service is reduced right now because most of our drivers are still in the process of re-certifying for the season. a lot of people were surprised/confused by the low frequency, but it's all we can offer right now.
That's very true. Even if more of the current motormen were certified to drive on the High Level Bridge (HLB) line, I believe they'd still be short. Training for new motormen takes place at Fort Ed Park (FEP) because the HLB line has too much vehicle traffic to contend with, so no new motormen could be trained for three years while the park was undergoing renovations. Plus, no current FEP motormen could qualify on the HLB line since they need 40 hours (~8 shifts) of passenger service at FEP (passenger service means that doing loops after-hours does not count, although qualified motormen are allowed to practice alone if they wish to) before they can train on the HLB line. As a cherry on top, some older motormen did not return last year when they started service late, due to concerns about Covid. I am not sure if they all returned as of now.
Either way, the ERRS has at least a three year training deficit that they're trying to rectify. I'll be certified at FEP this coming week if my certification run with passengers goes well, and I believe there's seven others currently training at FEP. That means July/August 2022 will most likely be the earliest that we see new motormen qualifying on the HLB line, unless one or two power through their 40 service hours at FEP. In the meantime, it is hoped that these new motormen can cover much of the FEP service so that the seasoned motormen can focus on serving the HLB line.
The HLB line used to operate seven days per week, and two car service was the standard to aim for on busy days like today. Right now, we are down to four day service, and it has only been one car so far (although the specific car alternates between Melbourne 930 and Edmonton 33). There has been talk here in the past about how nice it would be to see this line go elsewhere, but as I've said many times before, their largest priority right now is stabilizing and optimizing the current service. There is a long road toward 7-day service with 1-2 cars, and keep in mind that this is all done by volunteers.
The Whyte Ave stop is absolutely a blessing for them, and I have absolutely loved helping out at that stop, but this highlights the need for more people who are passionate about history, public service, railways, mechanical stuff, etc. to help out. Whether you want to learn a trade like woodworking or metal fabrication, you want to drive a streetcar, you're interested in archival or museum work, or you just want to spend a couple of hours here and there selling tickets. Every bit helps, and this is a wonderful organization to volunteer with. As I hope Cliff can attest, the members are unbelievably friendly, welcoming, and eager to pass on what they know.
If you're interested and want to learn more, don't hesitate to shoot me a DM. If you don't have the time or interest in helping out, at the least please consider passing on word about the HLB line, the work the ERRS does, and its need for more volunteers.
That's my soapbox rant for the month, thanks for reading it (if you made it this far lol)
