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Post by tonyw79sfv on Oct 14, 2007 16:22:06 GMT -8
www.metrolinktrains.com/news/?id=1721www.santa-clarita.com/For the commuters of Santa Clarita, extra cars will be added to existing trains and there will be added service to the Metrolink Antelope Valley Line. There will also be expanded parking, like utilizing the Saugus Speedway as extra lots for the Santa Clarita/Soledad station and shuttles from remote lots. Santa Clarita Transit passes will be accepted for Metrolink service. This is very remiscent of the Northridge Earthquake situation (which extended the line, formerly the Santa Clarita Line, to Antelope Valley 10 - 15 years early).
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Post by avcommuter on Oct 14, 2007 19:40:51 GMT -8
Looks like I'll be having fun getting to school tomorrow as I commute from Palmdale to Santa Monica 4 times a week to get to SMC (long story  ). Usually switch around between taking the Santa Clarita Transit 795/797 and the Antelope Valley line to Union Station and connect to BBB's Line 10. It's going to be interesting what greets me tomorrow morning when I do either routes. Reminiscent indeed, I haven't seen/noticed the I-5/State 14 interchange this deserted since '94! Now those were fun times getting from the Antelope Valley to the Basin...  |
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Post by LAofAnaheim on Oct 14, 2007 22:03:49 GMT -8
This disaster gives another opportunity for Metrolink to shine!
I usually work in Santa Clarita for a client, but this week I am not there. Since I live in downtown, I would have loved this opportunity to see how many people would be making the reverse commute from downtown to Santa Clarita via Metrolink. I would have been one of those passengers!
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Post by wad on Oct 14, 2007 22:28:26 GMT -8
This disaster gives another opportunity for Metrolink to shine! In 1994 it did. After the earthquake, the line was extended into the Antelope Valley well ahead of planning. It was only supposed to be a lifeline service, but based upon how many people were sticking to the service, it was made permanent. Both Santa Clarita and AVTA run commuter buses that duplicate the function of Metrolink. The various services have their partisans. Bus riders typically cite the one-seat ride into the Financial District over the train. Train riders are pleased with Metrolink's service and the atmosphere. |
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Post by wad on Oct 14, 2007 22:31:49 GMT -8
Looks like I'll be having fun getting to school tomorrow as I commute from Palmdale to Santa Monica 4 times a week to get to SMC (long story ). Usually switch around between taking the Santa Clarita Transit 795/797 and the Antelope Valley line to Union Station and connect to BBB's Line 10. It's going to be interesting what greets me tomorrow morning when I do either routes. Reminiscent indeed, I haven't seen/noticed the I-5/State 14 interchange this deserted since '94! Now those were fun times getting from the Antelope Valley to the Basin... Do the Santa Clarita or AVTA commuter buses work for you? Both run services to Westwood. There, you can transfer to Big Blue Bus Line 8, and the campus is a short walk from Ocean Park Boulevard. Or, just stick with College of the Canyons or Antelope Valley College. |
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Post by avcommuter on Oct 15, 2007 6:09:17 GMT -8
Do the Santa Clarita or AVTA commuter buses work for you? Both run services to Westwood. There, you can transfer to Big Blue Bus Line 8, and the campus is a short walk from Ocean Park Boulevard. Or, just stick with College of the Canyons or Antelope Valley College. Santa Clarita Transit works for me as I believe I mentioned in my first post my preference of taking routes 795 (Palmdale Lancaster)/797 (UCLA/Century City) in all four days of my commute, either southbound or north depending on my schedule. The other half is filled by BBB Line 10 and the Antelope Valley Line due to my schedule. I've given up w/ AVTA after their recent fare increase to $12 compared to SCT which gets me from Palmdale to Westwood (and Santa Monica w/ the interagency transfer) for $2-2.25. AVTA can get me nonstop and quicker to Westwood, but I prefer SCT's stops closer to UCLA as I usually have some errands to run before I head to SMC. I take Line 8 every Monday and Wednesday on my way to Westwood (already became acquainted w/ the driver of the specific one I take after some 10 months ). I have my reasons on why I avoid CoC and AVC and why I go to SMC... Nonetheless thanks for the suggestions. ;D |
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Post by whitmanlam on Oct 15, 2007 15:15:07 GMT -8
Good job Metrolink... I just wish the media could have better advertised this increased service. I only heard about it on the Sunday night news.
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Post by Tony Fernandez on Oct 15, 2007 16:34:19 GMT -8
The LA Times already has an article about this, and I thought that this section was great.
