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Post by spokker on Jun 22, 2009 12:08:21 GMT -8
that perspective coming out of the tunnel looking straight at the downtown skyline has to be the star of the metro system. beautiful If you're the operator.
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Post by whitmanlam on Jun 27, 2009 15:19:07 GMT -8
What's the word on expected revenue service ... Opening Day ?? Is there an official timeline for this ?
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Post by Transit Coalition on Jun 27, 2009 17:26:02 GMT -8
What's the word on expected revenue service ... Opening Day ?? Is there an official timeline for this ? Pre-Revenue service will start after all the safety checks are completed. This is a first time rail line and the safety critical steps come first. When each and every item on the punch list pass muster, the 6 weeks of pre-revenue testing will being. At some point, an announcement will be made and we will all know. Until then, just be patient.
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Post by kenalpern on Jun 27, 2009 22:57:14 GMT -8
Mentally, I'm anticipating September (by the beginning of school) as a "worst case scenario". That way, I won't be disappointed if it doesn't start earlier.
I suspect it'll be ready some time in the summer, however.
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Post by bluelineshawn on Jun 28, 2009 17:58:15 GMT -8
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Post by joshuanickel on Jun 29, 2009 19:28:27 GMT -8
Has anyone tried the new line 632 "gold line" bus?
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Post by wad on Jul 1, 2009 4:46:47 GMT -8
Has anyone tried the new line 632 "gold line" bus? I did.
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Post by wakko11 on Jul 1, 2009 8:38:55 GMT -8
Has anyone tried the new line 632 "gold line" bus? I did.What type of buses are they running? Is it as frequent as MTA claims?
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Post by wad on Jul 2, 2009 3:57:02 GMT -8
What type of buses are they running? Is it as frequent as MTA claims? It's Division 10 stock, and what it had yesterday was all Neoplans. Yes, the buses are as scheduled, 10 in the peaks and 15 midday. A trip east is about 25 minutes, west is about 30. The west trip is longer because of a twisty route the bus must take since it can't go across First Street. It goes up Mission to the 101, then gets out at Vignes -- right at the Gateway Center. But it doesn't go in. It makes a right, goes under the 101 and makes another right on that small street where the 101 eastbound off-ramp to Alameda is. Then it turns on another small street -- and it's a very scary turn -- and then heads back to First Street to stop near Little Tokyo station.
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joequality
Junior Member
Bitte, ein Bit!
Posts: 88
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Post by joequality on Jul 3, 2009 15:59:43 GMT -8
I took it on Wednesday, too. It was almost empty aside from a couple of people that got on/off around Mariachi and Indiana. Essentially it was the same experience that Wad posted about: the drivers said people didn't know what the bus was for, and the underground stations had much work left to be done.
The line should be a success, regardless, once it eventually opens.
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Post by Justin Walker on Jul 3, 2009 17:57:18 GMT -8
the underground stations had much work left to be done. This video of politicians touring the line makes it look like the underground stations are done.
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Post by joshuanickel on Jul 4, 2009 0:59:11 GMT -8
the underground stations had much work left to be done. This video of politicians touring the line makes it look like the underground stations are done. The video only shows the mezzanine level. Not the platforms.
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Post by James Fujita on Jul 4, 2009 9:24:54 GMT -8
I don't know if the underground stations are done or not, but it seems to me if you have LaHood along for a ride, you'd want to make sure that it was at least reasonably well done in any case, I believe that video is the first glimpse that I've had inside those stations... thanks, MTA...
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Post by losangeles2319 on Jul 4, 2009 10:52:06 GMT -8
I think my favorite part of that video was on the paragraph describing it when it said: "An opening date should be announced soon following additional testing" I know everybody's been saying that all the time and "additional testing" could be any amount of time but just the fact that it's on the website is exciting.
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Post by bluelineshawn on Jul 8, 2009 17:29:31 GMT -8
Finally the test trains were out this afternoon. They may have been out all week, but they weren't last week that I saw. I was there at about 3:00 pm. I didn't time the trains, but they could have been running at 12-minute headways which would mean that trains continued through from Union Station. It was close to that, so I would guess that was it. But they weren't running normally. For example the train in the picture below stopped for 3-4 minutes at the King Taco station. They also didn't appear to be going as far as to open and close doors to simulate service. I was driving next to the train for a couple of miles and as near as I could tell it never went faster than 35 mph. Mostly around 30 mph. Because of construction I had to sit through several lights at the 710 intersection and still almost caught back up with the train. It seems like a slow ride based on my one observation. Oh, and I also saw the 632 bus eastbound (south) on Indiana. I was stopped at the light so I was able to get an estimated count of the people on board. I counted one person. Double that if you include the operator.
