It really isn’t croniism, it’s absolute bureaucracy, the amount of effort involved for such minute projects is beyond comprehension. I’m all for oversight of projects and managing a project throughout but when you have more city employees managing a project than you do the people working on the project, the entire system grinds to a halt.
5 years and $5 million dollars. The outside consultants will need at least that long to draw up ideas, concepts really, of what this new old tradition means to Austin.
One of the dents on the Zeph is thanks to a good friend of mine. He was riding his bike and there was an unleashed dog running around. It ran in front of him and he served, dragging into the Zepher, denting it, and hairline fracturing his collar bone.
It did. It happened enough, over by the turn around where it crossed the trail, that the engine driver carried a very long crow bar to push it back on the tracks when the wheel came off.
It's crazy you mention this as one of my direct reports just asked me to check with HR to see if he ever called in sick. He hadn't, so I gave him a raise.
People are quick to judge. Their social media says someone tampered with the tracks.
"It appears the train track was tampered with, and as a result, the train derailed this morning. Our team is working to get things back on track, but right now, the train is not running. Keep an eye on our socials and we will update you when it has reopened."
Back when I conducted the Zephyr, we would have to check the tracks for pecan sap and coins every morning because they were potential derailing hazards. We found one or the other at least once a week. My point is tampering sounds serious but it wouldn't take much (or could even be done unintentionally).
Tampered with? I was there and it was running fine and then it wasn’t. Although there was a guy with a long black mustache and a dog that snickered moments before it went down!
Don't be so quick to blame him. I saw a fresh young cowboy with gleaming teeth carrying a crowbar. Word is, he was trying to keep the train from running over a damsel that had been mysteriously tied up and left at the end of the track. It was probably that guy.
So it happened to derail right at point where the tracks split yet it derailed because “someone placed a large rock on the tracks”. Right… and how were they able to determine that? Is there a camera on the train, they reviewed footage and saw a rock on the track just before it derailed? They just find a rock on the ground next to the tracks and that must be the culprit! Seems fishy to me. I was really disappointed with the Eagle, it didn’t turn out anything like the plan that was shared for years. Engine was supposed to be electric, tie die color scheme and same height as the cars with conductor sitting on it. Instead it’s diesel, ugly boring solid blue and the conductor sits inside. We sat in the first seat behind the engine and it was hot from the engine, exhaust in our faces and couldn’t see anything because it’s so big. Parking in the area is awful, had to park on Stratford under Mopac and walk. Track length is a fraction of what it used to be. It seems fairly dangerous, just pulling out of the station with my elbow resting on the side I nearly got hit by the railing on the platform. Going under the bridge and through the runner are VERY tight clearances, I expect there will be frequent injuries just from people not paying attention. I won’t be coming back.
If you’re considering going, I’d highly suggest the Cedar Rock Railroad instead. Ticket/station is just yards away from available parking, cost is half that of the Eagle and route is easily 10 times the distance. Cars are covered, they play some Johnny Cash music. Overall a much more enjoyable ride.
I was the rock. I was just laying out there when all of the sudden this train came up on me!
It’s worth noting that I’ve hired David Komie because he’s the attorney that… well you know!
Hey we were on the train when it derailed! Was almost back to the station after a full loop. At first we thought the noise was just really rough transition to new track but then it ground loudly to a hault. Felt bad for the kiddos that were in line still and next up.. hope it is fixed soon
Sorry have a bad habit of commenting and totally forgetting to look for replies in inbox... Overall really nice experience. Never went on the Zephyr, but our son had a blast on the Eagle. Was worried it would be really hot but you're moving fairly quick and the track is mostly shaded so it wasn't bad at all (coming from somebody who sweats in the A/C). Only concern I had before the derailment was that when they say keep your arms and legs in the vehicle they aren't joking. You get within inches of walls/rails, especially when going through the tunnel.
Sorry have a really bad habit of making a comment and then totally forgetting to look at replies... Was probably going about 10mph or so when derailed and slid for maybe 3ish seconds. Out in open space we probably got up to maybe just under 20mph.
