Metrolink selling off the Bombardier Cars? And, exactly what are they going to haul the commuters? There are not enough cars now.

Loco hauled trains aren't as "cute" as doodlebugs, but they are often cheaper and easier to maintain and operate, as well as more flexible in the type of operations proposed by SMART. There are also many more suppliers of loco's and loco hauled equipment, so long term support and warranty on some of these proposed and extant vehicles, often of limited fleet size or unique incompatible designs, may be a problem and is another potential risk.

The politics of cute and chic, but often costly and inadequate, unfortunately, is quite common in political decision making on these things. Practical and knowledgable leadership is critical to the cost effectiveness and success of these projects. This is clearly completely lacking, thus far, at agencies like the mismanaged and dysfunctional CHSRA. I think the jury is still out on SMART.

In Marin and Sonoma, many of those who actively oppose any project, have also contributed to making the project less cost effective, and have demanded costly and unnecesary mitigations, pandering to nimby's, supporting "cute" over practical, as a way to drive up costs to try to intentionally kill the project.

Ah, if it was all as simple as train fans (and many of us mtaxpayers?) wished it were????