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Post by Justin Walker on Jul 9, 2009 15:51:50 GMT -8
Well, the Eastside Extension is now on the Metro Bus/Rail System Map (but there's still nothing to ride just yet). (Click image to view the full map.)
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Post by wad on Jul 10, 2009 3:48:07 GMT -8
Well, the Eastside Extension is now on the Metro Bus/Rail System Map (but there's still nothing to ride just yet). No, there is. Maybe you just hadn't heard about it.
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Post by Transit Coalition on Jul 10, 2009 5:50:50 GMT -8
Finally the test trains were out this afternoon. They may have been out all week, but they weren't last week that I saw. I was there at about 3:00 pm. I didn't time the trains, but they could have been running at 12-minute headways which would mean that trains continued through from Union Station. It was close to that, so I would guess that was it. But they weren't running normally. For example the train in the picture below stopped for 3-4 minutes at the King Taco station. They also didn't appear to be going as far as to open and close doors to simulate service. I was driving next to the train for a couple of miles and as near as I could tell it never went faster than 35 mph. Mostly around 30 mph. Because of construction I had to sit through several lights at the 710 intersection and still almost caught back up with the train. It seems like a slow ride based on my one observation. Oh, and I also saw the 632 bus eastbound (south) on Indiana. I was stopped at the light so I was able to get an estimated count of the people on board. I counted one person. Double that if you include the operator. OK, let's be absolutely clear. Metro is out testing trains. But the actual six weeks of pre-revenue testing is still perhaps weeks away. The testing and certification of safety critical tunnel ventilation systems is still pending and the City of LA Fire Department and the Public Utilities Commission will act when Metro believes the systems can successfully pass. When that finally happens, then there will be a week of capacity tests where the trains will run using, when possible three car sets with a five minute frequency to see if the design specifications perform. Then, when that is successful, there will be six weeks of actual pre-revenue testing. I hope this clarifies.
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Post by darrell on Jul 10, 2009 14:28:01 GMT -8
Very nice photo, BlueLineShawn -- the composition of train, station canopy, trees, and flowers! Here is a test train returning to Union Station around 1:30 this afternoon. It stopped for the operator to get out, move the red flags on the track and un-padlock the yellow wheel stops, before proceeding into the station and on to the yard. You can see some of the sandbags that were in its seats and doorways in the middle photo.
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Post by James Fujita on Jul 10, 2009 16:35:11 GMT -8
Greetings from the lobby of the Miyako Hotel in Little Tokyo!
Today I got to combine my two favorite hobbies: trains and anime as I took Amtrak down from the Central Valley to downtown Los Angeles.
(The only other place where I can do that is Akihabara in Tokyo)
When I arrived at Union Station, I immediately headed for the Gold Line, where they were testing trains. I missed Darrell by about an hour. I took the Gold Line up to Chinatown and back, taking pictures along the way.
Later I joined SoCaTa for their tour of the Gold Line emulator, which actually had passengers besides the transit nerds! (Wow)
I got off at the Little Tokyo stop (sorry, SoCaTa guys), took some more pictures of the station, and I've been indulging my other addiction (anime's motto: "crack would be cheaper") this afternoon.
My experience today tells me that the Little Tokyo stop will be a popular one. At least, for people with my particular hobbies, a-heh.
Unfortunately, my camera has this weird thing where you have to download the software before you can download photos or video, and I can't do that on a public computer, so my YouTube and Flickr uploads will have to wait until tomorrow... sorry about that...
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Post by James Fujita on Jul 12, 2009 9:21:29 GMT -8
so, I'm finally getting around to uploading my Gold Line construction photos and video from yesterday and Friday... it's taking forever because I took a lot of pictures... here's the best one so far: www.youtube.com/watch?v=LY8aKf9aoPs
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Post by Jason Saunders on Jul 16, 2009 9:48:32 GMT -8
I really like the pattern on this wall. The wall is on the ramp that leads to the 101 aerial structure in Little Tokyo.
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Post by bobdavis on Jul 16, 2009 14:26:11 GMT -8
(lack of) Progress Report: This morning's visit to Union Station (for a Metro meeting at the Taj of Transit) made it clear that simulated revenue testing hasn't started yet: The yellow rail blocks and red flags were in place south of the LAUS platform.
