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Post by Kahloke on May 21, 2020 16:43:39 GMT -8
I wonder if WSF will even operate Sidney route this year because of border being closed to non essential travel. If the border re-opens to the general public on June 21st, that would align with WSF's current COVID 19 "Winter" schedule end date, and it's possible that service to Sidney can resume at that time. As with everything these days, we shall see. www.cnn.com/travel/article/us-canada-border-coronavirus/index.html
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on May 21, 2020 16:55:55 GMT -8
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Post by Olympic Ferries on May 21, 2020 19:41:34 GMT -8
I definitely think it's feasible to open the border by that timeframe should necessary screening be put in place to prevent spread of this.
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on May 21, 2020 19:54:29 GMT -8
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on May 29, 2020 16:59:53 GMT -8
When will WSF unveils the summer sailing schedule? Will there be any major changes to it?
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Post by Olympic Ferries on May 29, 2020 19:08:29 GMT -8
When will WSF unveils the summer sailing schedule? Will there be any major changes to it? WSF plans to develop sailing schedules beyond June 21 on June 13-17ish. I imagine we'll know sometime later that week.
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Post by Kahloke on May 30, 2020 9:51:40 GMT -8
As the COVID situation evolves, I've got to think it's difficult for ferries and airlines, indeed, any transportation related industries, to plan for schedules in advance. For WSF, the questions that dictate their schedules are 1. what COVID phase will we be in by June 21st? 2. What will be the status of the US/Canada border on June 21st? As of yet, neither of those questions are answered.
Regarding phasing, Washington counties are slowly starting to enter Phase 2 of the re-opening strategy, but Phase 2 still restricts general travel. Unrestricted movement gets granted in Phase 3. Right now, San Juan County is approved for Phase 2. I'm not sure about Skagit County, and I expect King and Pierce Counties to be the last areas of the state to enter Phase 2. Phase 3 could happen in some places by June 21st, but that's still an unknown.
If the border ends up being closed to general traffic for the rest of the summer or the remainder of the year, as has been rumoured, then that will naturally have dramatic impacts on what the San Juan summer ferry schedule looks like. But, again, that is an unknown at this time. By June 13-17, per what Olympic Ferries stated above, they should have a better idea on how to proceed, but it's certainly a testimony to the difficulty in forecasting demand and scheduling for a situation that is changing daily. I don't envy the folks that have to do this.
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Post by Kahloke on Jun 4, 2020 13:26:51 GMT -8
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Jun 4, 2020 16:01:14 GMT -8
It sounds like this schedule will go past June 21 because there no need for additional service with travel restrictions in place.
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Post by Olympic Ferries on Jun 4, 2020 17:00:36 GMT -8
I think this just implies schedules are not changing. Everything that currently is in place is just going to stay the same, I believe.
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Post by Kahloke on Jun 4, 2020 19:31:10 GMT -8
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Jun 5, 2020 21:10:10 GMT -8
Is Washington State Ferries operating at half capacity?
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Jun 21, 2020 20:36:55 GMT -8
One boat service on Mukilteo to Clinton route was provided this weekend:
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Post by rwbsparks on Jun 22, 2020 15:59:02 GMT -8
First off I fully understand that if there’s no crew available, it’s hard to run a boat. That being said: Clinton, Kingston, and Winslow were all absolutely slammed this weekend. Both Clinton and Kingston has multi-boat waits. 4 hours at Clinton, 3 at Kingston. Winslow had a 2 hour wait. Unless WSF can find a way to get those 3 runs back to normal service levels for the July 4th weekend the waits will almost certainly be even worse on the Sunday of that weekend. While Jay Inslee is being methodical about reopening, this last weekend made it obvious that summer weekends will still be high volume despite COVID-19. Hopefully the system can meet that demand.
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Post by iceberg1 on Jun 25, 2020 15:30:17 GMT -8
Starting tomorrow June 26, 2020 all vessel and terminal employees must stop at a Covid 19 Self Check Station at each terminal prior to reporting to their shift. This Self Check includes taking one's temp and answering Covid 19 health questions. WSF is hoping this will help in keeping their employees safe and taking the additional steps to do so. Outside vendors visiting the vessels will be required to Self Test as well.
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Post by iceberg1 on Jun 26, 2020 14:25:02 GMT -8
Here we go again, due to the lack of deck crew, one boat service this Sunday June 28 at Mukilteo - Clinton was just announced.
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Post by Kahloke on Aug 14, 2020 5:48:20 GMT -8
An excerpt from the Weekly Update released yesterday acknowledges the struggles WSF is experiencing with delayed vessels and the inability to maintain schedules, particularly in the San Juans, where traffic volumes have increased past the winter/COVID schedule's level of service. The excerpt I clipped also promises something will be done to address the situation, whatever that means. www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/assets/WSF-WeeklyUpdate-081320.pdf
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Post by Kahloke on Aug 18, 2020 6:37:23 GMT -8
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Post by northwesterner on Aug 18, 2020 18:09:09 GMT -8
A little more explanation into the delays experienced at Anacortes-San Juans and why they can't just simply increase service. It's more complicated than that, as the article explains: This is a good article that lays out the many complications in a clear manner. It is uncharted territory for WSF, as it is for many organizations, including the company I work for. But WSF needs to navigate those challenges and find quick wins, where ever they can, to improve service levels. It just doesn't seem like they're making any progress on this and they're saying "it is what it is" which just isn't good enouhg.
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Post by Olympic Ferries on Aug 18, 2020 18:17:13 GMT -8
There needs to be SOME attempt to help curb delays and extreme output of overtime costs to crews - it isn't sustainable and it's kind of shocking that there hasn't really been any sort of attempt to reduce cash outflow, which is apparently all being paid to crew overtime at Anacortes.
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Post by Kahloke on Aug 20, 2020 13:21:18 GMT -8
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Post by SS San Mateo on Aug 21, 2020 16:50:58 GMT -8
And some more good news...
Ferry Alert: Sea/BI - 2-Boat Service Returns to Seattle/Bainbridge Route Starting Aug. 30
The Seattle/Bainbridge route will be restored to daily two-boat service beginning on Sunday, August 30. The route has been operating on a reduced schedule since earlier this spring as a result of COVID-19.
We will continue to send service updates as they become available. Thank you for your continued patience while we work through this unprecedented time.
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on May 24, 2021 11:59:17 GMT -8
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FNS
Voyager
The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
Posts: 4,948
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Post by FNS on May 24, 2021 15:06:19 GMT -8
Neat idea for an hour long voyage. I guess they'll set up tables on the Accessible Mezzanine Deck (with elevator access) aboard the SALISH. This section on that ferry can easily be closed up (reopened for MES use if needed) outside of vaccination hours to keep the tables and equipment in place. Don't know how they're going to do this on the other vessel. Partitions on that one?
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Post by Olympic Ferries on Jun 12, 2021 21:12:36 GMT -8
Does anybody still know if WSF is still supposed to be enforcing posted reduced capacity cuts onboard? The Issaquah-class is quoted at a cap of 300 passengers total (reduced from the normal 1200), but that was *definitely* not enforced tonight, as the 1830 out of Friday Harbor today left with a whopping 744 passengers. Obviously, there wasn't anything done about that, but should there have been?
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