|
Post by John Ryan on Jan 29, 2016 23:15:34 GMT -8
Expo Line to Santa Monica opening May 21: Source
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Feb 16, 2016 16:57:31 GMT -8
|
|
f ron
Full Member
Posts: 222
|
Post by f ron on Feb 17, 2016 15:55:47 GMT -8
I took some pictures of the completed Northvale Road trench from the Dunleer Drive pedestrian bridge yesterday around dusk. There was a Nippon Sharyo rail car shuttling to and from the Palms Station at the posted 35 MPH speed limit. The high-pitch screeches of the wheels at the curved track around the bridge were loud at the park level but the trench should block most of the sound from reaching the homes. The overhead wires apparently make sounds like crickets after the train passes by. I don't know my rail cars by make but if the Nippon Sharyo you saw and heard is the basically white with horizontal yellow stripe dress then I can tell you it's an incredibly loud and squeaky P.O.S. test train. It's obnoxiously loud. There's not a single track adjacent home along the trench that doesn't hear that one come by. The other test trains have been relatively quiet --one even, which looks 'new' to my eyes-- is remarkably so. Hardly any mechanical sounds at all just a whoosh as it passes by. Metro needs to take the white one behind some maintenance facility somewhere and put a bullet though it. It's an embarrassment.
|
|
|
Post by bzcat on Feb 25, 2016 14:53:26 GMT -8
Saw a single Nippon Sharyo train crossing Overland this morning. Now that we know revenue service starts on May 20, when does full simulation tests start?
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Feb 25, 2016 15:58:09 GMT -8
Saw a single Nippon Sharyo train crossing Overland this morning. Now that we know revenue service starts on May 20, when does full simulation tests start? Prerevenue operation should start circa Monday, April 18, 2016.
|
|
|
Post by tramfan on Feb 29, 2016 14:15:30 GMT -8
On Sunday they were applying soundproofing on Northvale, Overland and Westwood station on the concrete sound wall. They installed mesh and sprayed cement based soundproofing on it. On top of the sound wall between Overland and Westwood station they installed as it looks like temporary wooden panels to heighten the sound wall. Photos on Expoline fan's Ipernity site.
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Feb 29, 2016 14:18:11 GMT -8
On Sunday they were applying soundproofing on Northvale, Overland and Westwood station on the concrete sound wall. They installed mesh and sprayed cement based soundproofing on it. On top of the sound wall between Overland and Westwood station they installed as it looks like temporary wooden panels to heighten the sound wall. Photos on Expoline fan's Ipernity site. Heighten? I thought they were already too high at 8 ft. How ugly does this have to get? Why not put the train in a storm-drain-like structure and be over with it?
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Feb 29, 2016 14:45:31 GMT -8
On Sunday they were applying soundproofing on Northvale, Overland and Westwood station on the concrete sound wall. They installed mesh and sprayed cement based soundproofing on it. On top of the sound wall between Overland and Westwood station they installed as it looks like temporary wooden panels to heighten the sound wall. Photos on Expoline fan's Ipernity site. Heighten? I thought they were already too high at 8 ft. How ugly does this have to get? Why not put the train in a storm-drain-like structure and be over with it? I think these are really privacy walls, not sound walls. They are heightening them probably because some homeowners complained about privacy. After they heighten them, people won't be able to see the outside at all. Ironically, Phase 1 people, Clint Simmons et al., demanded the same thing but they didn't get it.
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Feb 29, 2016 15:24:00 GMT -8
This could also be a mistake by Metro, who confused this with the border wall.
Donald Trump: "I will, and the wall just got 10-feet-taller, believe me."
|
|
f ron
Full Member
Posts: 222
|
Post by f ron on Feb 29, 2016 15:34:01 GMT -8
They're not heightening the walls. They're spraying the wall interiors with acoustic stucco. What you're seeing up top are masks to prevent overspray.
It would seem that the walls aren't passing muster in relation to the decibels that the trains are creating --given some of the incredibly loud trains they've run during testing, I'm not surprised. Now the interior walls are having 1.75" of stucco sprayed onto them .125" at a time. It's gonna take a while to finish the job.