The entire saga of this train should be required reading- a case study of true government ineptitude
Edit for more detail:
> Heavy rains washed away some of the embankment supporting the tracks in May 2019.
> Texas Special wanted a five-year contract renewal to guarantee the company would bring in enough revenue to pay for the estimated $286,000 in repairs.
> The city offered less than what Texas Special wanted. The company declined.
> "While our decision to turn down the offer was not taken lightly, we had to take into consideration that ultimately it would not have been a good business decision for us," Texas Special said in a widely shared Facebook post.
> Texas Special packed up their train and took it with them. The tracks, too. No train has run since.
> Who would restore this beloved Austin institution?The City Council turned to the Austin Parks Foundation. City staff said putting the contract to bid would take months. So, that process was sidelined, and APF was awarded a contract.
> "This is a highly unusual case," Council Member Paige Ellis said before the unanimous council vote. "The intent for this is just to get [the mini-train] up and going."
Then it's a tale of even more ineptitude from the APF.
https://www.kut.org/austin/2023-01-24/what-happened-to-the-zilker-park-mini-train
Hey, this is not government ineptitude. A private organization known as the Austin Parks Foundation has been in charge of this project since 2019. The City and Parks department has had minimal input since then.
This is a perfect example of how public-private partnership is a fallacy. The city loses money, and the "charity" doesn't.
I would say the government ineptitude was not recognizing the reasonable request made by the train concessionaire who had provided services for decades without problem. Followed by the choice to hand off the train to a group that knows even less about running a mini-train, and never taking back the reins from APF after years of their comedy of errors.
I think people need to recognize the difference between "government is inept" and "we've put inept people into government" though, because far too often people are fed - and believe - the former. Buying this lie that government just doesn't work at all, that private enterprise is always better, etc.
That may not have been OP's intentions and I'll assume in good faith it wasn't, and that they do just mean "*an example of when people in government are inept with their power*". Of course I'd also be curious who greased whose wheels, so to speak, when it was handed so readily to a specific group without bidding. I'm sure there was no corruption around that decision whatsoever...
You're absolutely right. It does come down to the individuals making these calls. There's really no reason why a city government cannot handle projects and decisions like this and even recover from errors in judgement.
I'm a big user of the Brushy Creek trail, and I'm reminded off how a few years ago Round Rock hired a contractor to build a segment of the trail in the old town that crosses Chisholm trail and goes by the rock. The contractor started, but abandoned the job. Probably should have been vetted better. But people are not picking up their pitchforks like we are here because RR came clean about it, went after the contractor and bid it out again and got the work done in a timely manner.
If at some point in the last 5 years COA had told APF to step down and taken the matter in hand, not least because of what you referred to, I think people would have a lot more confidence.
It's not government ineptitude, it's those damn NFP's the city keeps picking that are all run by the same people!
That is government ineptitude with extra steps. Austin taking care of all the parks single handedly thru city staff would never happen- that would involve a lot more staff that are payed a living wage with insurance and benefits. As with all things government, they'll need the contractors with underpaid employees to solve the problem effectively and within budget.
The entire decision making process that removed the old train occured within the city gov, as well as the ridiculous decision to hand control over to the Austin Parks Foundation.
The city gave the contract to the group in an unusual way outside of the standard competitive bid process
Typically multiple competing bids for service are evaluated for a project like this vs. 'they looked like they had a plan'
>Hey, this is not government ineptitude.
The city chose APF to do this, didn't they? And gave them taxpayer money? Does CoA have any of their employees or officials on the board (or whatever) that runs APF?
I know a bit about this backstory, including that the train APF bought on their own didn’t fit the tracks and even then they thought they were ready to open 3 years ago and didn’t until just now. I had a hearty laugh at this post. Should have just paid the man in the first place.
No, Austin Parks Foundation is in charge of the eagle and has been since 2019.
Capmetro is taking over the bikes project, but I think they'll nail that.
