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Post by Gokhan on Apr 5, 2011 10:51:23 GMT -8
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Post by thanks4goingmetro on Apr 6, 2011 10:40:51 GMT -8
Train tests are getting more interesting everyday as expected. Today they are mechanically testing the OCS. I caught the train at the Vermont Station: They've got some weird new stairs at the Culver Junction Station. I'm not sure how these will work but they are probably emergency stairs with a steep helical staircase inside the vertical cage:  Here's what it look's like today as I head into work:  |
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Post by metrocenter on Apr 6, 2011 10:53:23 GMT -8
Here's what it look's like today as I head into work: I have to guess that they're temporary stairs - maybe emergency stairs as Gokhan said. Eventually the structure will be extended northwest, and these stairs will probably have to be rebuilt. Anybody have any word on the test train? Did it make it to La Cienega, and then return on the eastbound track? |
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Post by Gokhan on Apr 6, 2011 12:23:15 GMT -8
Thanks for the updated pic. It's apparent from the new pic that these are permanent regular-access stairs in addition to the other two stairs further southeast, as they have the same art design and slope. But they could also be emergency-only; so, it's hard to say. Emergency stairs at La Cienega and La Brea are steep and concrete. They are probably expecting heavy passenger traffic at this station.Yesterday's pic wasn't showing the final configuration and it now turns out that the vertical cage is only for support.
I didn't check out the test train today.
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Post by Gokhan on Apr 7, 2011 10:49:09 GMT -8
The test train was just east of Menlo Ave by USC this morning:  They have been checking the various control points this morning. We might find more about testing from CPO Eric Olson at the board meeting today. |
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Post by Gokhan on Apr 7, 2011 14:39:56 GMT -8
Summary of the Expo board meeting today: I missed Mr. Clint Simmons' comments because the audio wasn't turned on. I had to call the communications room twice to get the audio turned on. Phase 1 revenue-operations date: November 2011So, don't hope any earlier. Substantial completion to La Cienega Station: June 15, 2011. La Cienega Station parking structure: October 2011. Will be ready for ROD. Storage facility: End of 2011 Farmdale Station: End of 2011 Culver Junction Station: Early 2012 Critical areas of construction that may lead to delays: ATP, Blue Line tie-in, landscaping, LADOT signals, intersection reconstruction, and integrated-systems testing. There will be a second entrance at both the Pico and 23rd St Stations. Clean Mobility Center in Culver City has been deferred indefinitely because there is no money. Media event at 9:30 am on April 18, 2011: The politicians will gather at one of the Western Station platforms with a train at the platform. They will not be allowed on the train as the safety certifications of signals and gates won't be complete by then. The purpose is public-safety awareness to let public know that the trains are up and running. The certification of the signals, gates, etc. will be completed by June and in June there will be another media event with politicians riding the train this time. Between June and now, trains will proceed through the crossing by flagsmen. Power-on is expected by next week. Phase 2 design - build limited notice to proceed (LNTP) will be issued early May, 2011. Meeting audio -- Expo board 2011/04/07 |
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Post by bluelineshawn on Apr 7, 2011 17:32:25 GMT -8
I'm confused as to why I keep reading that Expo will be adding a second entrance to Pico Station. Pico station always had two entrances until one was closed a few months ago. Supposedly it was to add gates and other safety features, but as they haven't really done anything I can't understand why it was closed so far in advance of whatever they intend to do.
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Post by jeisenbe on Apr 7, 2011 21:11:42 GMT -8
So it will be 5 months from substantial completion (June 15th) until the line opens to the public? But we are already seeing the first early train tests now. Did it take this long for the Gold Line Eastside extension? Or is Metro hedging by providing plenty of extra buffer time?
