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Post by Gokhan on Apr 15, 2015 13:55:08 GMT -8
Do Expo trains still go through the Culver City switch either dead ass slow or completely stop at it regardless of switching or not? I'm no expert, but as an infrequent user of "fast" segment of the line this is plain annoyingly slow. Yes, unfortunately, they still slow down to 20 MPH regardless, with the exception of a brave operator rarely who zooms through the switch. Hopefully, it will change when Phase 2 opens. However, I have my doubts because a long-time neighborhood opponent who lives on Fay Avenue had complained about noise.
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Post by johanragle on Apr 15, 2015 16:14:55 GMT -8
Yes, unfortunately, they still slow down to 20 MPH regardless, with the exception of a brave operator rarely who zooms through the switch. Hopefully, it will change when Phase 2 opens. However, I have my doubts because a long-time neighborhood opponent who lives on Fay Avenue had complained about noise. At least they won't need to actually stop at the switch, which should fractionally improve speeds...
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Post by masonite on Apr 15, 2015 18:47:03 GMT -8
Yes, unfortunately, they still slow down to 20 MPH regardless, with the exception of a brave operator rarely who zooms through the switch. Hopefully, it will change when Phase 2 opens. However, I have my doubts because a long-time neighborhood opponent who lives on Fay Avenue had complained about noise. At least they won't need to actually stop at the switch, which should fractionally improve speeds... They are going to have to fix these unnecessary slowdowns if they are going to have any chance of making the run in 46 minutes. The last section in SM is going to be very slow. People talk about how it will be bad if Expo opens with 12 minute headways. Well, if it opens taking 50-55 minutes end to end that is much worse IMHO.
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Post by Gokhan on Apr 17, 2015 9:44:34 GMT -8
So, it turns out that the Hayden Avenue / National Boulevard switches are malfunctioning. Lots of delays these days. Some trains are unable to go past La Cienega and they turn back. If that happens, wait for the next Culver City train.
In London, they have a maze of rail lines, switches, junctions, etc. On top of that, everything seems to be built ad hoc. Yet, things operate smoothly. Here in Los Angeles, they haven't been able to figure out one single switch in three years.
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Post by LAofAnaheim on Apr 17, 2015 17:29:09 GMT -8
So, it turns out that the Hayden Avenue / National Boulevard switches are malfunctioning. Lots of delays these days. Some trains are unable to go past La Cienega and they turn back. If that happens, wait for the next Culver City train. In London, they have a maze of rail lines, switches, junctions, etc. On top of that, everything seems to be built ad hoc. Yet, things operate smoothly. Here in Los Angeles, they haven't been able to figure out one single switch in three years. I wouldn't assume London works all smoothly. I lived there the summer of 2004, and there were times when the rail line was under emergency maintenance on Sundays and we had to wait 60 - 90 minutes for a train. We would get into work late sometimes on a weekday because a trespasser was on the tracks or unfortunate track malfunctions. Just because we're surrounded by LA and you hear the negativity of rail effects here, doesn't mean other cities don't experience the same in the same or greater quantity. Bad things happen everywhere, it's just that you are more attune with LA that you believe it happens here and nowhere else.
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Post by TransportationZ on Apr 20, 2015 7:27:37 GMT -8
So, it turns out that the Hayden Avenue / National Boulevard switches are malfunctioning. Lots of delays these days. Some trains are unable to go past La Cienega and they turn back. If that happens, wait for the next Culver City train. In London, they have a maze of rail lines, switches, junctions, etc. On top of that, everything seems to be built ad hoc. Yet, things operate smoothly. Here in Los Angeles, they haven't been able to figure out one single switch in three years. I wouldn't assume London works all smoothly. I lived there the summer of 2004, and there were times when the rail line was under emergency maintenance on Sundays and we had to wait 60 - 90 minutes for a train. We would get into work late sometimes on a weekday because a trespasser was on the tracks or unfortunate track malfunctions. Just because we're surrounded by LA and you hear the negativity of rail effects here, doesn't mean other cities don't experience the same in the same or greater quantity. Bad things happen everywhere, it's just that you are more attune with LA that you believe it happens here and nowhere else. London is also a 100+ year old system. They fact we are having these issues on infrastructure built 3-4 years ago is quite frankly, embarrassing.
