Muni to test boarding two trains in a station at the same time
For some time now, it’s been rumored that Muni/SFMTA would test a new technique, formerly known as double-berthing, and now called “double-boarding.” The last update, if you can call it that, that we got was in December, when we linked to a Hoodline post saying that the testing had no timeline.
Then, yesterday, Hoodline reported a tip they received that Muni is set to start testing this week.
SFMTA spokesperson Paul Rose told us via email today that double-stopping will be tested during morning and afternoon commutes today at the three stations. He continued: “This is a new rider convenience tool that manages congestion in the subway and ensures that riders don’t have to wait for a train to clear the subway before exiting their vehicle. At these stations, the first train will stop further down the platform (closer to the end of the platform).”
Read the Hoodline post for full details. It will be interesting to see whether and to what extent double-boarding actually makes for a more efficient Muni Metro system.
Photo by Christina B Castro
The rear train will still stop in the forward position, so hopefully people figure it and disembark in the rear, then board the train when it moves up front. I thought that was the idea, to not have people swimming upstream in both directions at the same time.