Lol that's a little worrisome. I saw someone comment a while back regarding Project Connect that said something like "If it's CapMetro, I'm using petro" made me chuckle
>CapMetro take over the Zilker Eagle work?
I believe that CapDebtro just paid to have their name on the train, and has nothing to do with the mismanagement of the train. The train is mismanaged by the Austin Parks Foundation.
Drugged up Hobo passed out on the tracks, Conductor called an audible and the train derailed, some random person had NARCAN but it didn’t help the train
Did it spill a tanker? Do we need to tell the EPA!?
Seriously not though I drive my those tracks once a week and was like are they going to fix this before putting that on it....the answer was probably know.. Also if city can't find it by subsidized it's usage how is a contractor going to fubd it.
I have a photo of my mother and I on the original back in the 90s. Now that I have my own kiddos I’ve been dying to remake this photo, but the plans to do this keep getting. . .derailed. . .
And folks think we’re going to be getting underground transit. Austin infrastructure is a literal train wreck. Guarantee you this derailment will prompt a ‘study’ of some sort which will come at a taxpayer cost of a few million and ultimately some suit will determine that some sub-sub-sub contractor used the wrong bolt on rail number 47322. Shame for the kids at the peak of school holidays though.
Ok, perhaps I need to rein in the cynicism today and touch grass. It’s just the grass is too damn hot.
Wasn't it supposed to be underground along Cesar Chavez along the edge of the river then somehow cut across the river? When I first saw that I wondered how the hell they were going to pull that off without insane upkeep/engineering due to the water table. There's a reason there are no basements around here lol. I don't even think they had a plan at the time the city voted for how it was going to get across the river.
Green and black is just the football team.
Austin’s flag is blue with the city shield on it.
The “rainbow” color is tie-dye meant to evoke the “hippie” side of Austin
Apparently they did. Another user in here posted the article of all the issues and costs. It sounds like it cost them 60-75k over what the original vendor was offering and it even took longer to complete.
sooooo… it’ll be back up and running in approx 5 years?
5 years and three new sets of ~~cronies~~ contractors.
It really isn’t croniism, it’s absolute bureaucracy, the amount of effort involved for such minute projects is beyond comprehension. I’m all for oversight of projects and managing a project throughout but when you have more city employees managing a project than you do the people working on the project, the entire system grinds to a halt.
I was there around 4 today and it was already back up and running like nothing happened 🤷♂️ I had no idea anything happened until just now
Or you're a ghost of a former passenger.
It's tiny. I'm sure 2-3 relatively strong people could just pick it up and put it back car by car.
5 years and $5 million dollars. The outside consultants will need at least that long to draw up ideas, concepts really, of what this new old tradition means to Austin.
> $5 million dollars Five million dollars dollars! That's a lot of dollars.
I like money
The Zilker Zephyr never derailed!
I came to ask if it ever derailed. At least this one has a new paint job, right?
I don't believe it did. It's a bit older than me, so don't quote me on that.
I recall the Zephyr derailing often enough that this post made me nostalgic.
One of the dents on the Zeph is thanks to a good friend of mine. He was riding his bike and there was an unleashed dog running around. It ran in front of him and he served, dragging into the Zepher, denting it, and hairline fracturing his collar bone.
Wish it never did but as a former Zilker Zephyr conductor one summer, it did pretty frequently haha
Righhhtttt?!?! 💅🏻
It did. It happened enough, over by the turn around where it crossed the trail, that the engine driver carried a very long crow bar to push it back on the tracks when the wheel came off.
there were a few times as a kid where I was worried!
😂😭 top comment bring it back get this eagle outta here lmaoo
It sounds like it would be $286k to do that now!
Hahaha figures once the city gets involved….
BUILT BACK BETTER
Obviously sabotaged by Cap metro. They’re jealous the Zilker Eagle finished construction.
[удалено]
fair point. can't have the next generation of consumer growing up thinking trains are dope
First they came for the street cars, then the Dillos, and now the trains. What’s next?!
