They ordered two more trainsets instead of the C cars. Although they didn't say this at the time, they desperately need the extra trainsets because it is impossible for SMART to provide full commute service with the 7 trainsets they have. As a result they have a big gap in the morning and evening commute and run trains outside of commute hours.

What SMART eventually will do is get these extra trainsets and provide the half hourly service required for full commute service without that 1.5 hour gap they have right now. Then, hopefully, they will cut back on these midday trains that aren't necessary.

The 1.5 hour gap in the commute service due to lack of trainsets remains the biggest and most bizarre failure in SMART's mostly successful history to date. One of the reasons it's such a big deal is that it was forseeable but not communicated to the public until the very possible last moment--even after they began their schedule testing. They had published a draft schedule months earlier with full commute service, and when they started schedule testing, it became obvious there was a gap where there shouldn't be. That's when they finally let the public know about the huge gap. Frankly, it was an outrageous thing.