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Post by bluelineshawn on Jul 16, 2009 19:25:58 GMT -8
According to the Operations Handout from this months agenda, simulated revenue testing isn't due to start until August!?! Oh well, the people that were counting on September (Ken ) so as not to be disappointed may still end up as disappointed as I am. Not terribly, but it is a little disappointing nonetheless. The good news is that the ventilation testing is complete.
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Post by Transit Coalition on Jul 16, 2009 19:42:06 GMT -8
According to the Operations Handout from this months agenda, simulated revenue testing isn't due to start until August!?! Oh well, the people that were counting on September (Ken ) so as not to be disappointed may still end up as disappointed as I am. Not terribly, but it is a little disappointing nonetheless. The good news is that the ventilation testing is complete. There are at least 4 more weeks of testing, according to key Metro Rail officials that I spoke to today. Art Leahy indicated and told the board today that it would be late August until the Pre-Revenue testing would be starting, so October would be an honest guess at this point from executive comment and the desire to see all systems and safety critical elements working. As Art pointed out, Metro promised the Feds that East LA would be running by December and October is still on-time and on-budget.
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Post by bluelineshawn on Jul 16, 2009 21:37:55 GMT -8
I can believe that it's on budget, but not on time. It's on time only so far as they never really promised an opening date. Other than that we can see from the hire date of the ambassadors, to the stated fare gate testing June 15-30, that they had every intention of starting revenue service by the end of June. A promise to the Feds has nothing to do with anything. What does that even mean? Is that a contractual arrangement?
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Post by Transit Coalition on Jul 16, 2009 23:39:41 GMT -8
I can believe that it's on budget, but not on time. It's on time only so far as they never really promised an opening date. Other than that we can see from the hire date of the ambassadors, to the stated fare gate testing June 15-30, that they had every intention of starting revenue service by the end of June. A promise to the Feds has nothing to do with anything. What does that even mean? Is that a contractual arrangement? There is, in fact, a legal agreement with the Federal Government to open the line by the end of the year. That is the only date anywhere where there is a promised opening date. It looked like the primary infrastructure construction would be completed by late April / early May of this year. One would assume that all the electronics and the other safety critical systems would just turn on and be perfect, just like walking into your home and turning on a light switch. This turned out to be wonderfully over optimistic. Every single software and technical system that could then be tested for the first time has some type of issue or challenge. Then, Art and Mike had the peer review team come in and give everything a exhaustive going over. The peer review had high marks for the new system, but another large punch list of tests and items to complete. The peer review estimated another six weeks of burn in, before pre-revenue, which comes out to the last week of August. (And, personally, as a member of a Peer Safety Review Team, I know first hand how technical the industry "top dogs" can be and how exhaustively they look at every single detail.) Now, I am sure everyone is anxious to get a crack at riding the new system. But, Metro and the railroad industry learned some hard lessons from Chatsworth and other start up challenges at other transit properties. That is Safety Critical Systems must perform. Period. And, there is only one chance to do things right. Any type of mistake could mar the line for years to come and harm a sure to grow ridership. The start up signs you mentioned were just steps in a long path. Everyone on the Executive Level had a target when Construction would turn over a completed project to Operations, but there were never any set dates when all systems would be a "go". If anyone here wants to "deep dive" and get really technical, I could bring in some of the start up Executives to one of our Transit Coalition dinner meetings, where we could all learn every single item on the Start Up Punch List and all the challenges. Is it really fair that you have expectations that are in excess of Railroad Safety? TTC has had some very good relations with the Metro Rail Executives and they are very open about the issues and challenges they face. Perhaps I don't share every detail, but the Execs are a pretty open group. And they seem committed to getting everything to work correctly and are using the extra time to give the Operators a whole lot more training. OK, I hope this helps. Come back with more questions and concerns and I will get the answers that you want.
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Post by metrocenter on Jul 17, 2009 7:17:10 GMT -8
It's been decades since the Eastside had rail. It's been years since the project was initiated. And it's already July 2009, only three months until October. Three months isn't that long in the scheme of things.
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Post by James Fujita on Jul 17, 2009 12:23:35 GMT -8
Bart, your explanation is both undeniable and logical.
however, I am a human being and not a Vulcan. I am still disappointed that I likely won't be taking the train to Nisei Week this year. sorry.
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Post by spokker on Jul 17, 2009 13:50:57 GMT -8
The wait for the Gold Line extension reminds me of the process of waiting for a big movie or video game to come out. The answer is the same. Delays are common (if you can even call it a delay) and it'll be done when it's done. You want them to get this thing right, unless you want a buggy product.
Harry Potter's release was delayed eight months and nerds were outraged. It happens.
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