Surfliner Push/Pull Configuration

Traditionally the Surfliner operates in pull configuration away from LA Union Station and in push configuration towards it. On my trips this weekend, I noticed at least two trainsets operating the opposite way, including mine. Anybody know why? This delays boarding significantly because business class and coach customers are staged at the opposite ends of the platform and have to hoof it to the right cars when the train arrives. These are the trains going north of IRV.

Not sure how long they've been doing this as my last trip was a few weeks ago, one of the very last bus shuttle trips before the tracks reopened in OC, and it wasn't like this.

could be a result of the new timetable and the sets just haven't been run to a wye to turn them

GDRRiley said:

could be a result of the new timetable and the sets just haven't been run to a wye to turn them

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There should never be a need to wye a Surfliner under normal circumstances. A schedule change on that route wouldn’t change the way the trains operate. Unless there’s a trip that bypasses LA Union Station, that station itself acts as the “wye” to change ends.

Having all sets face the same way, makes it easier to spot trains for Fuel or Sewage dumping.
operational it should not make big difference

Could have been a private car move somewhere in there. Can't really do cab-end operations when you have someone else's car in front.

allanorn said:

Could have been a private car move somewhere in there. Can't really do cab-end operations when you have someone else's car in front.

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I guess that makes sense, though I thought they typically sandwiched the PV between the loco and first coach.

Trogdor said:

I guess that makes sense, though I thought they typically sandwiched the PV between the loco and first coach.

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Depends on the car and if they need to attach or unhook it mid-route. I know of at least one caboose based out of SAN.

Trogdor said:

There should never be a need to wye a Surfliner under normal circumstances. A schedule change on that route wouldn’t change the way the trains operate. Unless there’s a trip that bypasses LA Union Station, that station itself acts as the “wye” to change ends.

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I should have explained a bit more, I'm wondering if they had to move a set as part of the change and therefore it didn't get get turned at LA union.

Could it be due, in part, to the service disruptions south of LA?

As mentioned above, the trains should always run in the correct direction during normal operations -- they would have to go out of their way to specifically wye a train around. The track closure in Orange County shouldn't matter.

Regardless, they're obviously not in a rush to fix the situation as I passed one trainset today that is still oriented in the wrong direction.

Just wait until the thru tracks become in operation. Then it will be many orientated wrong way.

west point said:

Just wait until the thru tracks become in operation. Then it will be many orientated wrong way.

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With through tracks at LA, there'd never been a reason for the trains to change directions.

Trogdor said:

With through tracks at LA, there'd never been a reason for the trains to change directions.

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It also depends on ones defintion of "wrong way". If every train in a particular track layout faces the same way, is that a wrong way simply because the facing direction is different from what occurred when there was a different track layout?