Monday (5/6) got off to a rocky start for many SunRail riders because a downed power line damaged train signals and control systems from Sanford to Longwood.
The storm damaged some railroad crossing gates where crews had to use flags to stop the traffic and usher the trains through the crossing. The reduced speeds slowed down train traffic throughout the 49-mile SunRail system.
The morning delays were made even worse when a SunRail train hit a car that was on the tracks around 8:30 a.m. No one was hurt in that wreck.
The storm damage has proven to be the biggest problem on Monday.
A SunRail spokesman said, “Crews are working to fix the damage and resulting outages, which are fairly extensive.
“The work will last throughout the day, meaning delays will persist during off-peak times today, as well as affect the afternoon peak, half hour schedule. The repair work is likely to extend into tomorrow and possibly Wednesday, but the delays are expected to be shorter as more of the system comes back online.”
Despite the situation on Monday, SunRail has a strong record of meeting train schedules, as the accompanying chart shows a greater than 95% on-time record.
To stay informed, please check www.sunrail.com, SunRail on Twitter, or to receive SunRail text message alerts sent directly to your mobile device, text SunRail to 31996 to subscribe.
The text message system, which was requested by riders, has proven to be very helpful. This morning, the first warning regarding problems and delays was transmitted at 5:02.
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