California - SFO people mover has a rocky test ride

SFO people mover has a rocky test ride
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2002/08/05/MN218881.DTL

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Test runs to iron out wrinkles on the new AirTrain system at San Francisco International Airport backfired Sunday when a collision added more wrinkles to at least two of the cars.

The Bombardier Transportation company that supplied the new system was testing the driverless trains shortly before noon when one of them went off the track and another one bumped into it, said airport duty manager Kim Dickie.</font>

The art of campaigning includes knowing two little words
'No big deal' as fender bender totals AirTrain car
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2002/08/11/BA173829.DTL

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">When a couple of San Francisco International Airport's new high-tech "people movers" bumped into each other during a test run of the $430 million system the other day, officials spun it off as a "no big deal" fender bender.

And that's what we thought, too -- until reader Steve Hufford dropped us a line abut how he was driving south on Highway 101, near Redwood City, around 6 p.m. one day last week when he passed a trailer truck carrying a nearly destroyed SFO AirTrain car.</font>


[This message has been edited by EPS (edited 08-12-2002).]

In the meantime they continue to charge us $12.00 for using the Rental Car shuttle bus. It's cheaper to take a cab to the rental car garage.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by LightingGuy:
In the meantime they continue to charge us $12.00 for using the Rental Car shuttle bus. It's cheaper to take a cab to the rental car garage.</font>

Is there a way to not get charged the $12? Even if you walk there, they'll still add the charge to your bill, no?

I was told by Avis manager that if I showed my taxi receipt they'd take the charge off my bill. Don't know if he was just trying to get rid of me or this is really the case. If you walk or get a ride you won't have a receipt to show.

I walked, and the Budget CSR took the charge off.

Did you "walk" to the Rental Car Center, or walk to the Rental Car Center?

FYI, if you really wanted to, you could take the blue and orange "Employee - Local" bus -- there's a stop on that route that's pretty close to the RAC (as SFO employees refer to it).

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by cblaisd:
I walked, and the Budget CSR took the charge off.</font>



[This message has been edited by snorkmaster (edited 10-24-2002).]

I really walked. I needed a pickup truck for the day. I've never rented a vehicle from a place that didn't have parking for you to leave your own vehicle. SFO doesn't, to my surprise. So I ended up parking in the long term lot about 1/8 of a mile north and then walked back to the rental car center. I didn't even know there was a bus charge; it was the Budget CSR who, after hearing my tale of incredulity (or naivete) that there was no place to park my car for a few hours while I rented their truck, offered to take the bus charge off.

But I can see why you asked http://www.flyertalk.com/airports/ftairports_forum/wink.gif

Poof goes AirTrain's time table
Smoke from transformer trips alarm during test -- firefighter injured en route
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2003/01/09/BA224473.DTL

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">San Francisco International Airport's plans to roll out its sleek new AirTrain transit system by the end of the month may have gone up in smoke Wednesday evening.

Hours after officials announced that AirTrain, an automated, electric- powered people-mover, was nearly ready to begin carrying passengers between terminals, parking and the distant rental car center, smoke from an electrical transformer set off alarms in the AirTrain control center about 5:30 p.m.</font>

AirTrain opening on track
Glitch won't delay SFO people-mover
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2003/01/10/BA177742.DTL

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">An electrical problem at the AirTrain transit system at San Francisco International Airport is not expected to delay the scheduled opening of the long-awaited people-mover later this month, authorities said Thursday.

A problem affecting 30 low-voltage transformers produced heavy smoke but no fire about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. Crews are trying to determine why the system failed and are making repairs, airport spokesman Mike McCarron said Thursday.</font>

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by EPS:
Poof goes AirTrain's time table
Smoke from transformer trips alarm during test -- firefighter injured en route</font>

Unfortunately, that firefighter died from the injuries.

http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/4945749.htm

BART's web site still lists 2002 as the completion date for the SFO extension project. Obviously, they didn't make it (gee, what a shock that a large government construction project does not finish on time).

What's the current estimated date of completion?

Can I forget about using BART to get from OAK airport to SFO in early February?

No opening date has been announced.

http://www.bart.gov/news/press/news_8277.asp