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Post by Gokhan on May 12, 2015 20:56:17 GMT -8
Note that the correct Expo Line length is about 15.27 miles, roughly 8.73 for miles for Phase 1 and 6.54 miles for Phase 2. In Phase 1, they don't use reserve trains. In Phase 2, they will use 2 reserve trains and 17 actually running trains. That's what the number 19 comes from. cycle time = number of actually running trains x headway = 17 x 6 minutes = 102 minutes Since the travel time is 92 minutes round-trip, there will be 10 minutes total wait at the ends of line (102 - 92 minutes), probably divided as 7 minutes at Santa Monica and 3 minutes at Metro Center. Since the wait at Santa Monica exceeds the headway (6 minutes) and equals the combined Blue/Expo Lines headway (3 minutes) at Metro Center, it could create some problems with the trains blocking each other's paths. If they ran 16 trains instead, the wait would be 2 minutes at each end, which is then too short.
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Post by Gokhan on Jun 2, 2015 11:06:44 GMT -8
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Post by Gokhan on Jun 10, 2015 11:53:45 GMT -8
They are having problems with the Hayden Ave / National Blvd interlocking switch in Culver City again, trains being delayed up to 20 minutes. It's been so many years since the Expo Line Phase 1 opening and they still cannot repair this interlocking switch.
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Post by Gokhan on Jun 17, 2015 16:20:29 GMT -8
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f ron
Full Member
Posts: 222
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Post by f ron on Jun 17, 2015 17:49:04 GMT -8
And to think they claim that the Passenger Pigeon is extinct!
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Post by Gokhan on Jun 18, 2015 15:01:42 GMT -8
And to think they claim that the Passenger Pigeon is extinct! I didn't know about this. It's so sad that humans managed to drive the most abundant bird in America to extinction in two decades.
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Post by Gokhan on Jun 18, 2015 15:06:26 GMT -8
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Post by Gokhan on Jul 9, 2015 13:02:45 GMT -8
Official Expo Line Culver City Station pigeon (with white wing tips and white head top) with her husband today. They both boarded the train at the Culver City Station platform this time and got off against the loud screams of the boarding passengers at the La Cienega Station platform.
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Post by Gokhan on Jul 10, 2015 10:36:21 GMT -8
Not surprisingly, the married couple were back at the Culver City Station when I came back in the evening. I wonder if they bothered to fly back or took the westbound train?
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Post by bzcat on Jul 10, 2015 10:58:11 GMT -8
Did those pigeons tap in? Metro is losing revenue!
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Post by darrell on Jul 13, 2015 20:13:16 GMT -8
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Post by mattapoisett on Jul 15, 2015 14:42:59 GMT -8
Did something change at Farmdale today? We pulled out of there like a bat outta hell on my ride home and I think it pulled in at a normal speed and not 10 mph.
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Post by masonite on Jul 15, 2015 15:20:02 GMT -8
Did something change at Farmdale today? We pulled out of there like a bat outta hell on my ride home and I think it pulled in at a normal speed and not 10 mph. I am sure just an aggressive operator.
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Post by mattapoisett on Jul 15, 2015 16:41:16 GMT -8
I am sure just an aggressive operator. That is what automatic train control is there to prevent. There was no sign it was engaged at Farmdale, but it was there like normal for the other stops. I will say my bat out of hell comment wasn't quite right, the speed was similar to pulling away from La Brea or La Cienega..
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Post by masonite on Jul 15, 2015 16:58:17 GMT -8
I am sure just an aggressive operator. That is what automatic train control is there to prevent. There was no sign it was engaged at Farmdale, but it was there like normal for the other stops. I will say my bat out of hell comment wasn't quite right, the speed was similar to pulling away from La Brea or La Cienega.. Well, lets see if it keeps happening, although I would doubt it since it violates the legal agreements. I don't really ride Expo much anymore and probably won't until Phase II opens.
