Trimet has severe operator (driver) shortage. In addition Portland itself went down the drain significantly in recent years.

Quote (e_kalish, 03.08.2022):
> Trimet has severe operator (driver) shortage.

This is the case everywhere now: during the Covid period, it was hardly or not at all possible to recruit new staff, let alone train them, while in the meantime staff was leaving, planned or not.

Quote (e_kalish, 03.08.2022):
> In addition Portland itself went down the drain significantly in recent years.

I may be wrong, but I have the feeling that there has never been much ambition to operate a real city tram here.

1. There is enough potential to run 32-metre trams: this is also a standard size.
2. There are 26 trams available for the 2/3 lines. I have not posted all the photos, but was able to photograph 21 different ones. There is really not much capacity to run more frequently.
3. I also went to check a few things in the depot and it was correct. "Depot" is euphoric: the trams are simply parked between fences under a freeway bridge and there is a building in which a tram fits and an annex for the administration. That's it.
Without wanting to offend, but actually this is hardly better than Krasnoturyinsk. I have been there too... so I can compare. The only difference is that Portland has more money at its disposal and has its affairs in better order. But the equipment is minimal. This is also a confirmation for me that there is no ambition to do something better with the streetcar than there is now.

I find it regrettable in any case, especially since in the same city light rail does take over part of the urban traffic and is also successful, but only thanks to good frequencies (many lines) and large capacity.