"I'd like to take the train, but it's not convenient," said Sandy Malmquist, who was riding the train to work for the first time in almost 15 years. "If you miss one, you usually have to wait another hour."
That's the big problem with that line.
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Post by LAofAnaheim on Oct 15, 2007 18:15:39 GMT -8
It was actually "unfortunate" that the I-5 opened this morning...it killed the ability to showcase new passengers how great Metrolink is.
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Post by avcommuter on Oct 15, 2007 18:38:00 GMT -8
At least Metrolink had a boost in loads for a day. ;D As expected, when I took Antelope Valley Line train 212, we had an additional car and a lot more passengers than usual. I never usually had to share a 4 seater in the cab car of this specific train but there's a first for everything I guess. |
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Post by tonyw79sfv on Oct 15, 2007 21:55:44 GMT -8
The media exposed Metrolink in good light today, pretty much every newscast mentioned it and even had video and passenger interviews, so Metrolink was the star today. Despite the freeway reopening, the truck lanes are still closed and with trucks now mixing in with the regular lanes, there will be more congestion, especially when trucks have to climb uphill, the "autos" lanes are steeper than the "truck" lanes. On another note, I hear that regular cars like to use the truck lanes to bypass traffic, my assumption is that this mess may have started with a regular car (not a surprise). The same stupidity that causes cars to crash into trains also messes up truck traffic by cutting in front of them and causing them to brake hard (same with buses). The general driving public will never learn.
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Post by whitmanlam on Oct 15, 2007 22:55:05 GMT -8
Apparently the "driving public" is not being educated about the Laws of Physics in our public schools. When a large object collides with a much smaller object. The larger object transfers alot more force than the smaller object... Live and Learn people...
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Post by dasubergeek on Oct 17, 2007 9:41:08 GMT -8
At least Metrolink had a boost in loads for a day. ;D As expected, when I took Antelope Valley Line train 212, we had an additional car and a lot more passengers than usual. I never usually had to share a 4 seater in the cab car of this specific train but there's a first for everything I guess. Yesterday (Tuesday 16th) at Burbank, what looked like 200 people got off the train at 7:55 or so. I've never seen our Beeline bus to be so full. Let's hope this stays this way and incites more service on the AV line -- it would be nice to have more trains to LA, especially midday. |
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Post by tonyw79sfv on Oct 17, 2007 18:47:14 GMT -8
I'm sure Metrolink is eager to add more service and as it's already known, they are low on spare rolling stock and until new cars and locomotives arrive into their fleet, then we'll expect to see more service. I'm wondering if the extra service on the AV line is done at the expense of other lines (as in taking away cars from other lines, not service)?
On another note, I've been monitoring southbound morning traffic via Sigalert.com and noticed that when the I-5 was opened, most people already planned for the worse and either took Metrolink, a detour, or stayed home. The portion from Lyons to Calgrove was above 55MPH average speed; Tuesday and this morning showed that old habits die hard and the same portion averaged less than 15MPH both mornings.
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Post by wad on Oct 19, 2007 3:03:49 GMT -8
When will Metrolink have the ridership data for this month? It would be interesting to see 3- and 12-month trends for the Antelope Valley Line as well.
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Post by Transit Coalition on Oct 19, 2007 5:09:33 GMT -8
Metrolink will announce October ridership figures at the Board / Committee meetings on Friday, November 9. I've been on the
AV trains this week. Ridership was way up, but many started shifting back to old habits of driving later in the week, but there was still a major bump upwards.
One problem here is the Metrolink has refused to publicize the two extra emergency trains. Being the guerrilla fighters that we are at MetrolinkMAX / TTC, we printed up schedules and posted them at the stations.
The only other way you can find out about the two extra trains is to read a fairly hard to find scrolling message and click on it. Metrolink has done nothing else on it's website.
Just for effect, I met with Metrolink Directors Najarian and Antonovich and told them what is going on and gave them copies of the schedules we designed. Perhaps there may be some positive results.
As of Thursday, 10/18 at 4:45 p.m., Metrolink is still going to continue to run the extra added trips.
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vnc
New Member
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Post by vnc on Oct 19, 2007 20:09:59 GMT -8
My hat's off to the Folks at Metrolink. For such a real short notice. For adding more Trains on the AV Line. And good job TTC for keeping them on their feet.
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). Usually switch around between taking the Santa Clarita Transit 795/797 and the Antelope Valley line to Union Station and connect to BBB's Line 10. It's going to be interesting what greets me tomorrow morning when I do either routes. 
