Beltliner
01-10-2009, 05:18 AM
Taking the C-Train to McMahon Stadium for Stampeders games has been a no-brainer for years for those of us who vaguely hope to live to get a parking permit for tailgates (and yes, my season tix did go up this year, thanks for asking...), so it's nice to see y'all down in the Queen City getting into the light rail habit for Panthers games (http://www.wsoctv.com/news/18449683/detail.html), especially for the big one this weekend: :tup:
Light Rail Trains Expected To Be Packed For Playoff Game
To comment on this story, e-mail Jim Bradley (jim.bradley@wsoc-tv.com), WSOC-TV
Friday, January 9, 2009
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Just over 24 hours to kickoff and Samantha Reimer is all set to bundle up, but while Reimer is preparing for the cold, she expects the city's light rail to be red hot.
“It'll be very crowded -- very, very crowded. It's normally crowded for Panthers games so it'll probably be even worse tomorrow,” she said.
History suggests she's right. Thousands who came to the Panthers' Monday night game last month used the trains to get there.
So LYNX Operations Supervisor Manny Kennerly has tweaked the schedule to have more trains running more often.
“We are planning to operate ever 10 minutes from (the Interstate 485) station starting at 5:40 p.m. until game time,” he said.
The city recommends getting an early start and being prepared for crowded trains. After the game, light rail riders may even have to wait for a train or two to get on.
LYNX spokesperson Jean Leier also said riders should get a roundtrip ticket because lines at ticket machines could be long.
“And if you have a big group of people, let’s say five or 10 in your party, it's easier if one person buys all of the tickets than everybody trying to buy them themselves,” Leier said.
Fans like Shelley Thornton said they plan to go uptown with plenty of time to spare.
“I'll come down early, probably come down around 4 p.m. because I think it's going to be pretty crazy,” Thornton said.
Usually weekend trains are every 20 minutes, so Saturday night they'll be coming twice as often. Trains will run every 10 minutes beginning at 5:40 p.m. through game time. After the game, trains will run about every seven minutes.
There will also be Charlotte Area Transit System employees on hand to help anyone who doesn't know how to use the ticket machines.
Light Rail Trains Expected To Be Packed For Playoff Game
To comment on this story, e-mail Jim Bradley (jim.bradley@wsoc-tv.com), WSOC-TV
Friday, January 9, 2009
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Just over 24 hours to kickoff and Samantha Reimer is all set to bundle up, but while Reimer is preparing for the cold, she expects the city's light rail to be red hot.
“It'll be very crowded -- very, very crowded. It's normally crowded for Panthers games so it'll probably be even worse tomorrow,” she said.
History suggests she's right. Thousands who came to the Panthers' Monday night game last month used the trains to get there.
So LYNX Operations Supervisor Manny Kennerly has tweaked the schedule to have more trains running more often.
“We are planning to operate ever 10 minutes from (the Interstate 485) station starting at 5:40 p.m. until game time,” he said.
The city recommends getting an early start and being prepared for crowded trains. After the game, light rail riders may even have to wait for a train or two to get on.
LYNX spokesperson Jean Leier also said riders should get a roundtrip ticket because lines at ticket machines could be long.
“And if you have a big group of people, let’s say five or 10 in your party, it's easier if one person buys all of the tickets than everybody trying to buy them themselves,” Leier said.
Fans like Shelley Thornton said they plan to go uptown with plenty of time to spare.
“I'll come down early, probably come down around 4 p.m. because I think it's going to be pretty crazy,” Thornton said.
Usually weekend trains are every 20 minutes, so Saturday night they'll be coming twice as often. Trains will run every 10 minutes beginning at 5:40 p.m. through game time. After the game, trains will run about every seven minutes.
There will also be Charlotte Area Transit System employees on hand to help anyone who doesn't know how to use the ticket machines.
