing the tower. It was the wind that did that. So, yes, you can blame the weather for a lost antenna. It happens.

Gregor said...

Maybe it's happened once too often. If an antenna can come lose due to wind, who knows what else is going to come lose or fall apart next time, especially because of the constant shaking back and forth as the tram cabins traverse the towers.

For all their glitz, the tram has to stand up to constant use and constant wind. If it wasn't designed or put together to withstand these conditions - just as subway cars which cost millions of dollars each can stand up to years of constant wear and tear - then we shouldn't have to pay for it. Tax-payers: Let's sue POMA and get our money back.

JPH said...

Sue POMA for what? What's your evidence that the trams won't stand up to many years of constant use?

Anonymous said...

The neat thing about the new tram is that if something fails it will not run. Over time everything will be worked out just fine. And since both cabins are decoupled the outage of one cabin doesn't grind the entire tramway to a halt.

Gregor said...

JPH: The tram is not exactly as promised. POMA still cannot remedy or explain the jarring of the tram as it passes over the towers. Even the old tram didn't do that. So the new tram is far from perfect.

As with any contract, if the product received is not as promised, the buyer has grounds for a lawsuit to recover the money paid (at least). If RIOC doesn't sue POMA, then the people that financed the deal - the taxpayers - should sue.

A lot of money was forked over to POMA, money that could very usefully be used in our state, to keep teachers employed and other vital services going.

Anonymous: Yes, I guess that's supposed to reassure us that systems are in place to prevent the tram from failing whilst it is en route. That is just great - and if the systems fail and do not stop the tram in time, then what? OTOH, I agree that having 2 decoupled trams is a plus since service can be continued in the event of a malfunction of one cabin.

Anonymous said...

Did you just move here Gregor? "Taxpayers who paid for the Tram sue Poma?" You must be out of your mind.

I, like a lot of my neighbors, ride the Tram 5 days a week. This Tram is better than the old one & that one lasted 30+ years. Small kinks are still being tweeked. From what I heard, RIOC has not even paid Poma the final balance yet. RELAX. The Tram is fine. If you don't think so, don't ride it.

Rachel said...

This is true--I have been on the Tram--but I agree with the above post--it's not as bad as it used to be. Yes we need to demand that our needs are always met, but it is getting so much better than before! It's like my iphone repair service new york ny, you just have to hope that it gets better. And it will. Of course it sways back and forth--its suspended in mid-air! It just doesn't make sense to me--it's not like people are not working on it--they are!

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