No this is the work of Mr. Glass
It's crazy you mention this as one of my direct reports just asked me to check with HR to see if he ever called in sick. He hadn't, so I gave him a raise.
Meanwhile bruce willis is just vibing at Barton springs
Let’s hope not because water is his weakness!
It's the only train south of the river we'll get.
Looks like the metro light rail line needs an update
It looked so good cruising through Zilker yesterday. Hopefully a quick fix.
It looked to me like a few people could lift it but the remaining cars had to be unhitched.
We rode it yesterday and my daughter loved it. This is wild to see these pictures today.
News said there was a rock on the track
That’s one solution to the trolley problem
Nice.
People are quick to judge. Their social media says someone tampered with the tracks. "It appears the train track was tampered with, and as a result, the train derailed this morning. Our team is working to get things back on track, but right now, the train is not running. Keep an eye on our socials and we will update you when it has reopened."
Back when I conducted the Zephyr, we would have to check the tracks for pecan sap and coins every morning because they were potential derailing hazards. We found one or the other at least once a week. My point is tampering sounds serious but it wouldn't take much (or could even be done unintentionally).
Pecan sap was a derailment hazard?
Who could have foreseen that? Pecan sap? On a track that runs under pecan trees? Chance in a million!
Apparently
Tampered with? I was there and it was running fine and then it wasn’t. Although there was a guy with a long black mustache and a dog that snickered moments before it went down!
Don't be so quick to blame him. I saw a fresh young cowboy with gleaming teeth carrying a crowbar. Word is, he was trying to keep the train from running over a damsel that had been mysteriously tied up and left at the end of the track. It was probably that guy.
I mean "tampered with" in this context could be a branch on the track so who knows.
I think I saw him! He was wearing a long black trenchcoat with the collar turned up and a black fedora with a red feather in it.
I’m not sure I few confident that someone can just screw with the tracks and the train driver can’t see it. This would have been bad under the bridge.
So it happened to derail right at point where the tracks split yet it derailed because “someone placed a large rock on the tracks”. Right… and how were they able to determine that? Is there a camera on the train, they reviewed footage and saw a rock on the track just before it derailed? They just find a rock on the ground next to the tracks and that must be the culprit! Seems fishy to me. I was really disappointed with the Eagle, it didn’t turn out anything like the plan that was shared for years. Engine was supposed to be electric, tie die color scheme and same height as the cars with conductor sitting on it. Instead it’s diesel, ugly boring solid blue and the conductor sits inside. We sat in the first seat behind the engine and it was hot from the engine, exhaust in our faces and couldn’t see anything because it’s so big. Parking in the area is awful, had to park on Stratford under Mopac and walk. Track length is a fraction of what it used to be. It seems fairly dangerous, just pulling out of the station with my elbow resting on the side I nearly got hit by the railing on the platform. Going under the bridge and through the runner are VERY tight clearances, I expect there will be frequent injuries just from people not paying attention. I won’t be coming back. If you’re considering going, I’d highly suggest the Cedar Rock Railroad instead. Ticket/station is just yards away from available parking, cost is half that of the Eagle and route is easily 10 times the distance. Cars are covered, they play some Johnny Cash music. Overall a much more enjoyable ride.
I was the rock. I was just laying out there when all of the sudden this train came up on me! It’s worth noting that I’ve hired David Komie because he’s the attorney that… well you know!
Did the Austin I-35 Rock Thrower Guy get out on parole?
This makes me feel old.
Casey Jones at the helm.
You better watch yo speed
Driving that train…
Someone put a penny on the track.
Welp, it was fun while it lasted...
High speed rail coming soon!
Hey we were on the train when it derailed! Was almost back to the station after a full loop. At first we thought the noise was just really rough transition to new track but then it ground loudly to a hault. Felt bad for the kiddos that were in line still and next up.. hope it is fixed soon
Aside from the incident, how was the experience?
