1 month later, still no Saturday schedule released for SunRail

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — A full schedule for SunRail has still not been released, even though it's been a month since officials announced that the trains would run on most Saturdays, thanks to extra funding from local businesses.

Channel 9's Racquel Asa asked officials about the delay.

SunRail officials said one of the reasons they cannot schedule which Saturdays they plan to run the service is because of required maintenance on the tracks.

The tracks on Ronald Reagan Boulevard in Longwood will close Friday night, and that means train traffic will be limited.

But SunRail officials said the biggest problem is finding staff to run the trains.

Officials said they have only been able to find enough workers to run the service on Saturday, Nov. 5, and getting workers to pick up other Saturdays has been difficult since they are only contracted to work Monday through Friday.

SunRail officials said they are trying to hire more people.

“I think they can do better with communicating what days they are going to run the service. I would hope that they would do that in the future,” said Jeffery Morris, chairman of the SunRail Customer Advisory Committee.

Morris and others said they are wondering if SunRail will be running for the Come out with Pride Festival on Nov. 12. Officials had planned to run the train before the event was canceled because of Hurricane Matthew.

“It would have been helpful to the riders who are anticipating and are looking forward to it so they know what to expect from the service,” Morris said.

SunRail officials said they are trying to find a way to provide Saturday service for the festival, and also for the Florida Classic the following week.

Cox Media Group