Unfortunately these masks were not applied along the segment between Palms Park and Overland Avenue. Now there's a permanent frosting of stucco about 12 feet wide covering the ground the entire length of the project. I don't know how bound the contractors are to environmental pollution and what, if any, clean up policy that have but they completely blew it in this case. It looks like the site on an industrial accident over here.
At the very least they have the good sense to protect the multi-million dollar investment of landscaping and bike facilities.
|
|
|
Post by joshuanickel on Mar 5, 2016 20:00:53 GMT -8
They're not heightening the walls. They're spraying the wall interiors with acoustic stucco. What you're seeing up top are masks to prevent overspray. It would seem that the walls aren't passing muster in relation to the decibels that the trains are creating --given some of the incredibly loud trains they've run during testing, I'm not surprised. Now the interior walls are having 1.75" of stucco sprayed onto them .125" at a time. It's gonna take a while to finish the job. Unfortunately these masks were not applied along the segment between Palms Park and Overland Avenue. Now there's a permanent frosting of stucco about 12 feet wide covering the ground the entire length of the project. I don't know how bound the contractors are to environmental pollution and what, if any, clean up policy that have but they completely blew it in this case. It looks like the site on an industrial accident over here. At the very least they have the good sense to protect the multi-million dollar investment of landscaping and bike facilities. This past week, they were also applying stucco to the inside of the walls at the Olympic Bridge and Pico Bridge where they run pretty close to apartment buildings.
|
|
|
Post by tramfan on Mar 7, 2016 13:25:38 GMT -8
Because of this "sound proofing" almost no test trains were running last week. This morning they started testing again.
|
|
f ron
Full Member
Posts: 222
|
Post by f ron on Mar 7, 2016 16:03:31 GMT -8
They're not heightening the walls. They're spraying the wall interiors with acoustic stucco. What you're seeing up top are masks to prevent overspray. It would seem that the walls aren't passing muster in relation to the decibels that the trains are creating --given some of the incredibly loud trains they've run during testing, I'm not surprised. Now the interior walls are having 1.75" of stucco sprayed onto them .125" at a time. It's gonna take a while to finish the job. Unfortunately these masks were not applied along the segment between Palms Park and Overland Avenue. Now there's a permanent frosting of stucco about 12 feet wide covering the ground the entire length of the project. I don't know how bound the contractors are to environmental pollution and what, if any, clean up policy that have but they completely blew it in this case. It looks like the site on an industrial accident over here. At the very least they have the good sense to protect the multi-million dollar investment of landscaping and bike facilities. This past week, they were also applying stucco to the inside of the walls at the Olympic Bridge and Pico Bridge where they run pretty close to apartment buildings. I gotta wonder how much of this apparent 11th hour decision to do this work comes from the realization that there won't be a fleet of quiet-running new trains on the line when it opens but rather older stock which is on the whole much louder and in not as quite good repair?
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Mar 8, 2016 14:41:26 GMT -8
|
|
|
Post by johanragle on Mar 8, 2016 15:51:15 GMT -8
My eastbound Gold Line train last night passed a new Kinkisharyo train heading westbound. Couldn't tell if anyone was on it (low demand for that route at that hour) but if I get to ride one I'll definitely share some photos.
|
|
|
Post by thanks4goingmetro on Mar 10, 2016 10:26:06 GMT -8
We rode the two-car P3010 car on the Gold Line twice, I didn't get any pictures but I think the seat layout is superior to other models (bigger seats, more legroom, not awkward), the acceleration is quieter and faster, the automated voice announcements were clearer, and I really liked the LCD displays that show the next 4 stops and the last stop, similar to the digital displays on the NYC Subway but with a different layout.
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Mar 22, 2016 13:46:14 GMT -8
Prerevenue started on Sunday. Trains no longer turn back at Culver City but continue all the way to Santa Monica after holding for about a couple of minutes and making sure that no passengers are left inside. Eastbound trains come from Santa Monica and Expo Line is now exclusively operated from the Stewart Street Yard (Division 14) in Santa Monica. Prerevenue trains do not open and close doors. However, they are also running a lot of P3010 break-in trains, which open and close doors. They are required to be broken in for 1,500 miles. Trains are still being operated at somewhat lower speeds, especially in Palms, where there haven't really been test trains before.