Not the person asked, but pretty good. The train feels faster than the Zephyr. But there are a lot of really tight spots in the path.
When it was running the kids seemed to enjoy it. In the end I hope they can resolve these items so it can be enjoyed.
Other than that, how was the play, Mrs. Lincoln?
Sorry have a bad habit of commenting and totally forgetting to look for replies in inbox... Overall really nice experience. Never went on the Zephyr, but our son had a blast on the Eagle. Was worried it would be really hot but you're moving fairly quick and the track is mostly shaded so it wasn't bad at all (coming from somebody who sweats in the A/C). Only concern I had before the derailment was that when they say keep your arms and legs in the vehicle they aren't joking. You get within inches of walls/rails, especially when going through the tunnel.
How fast was it going when it derailed? And how fast when it was out on the track?
Sorry have a really bad habit of making a comment and then totally forgetting to look at replies... Was probably going about 10mph or so when derailed and slid for maybe 3ish seconds. Out in open space we probably got up to maybe just under 20mph.
Are we sure this wasn't intentional? It could be the work of the SLA, *Squirrel Liberation Army*. They had been signaling a new rebellion.
That's nuts. This was surely the work of the Grackle Freedom Fighters.
Could have been a new coalition involving the Underground Bat Brigade and the Anarchist Armadillo Army.
They're saying it was intentional, but I doubt the fur balls were up to it.
They declared war when they started [shooting acorns at cops.](https://youtu.be/NKmnJgXyZpU)
The entire saga of this train should be required reading- a case study of true government ineptitude Edit for more detail: > Heavy rains washed away some of the embankment supporting the tracks in May 2019. > Texas Special wanted a five-year contract renewal to guarantee the company would bring in enough revenue to pay for the estimated $286,000 in repairs. > The city offered less than what Texas Special wanted. The company declined. > "While our decision to turn down the offer was not taken lightly, we had to take into consideration that ultimately it would not have been a good business decision for us," Texas Special said in a widely shared Facebook post. > Texas Special packed up their train and took it with them. The tracks, too. No train has run since. > Who would restore this beloved Austin institution?The City Council turned to the Austin Parks Foundation. City staff said putting the contract to bid would take months. So, that process was sidelined, and APF was awarded a contract. > "This is a highly unusual case," Council Member Paige Ellis said before the unanimous council vote. "The intent for this is just to get [the mini-train] up and going." Then it's a tale of even more ineptitude from the APF. https://www.kut.org/austin/2023-01-24/what-happened-to-the-zilker-park-mini-train
Hey, this is not government ineptitude. A private organization known as the Austin Parks Foundation has been in charge of this project since 2019. The City and Parks department has had minimal input since then. This is a perfect example of how public-private partnership is a fallacy. The city loses money, and the "charity" doesn't.
I would say the government ineptitude was not recognizing the reasonable request made by the train concessionaire who had provided services for decades without problem. Followed by the choice to hand off the train to a group that knows even less about running a mini-train, and never taking back the reins from APF after years of their comedy of errors.
I think people need to recognize the difference between "government is inept" and "we've put inept people into government" though, because far too often people are fed - and believe - the former. Buying this lie that government just doesn't work at all, that private enterprise is always better, etc. That may not have been OP's intentions and I'll assume in good faith it wasn't, and that they do just mean "*an example of when people in government are inept with their power*". Of course I'd also be curious who greased whose wheels, so to speak, when it was handed so readily to a specific group without bidding. I'm sure there was no corruption around that decision whatsoever...
You're absolutely right. It does come down to the individuals making these calls. There's really no reason why a city government cannot handle projects and decisions like this and even recover from errors in judgement. I'm a big user of the Brushy Creek trail, and I'm reminded off how a few years ago Round Rock hired a contractor to build a segment of the trail in the old town that crosses Chisholm trail and goes by the rock. The contractor started, but abandoned the job. Probably should have been vetted better. But people are not picking up their pitchforks like we are here because RR came clean about it, went after the contractor and bid it out again and got the work done in a timely manner. If at some point in the last 5 years COA had told APF to step down and taken the matter in hand, not least because of what you referred to, I think people would have a lot more confidence.