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Post by Gokhan on Jul 15, 2015 21:46:21 GMT -8
Did something change at Farmdale today? We pulled out of there like a bat outta hell on my ride home and I think it pulled in at a normal speed and not 10 mph. Which direction were you going? Track signal loop is right after the crossing in the eastbound direction; therefore, the trains can accelerate fast to 55 MPH in the eastbound direction as soon as the nose of the train clears the crossing. However, this is not possible in the westbound direction, as they stupidly put the track signal loop 500 ft away from the crossing and the trains needlessly crawl in the westbound direction for a minute before they can start to accelerate to 55 MPH.
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Post by mattapoisett on Jul 15, 2015 22:43:03 GMT -8
Which direction were you going? Track signal loop is right after the crossing in the eastbound direction; therefore, the trains can accelerate fast to 55 MPH in the eastbound direction as soon as the nose of the train clears the crossing. However, this is not possible in the westbound direction, as they stupidly put the track signal loop 500 ft away from the crossing and the trains needlessly crawl in the westbound direction for a minute before they can start to accelerate to 55 MPH. I was heading eastbound. In the 2+ years have been taking it several times a week I've never experienced acceleration like I did today. The train seemingly did it from the point it started to move. On the way into the station I was paying attention to my phone and didn't look up until i felt the acceleration from the station. I'll pay better attention over the next few days.
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Post by Gokhan on Jul 15, 2015 23:50:36 GMT -8
Which direction were you going? Track signal loop is right after the crossing in the eastbound direction; therefore, the trains can accelerate fast to 55 MPH in the eastbound direction as soon as the nose of the train clears the crossing. However, this is not possible in the westbound direction, as they stupidly put the track signal loop 500 ft away from the crossing and the trains needlessly crawl in the westbound direction for a minute before they can start to accelerate to 55 MPH. I was heading eastbound. In the 2+ years have been taking it several times a week I've never experienced acceleration like I did today. The train seemingly did it from the point it started to move. On the way into the station I was paying attention to my phone and didn't look up until i felt the acceleration from the station. I'll pay better attention over the next few days. It's always been like this. ATP is only a problem in the westbound direction. In the eastbound direction, the loop is located just past the crossing. Therefore, the operator can go full throttle practically from the full stop. Also, Nippon Sharyo is more forgiving with ATP and it doesn't kick in immediately. Siemens may need its nose going over the loop, which is located right past the crossing as I said. However, in the westbound direction, trains always crawl until they reach the loop located about 500 ft away from the crossing.
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Post by Gokhan on Aug 18, 2015 14:30:59 GMT -8
On the Expo Line southern track (track no. 3) just east of 17th Street in Santa Monica. Imagine what could have happened if trains were running. It's good thing that she wasn't driving wrong way -- driving properly eastbound on track no. 3.
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f ron
Full Member
Posts: 222
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Post by f ron on Aug 18, 2015 15:03:55 GMT -8
It's a mighty confusing intersection if one isn't prepared for it. I expect it won't be long before some very prominent striping goes down on the road to better direct drivers. I hope Metro takes this as a 'warning shot'. This could have been really ugly.
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Post by Gokhan on Sept 16, 2015 13:51:50 GMT -8
Official Expo Line Culver City Station pigeon (with white wing tips and white head top) with her husband yesterday evening. They are waiting to ride the train to the beach.
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Post by Gokhan on Nov 4, 2015 15:24:11 GMT -8
I spotted the Culver City Station pigeon Tuesday last week greeting the people boarding off the train as usual: Apparently this Hermosa Beach Police Department cop chased this motorcyclist all the way to the Palms Station:
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Post by Gokhan on Nov 5, 2015 14:14:48 GMT -8
Metro Sheriff watchtower on the Culver City station western plaza (that still has to be constructed):
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Post by Gokhan on Nov 19, 2015 17:18:35 GMT -8
Expo Line Culver City Station pigeon riding the train and relaxing in the sun on the platform. She is very sweet -- would make a good pet pigeon.
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