Here is a video of two trains crossing Bagley Avenue, unfortunately out of focus, thanks to probably a dirty lens:
|
|
|
Post by fissure on Mar 22, 2016 21:33:07 GMT -8
I've been riding the bike path to work from Sawtelle to 26th; it's cool to pass a few trains on each ride. They seemed to be running slower than necessary to me too. They should be hitting full speed at Barrington but appeared to be doing 40 at most.
|
|
f ron
Full Member
Posts: 222
|
Post by f ron on Mar 23, 2016 7:54:57 GMT -8
And through the Northvale segment as well, they seem to be running at less than the maximum allows. I believe the zone is rated for 35mph. I'd guess they're doing about 20-25.
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Mar 23, 2016 15:16:18 GMT -8
Here is a properly focused video at Bagley Avenue, taken today. Trains seemed to be running faster today and surprisingly they were running three-car trains. Perhaps they have learned their lesson from the Gold Line Azusa extension opening. They are also running P3010 break-in trains but they turn back west at the Culver City Station.
I was surprised that they still have the 10 MPH speed limit in the westbound direction at the Culver City Station, both the posted sign and ATP programming. In addition, they still have the posted 20 MPH speed limit at the National Boulevard crossover near Hayden Avenue in Culver City in both directions.
|
|
|
Post by rail2love on Mar 23, 2016 19:07:55 GMT -8
I saw a new train at the 23rd street station around 11 today. I think they are running break in trains all the way to 7th metro
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Mar 23, 2016 23:35:44 GMT -8
It seems to turn back from various locations. I doubt it goes as far as the shared track because that would be problematic with frequent Blue Line trains.
I saw Car 1019 shuttling back and forth several times today.
|
|
|
Post by davebowman on Mar 24, 2016 10:00:29 GMT -8
Last night I was driving southbound on 20th street in Santa Monica and could see an eastbound train going through the crossing a couple blocks away. By the time I got there the gates were up, but traffic was backed up because of a red light on Olympic and the car in front of me was stuck on the tracks. The driver evidently did not understand the concept of KEEP CLEAR, and not going forward until you're sure you can get through the crossing on the other side. Luckily the red light changed before another train came through, and the driver behind me left room for me to back up so the car on the tracks could back out of the crossing if necessary, but it could have been very dicey. I think there is still a learning curve for a lot of LA drivers when it comes to train crossings.
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Mar 24, 2016 13:30:11 GMT -8
Last night I was driving southbound on 20th street in Santa Monica and could see an eastbound train going through the crossing a couple blocks away. By the time I got there the gates were up, but traffic was backed up because of a red light on Olympic and the car in front of me was stuck on the tracks. The driver evidently did not understand the concept of KEEP CLEAR, and not going forward until you're sure you can get through the crossing on the other side. Luckily the red light changed before another train came through, and the driver behind me left room for me to back up so the car on the tracks could back out of the crossing if necessary, but it could have been very dicey. I think there is still a learning curve for a lot of LA drivers when it comes to train crossings. Yup, you should never stop on railroad tracks for any reason, regardless of lights, traffic, etc. It's an invitation for an accident to happen.
|
|
|
Post by johanragle on Mar 24, 2016 15:21:55 GMT -8
Yup, you should never stop on railroad tracks for any reason, regardless of lights, traffic, etc. It's an invitation for an accident to happen. My father was crossing the San Fernando tracks at Sunland a number of years back (before the signal improvements there) when the driver in front of us stopped on a yellow light instead of proceeding. We were stuck (in a heavy-duty pickup with reinforced bumpers, mind you) with the truck's rear end hanging over onto the tracks. It was one of those situations where you can't help but wonder "What's the worst thing that could happen right now?" and sure enough, a few second later the crossing bells started chiming as a southbound Metrolink train was approaching. He shifted the truck into low gear and was about to push the other driver out of the way when the light FINALLY turned green. Moral of the story: don't expect drivers to behave rationally. Always expect the worst and don't put yourself into dangerous situations.