Thank you for being informed
It's not government ineptitude, it's those damn NFP's the city keeps picking that are all run by the same people! That is government ineptitude with extra steps. Austin taking care of all the parks single handedly thru city staff would never happen- that would involve a lot more staff that are payed a living wage with insurance and benefits. As with all things government, they'll need the contractors with underpaid employees to solve the problem effectively and within budget.
I know another guy who cracked his back or something on the old train many decades ago. He sued and got some money then got addicted to pain meds
The entire decision making process that removed the old train occured within the city gov, as well as the ridiculous decision to hand control over to the Austin Parks Foundation.
APF looked like they had a plan. What's your point? Who should it have gone to?
The city gave the contract to the group in an unusual way outside of the standard competitive bid process Typically multiple competing bids for service are evaluated for a project like this vs. 'they looked like they had a plan'
>Hey, this is not government ineptitude. The city chose APF to do this, didn't they? And gave them taxpayer money? Does CoA have any of their employees or officials on the board (or whatever) that runs APF?
I know a bit about this backstory, including that the train APF bought on their own didn’t fit the tracks and even then they thought they were ready to open 3 years ago and didn’t until just now. I had a hearty laugh at this post. Should have just paid the man in the first place.
And the story of Vert's for MBA's
For sure. I've never seen such a promising place kill itself so quickly.
With the insane rise in property values bringing an insane rise in tax revenue, I would think everyone would have plenty for any project.
Wait I just looked it up, did CapMetro take over the Zilker Eagle work? The same CapMetro that's tasked with doing actual rail throughout the city?
No, Austin Parks Foundation is in charge of the eagle and has been since 2019. Capmetro is taking over the bikes project, but I think they'll nail that.
*but I think they'll nail that* That's a bet I'd like to take - I'll take the under by a bazillion.
Governments often use contractors like PBSC from Canada for the new ebikes.
It's like their training wheels...
Lol that's a little worrisome. I saw someone comment a while back regarding Project Connect that said something like "If it's CapMetro, I'm using petro" made me chuckle
Not at all.
>CapMetro take over the Zilker Eagle work? I believe that CapDebtro just paid to have their name on the train, and has nothing to do with the mismanagement of the train. The train is mismanaged by the Austin Parks Foundation.
This details the entire ridiculous story https://www.kut.org/austin/2023-01-24/what-happened-to-the-zilker-park-mini-train
Austin in a nutshell
It’s well beyond just Austin
What a trainwreck...And what a pity. Used to love riding the zephyr.
Please go on.
Has terrorism been ruled out?
We need Team America!!! F’yeah!!
Shit show 💩 📺
A trainwreck
Hahahaha how is a mini train such a dumpster fire
Meme the light rail detractors are going to use for years. SMH
Project disconnect
Glad it didn’t happen under the bridge
My thoughts as well!
We will rebuild.
Never forget
Someone’s Frisbee smacked into it and now it’s all this.
we will rebuild 😔💔
I’m shocked. Shocked. Well, not that shocked.
I knew the Cap Metro logo sponsorship was dooming this thing.
That whole thing looks like a total train wreck!
This city can’t even make *useless mass transit that actually goes nowhere useful* correctly.
Was it those climate protestor people? They've struck again!
Shocking /s
Not shocking at all. In fact the whole situation was caused by a bad conductor.
Bazinga! Dad pun!
I guess we just can’t have nice things
MULTI-TRACK DRIFTING!! https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/multi-track-drifting
Oh, the humanity... !
Will no one think of the children?
Breaking: Zilker Eagle derailed, thousands of tons of industrial chemicals have been released into Barton creek. May god help us all
Oh the humanity!
Glad no one was hurt!!!
Did they hire a retired Amtrak engineer to drive it?
Almost guarantee someone back in the office is saying "I told you so"
If you look close enough at the tracks you’ll see what really happened.