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Mar 25, 2016 13:05:05 GMT -8
Yup, you should never stop on railroad tracks for any reason, regardless of lights, traffic, etc. It's an invitation for an accident to happen. My father was crossing the San Fernando tracks at Sunland a number of years back (before the signal improvements there) when the driver in front of us stopped on a yellow light instead of proceeding. We were stuck (in a heavy-duty pickup with reinforced bumpers, mind you) with the truck's rear end hanging over onto the tracks. It was one of those situations where you can't help but wonder "What's the worst thing that could happen right now?" and sure enough, a few second later the crossing bells started chiming as a southbound Metrolink train was approaching. He shifted the truck into low gear and was about to push the other driver out of the way when the light FINALLY turned green. Moral of the story: don't expect drivers to behave rationally. Always expect the worst and don't put yourself into dangerous situations. Unless I am missing something here, from what you wrote, it doesn't sound like it was the other driver's fault. Of course, he will stop at yellow, like any good driver will do. You must make 100% sure that you can clear the tracks before you proceed, regardless of whether the light is green, yellow, or red. 50 - 60% sure is not enough.
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Mar 25, 2016 13:06:54 GMT -8
I also saw Car 1020 on Expo Line yesterday, in addition to Car 1019. Seats are still covered with plastic film. It was very dirty on the outside.
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Mar 25, 2016 13:10:30 GMT -8
I was surprised that they still have the 10 MPH speed limit in the westbound direction at the Culver City Station, both the posted sign and ATP programming. In addition, they still have the posted 20 MPH speed limit at the National Boulevard crossover near Hayden Avenue in Culver City in both directions. Metro says that they have a couple of speed restrictions, due to systems issues. Nothing major -- temporary.
|
|
|
Post by tramfan on Mar 28, 2016 11:51:23 GMT -8
Some observations from one week of pre revenue operations:
Metro has been riding two car trains exclusively from early in the morning to late at night and in the weekend. Break-in or instruction KS 1021, 1020, 1019 have been riding in between the scheduled trains. The Bagley, Overland and Military crossings have the bells stop as soon as the gates are down; Barrington, Steward, 26th Street, 19th Street, 20th Street and the 17th Street bike and pedestrian crossings have their bells going continuously until the gates are up (can the sound of the bells be adjusted or are they legally bound by a certain decibel value?) The station announcements are active when trains are pulling in warning the (non existent yet) passengers that a train is coming and to stand clear behind the yellow line. Trains are using their horn on crossings mostly the long, long, short-long way. At night after 10 PM and before 6 AM they infrequently do not use the horn. On the street running section in Santa Monica the NS trains all use their horns while the Siemens trains use their gong or bells (Does anybody know what the official Metro or CPUC procedure is? Horns for gated crossings and gongs or bells for street running? Do the KS and NS trains have gongs or bells?) All construction fences for the bike path are removed with the exception of 17th Street to 19th Street.
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Mar 28, 2016 16:07:13 GMT -8
Some observations from one week of pre revenue operations: Metro has been riding two car trains exclusively from early in the morning to late at night and in the weekend. Break-in or instruction KS 1021, 1020, 1019 have been riding in between the scheduled trains. The Bagley, Overland and Military crossings have the bells stop as soon as the gates are down; Barrington, Steward, 26th Street, 19th Street, 20th Street and the 17th Street bike and pedestrian crossings have their bells going continuously until the gates are up (can the sound of the bells be adjusted or are they legally bound by a certain decibel value?) The station announcements are active when trains are pulling in warning the (non existent yet) passengers that a train is coming and to stand clear behind the yellow line. Trains are using their horn on crossings mostly the long, long, short-long way. At night after 10 PM and before 6 AM they infrequently do not use the horn. On the street running section in Santa Monica the NS trains all use their horns while the Siemens trains use their gong or bells (Does anybody know what the official Metro or CPUC procedure is? Horns for gated crossings and gongs or bells for street running? Do the KS and NS trains have gongs or bells?) All construction fences for the bike path are removed with the exception of 17th Street to 19th Street. They sometimes run three-car trains as well -- one day I saw at least three different three-car Nippon Sharyo trains. There is no CPUC requirement for horns or bells at traffic-light-controlled crossings. It's entirely up to the operator to blow the regular horn, quacker horn, ring the bell, or play no sound at all.
|
|