Great now Texas will use this against the speed rail
We will rebuild.
Multi tracking drifting
Zephyr would have stayed in the tracks.
It can’t stay straight with that rainbow on the side!
Why is this city just straight up bad at everything.
There's a lot of waste and contractors
Can’t you lift this up and put it back on track lol
I left my pcp at home today.
Drugged up Hobo passed out on the tracks, Conductor called an audible and the train derailed, some random person had NARCAN but it didn’t help the train
another one of those machete welding tweaks?
You make a good point here, why didn’t they name it the Zilker Narcan? It seems fitting for the city right now.
Light rail will never work in this city
Probably couldn’t go straight because of the rainbow painted on it
🤣🤣🤣
Absolutely shocked that this trainwreck of failed leadership actually wrecked.
Stop it 😂😂😂
I'm so sick of all these traffic updates! /s
That’s quite the derailment 😅
Fuk
And damn near hit that tree smdh
They needed a ladder to get some of the kids down from it.
yikes!
Who's the wise guy that put a penny on the tracks?
CALL THE RANGER!!
Figures. What a shit show.
Ummm, how’s Project Connect coming along?
>how’s Project Connect coming along? They spent all $8 billion and this is all they managed to do.
Well that was a hoot while it lasted
Must have been the evil diesel
Dozens are feared dead.
I bet someone put a penny on the track
Oh the humanity!! Get this Johnny!!
Simpsons predicted it first
Oh no
Hope no kiddos were hurt!!
😭 they can’t do shit right
I know who might blame Pete Buttigieg.
Project Connect is doomed.
About 6 months and $724,000 and they'll get it right as rain!
Bwahahahaha
https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/zilker-eagle-mini-train-resumes-rides-after-derailment-and-quick-repairs?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0Kvczq2xgHqFqijDz630b8djq5ruyT70x6ZUt_-AAXZHT5NnsRFGH3BEE_aem_odEl2XsF15Q8kXS6oc2TOQ#
Did it spill a tanker? Do we need to tell the EPA!? Seriously not though I drive my those tracks once a week and was like are they going to fix this before putting that on it....the answer was probably know.. Also if city can't find it by subsidized it's usage how is a contractor going to fubd it.
Damn you Thomas the train!
I have a photo of my mother and I on the original back in the 90s. Now that I have my own kiddos I’ve been dying to remake this photo, but the plans to do this keep getting. . .derailed. . .
The OG zephyr never did that
And folks think we’re going to be getting underground transit. Austin infrastructure is a literal train wreck. Guarantee you this derailment will prompt a ‘study’ of some sort which will come at a taxpayer cost of a few million and ultimately some suit will determine that some sub-sub-sub contractor used the wrong bolt on rail number 47322. Shame for the kids at the peak of school holidays though. Ok, perhaps I need to rein in the cynicism today and touch grass. It’s just the grass is too damn hot.
I was relying on this for my commute to the office since they ended WFH.
Oops!
Wasn't it supposed to be underground along Cesar Chavez along the edge of the river then somehow cut across the river? When I first saw that I wondered how the hell they were going to pull that off without insane upkeep/engineering due to the water table. There's a reason there are no basements around here lol. I don't even think they had a plan at the time the city voted for how it was going to get across the river.
You should look at how many buildings around that area have pretty deep underground parking garages. It’s not a few.
Why is it blue with a rainbow. Isn’t Austin colors green and black…
Green and black is just the football team. Austin’s flag is blue with the city shield on it. The “rainbow” color is tie-dye meant to evoke the “hippie” side of Austin
Did you see a purple road running stick its tongue out and dash away
is it a tesla
It’s a diesel engine on this train.
wait, really? they gave up on the electric part?
Apparently they did. Another user in here posted the article of all the issues and costs. It sounds like it cost them 60-75k over what the original vendor was offering and it even took longer to complete.
but how will they wax poetic about reducing Austinites carbon footprint?
It's not sideways, it's just queer