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Post by bluelineshawn on Apr 7, 2011 21:36:47 GMT -8
So it will be 5 months from substantial completion (June 15th) until the line opens to the public? But we are already seeing the first early train tests now. Did it take this long for the Gold Line Eastside extension? Or is Metro hedging by providing plenty of extra buffer time? I looked back at the gold line east la construction thread (pages 10-12) and the east la gold line began clearance testing using trains in mid-January 2009 and the opening wasn't until November 10 months later. While they never technically announced an opening date it was obvious that they anticipated opening in the summer. For example they had announced that the fare gate testing at the underground stations would begin in June 2009 and several posts mentioned that was the target told to them by metro employees. So based on that (5 months of testing) compared with the planned 7 months for Expo that metro either: 1) learned that testing takes longer than they used to think, 2) are hedging just in case, or 3) have a little more left to do with Expo than they did with East LA. I don't know the answer, but I hope that they don't run into as many problems as they did with East LA. They seem to have a better handle on this construction so I think that the November date is a reasonable estimate. |
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Post by joshuanickel on Apr 7, 2011 21:43:02 GMT -8
So it will be 5 months from substantial completion (June 15th) until the line opens to the public? But we are already seeing the first early train tests now. Did it take this long for the Gold Line Eastside extension? Or is Metro hedging by providing plenty of extra buffer time? I looked back at the gold line east la construction thread (pages 10-12) and the east la gold line began clearance testing using trains in mid-January 2009 and the opening wasn't until November 10 months later. While they never technically announced an opening date it was obvious that they anticipated opening in the summer. For example they had announced that the fare gate testing at the underground stations would begin in June 2009 and several posts mentioned that was the target told to them by metro employees. So based on that (5 months of testing) compared with the planned 7 months for Expo that metro either: 1) learned that testing takes longer than they used to think, 2) are hedging just in case, or 3) have a little more left to do with Expo than they did with East LA. I don't know the answer, but I hope that they don't run into as many problems as they did with East LA. They seem to have a better handle on this construction so I think that the November date is a reasonable estimate. Didn't the East LA Gold Line have some electrical problems at the crossover points that delayed the opening from its original date? |
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Post by Gokhan on Apr 8, 2011 7:58:27 GMT -8
I'm confused as to why I keep reading that Expo will be adding a second entrance to Pico Station. Pico station always had two entrances until one was closed a few months ago. Supposedly it was to add gates and other safety features, but as they haven't really done anything I can't understand why it was closed so far in advance of whatever they intend to do. As you say they will do improvements there and they were saying that they now got the money to do so. Listen to Eric Olson's project-status update in the audio. |
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Post by Gokhan on Apr 8, 2011 11:43:29 GMT -8
A video is worth a thousand words. With tears in my eyes at 11:57 am today westbound at Expo Vermont Station:  |
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Post by Alexis Kasperavičius on Apr 8, 2011 12:19:15 GMT -8
Hazahhh! First electric powered trip down the line in 57 years!
Glad you caught it!
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Post by Gokhan on Apr 8, 2011 13:39:24 GMT -8
A couple of stills just before the powered-on train leaves Vermont Station westbound, with the operator testing the lights, bells, and horns. Notice that the train is backed slightly in the second, later picture:   |
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Post by thanks4goingmetro on Apr 8, 2011 14:41:47 GMT -8
I'm seriously freaking out from excitement. Soon I'll be able to board near my house (Jefferson/LaCienega Station) and go to my favorite chill spot, Expo Park (USC/Expo Park Station). It'll be much easier to get to my extended family in Crenshaw by public transport also. |
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Post by metrocenter on Apr 8, 2011 15:18:53 GMT -8
Soon I'll be able to board near my house (Jefferson/LaCienega Station) and go to my favorite chill spot, Expo Park (USC/Expo Park Station). And soon I'll be able to go to my favorite chili spot, Earlez Grille, at Crenshaw/Expo. Great day for Expo, now it's time to get'er done! |
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Post by roadtrainer on Apr 8, 2011 19:45:17 GMT -8
A video is worth a thousand words. With tears in my eyes at 11:57 am today westbound at Expo Vermont Station:  ;D  :)It was nice to see the train being push by a truck but even better seeing it under it's own power! What a long week awaiting to see the train running under power! ! Does anyone know the schedule of the train testing? I want to come down and see it doing testing (on weekends}  |
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Post by Gokhan on Apr 10, 2011 1:16:55 GMT -8
Does anyone know the schedule of the train testing? I want to come down and see it doing testing (on weekends} 9 am - 5 pm, Monday - Friday, regular Metro-staff work hours. We probably won't see many weekend trains if at all until the five-week prerevenue service (regular service with no passengers) in late September or so. |
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Post by wad on Apr 10, 2011 4:43:54 GMT -8
Phase 1 revenue-operations date: November 2011So, don't hope any earlier. Would Metro save any money by delaying it a couple of weeks to its December shake-up? |
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Post by metrocenter on Apr 10, 2011 6:48:54 GMT -8
Phase 1 revenue-operations date: November 2011So, don't hope any earlier. Would Metro save any money by delaying it a couple of weeks to its December shake-up? What is this "shakeup" in December? Unless it's something significant, I am hoping for NO delay beyond mid-November. Expo should begin running as soon as it's fully tested: I'd like to see it running before winter comes, and in time for the USC-UCLA game on November 26. |
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Post by LAofAnaheim on Apr 10, 2011 7:39:53 GMT -8
Would Metro save any money by delaying it a couple of weeks to its December shake-up? What is this "shakeup" in December? Unless it's something significant, I am hoping for NO delay beyond mid-November. Expo should begin running as soon as it's fully tested: I'd like to see it running before winter comes, and in time for the USC-UCLA game on November 26. Wad - Metro has already budgeted a November start so they won't push it back unless there are non-financial reasons. Metrocenter - I'm surprised you don't know what the December "shake-up" is. Twice a year, Metro will adjust their bus and rail schedules to meet demand and budgetary reasons. There are two shake-ups each year....July and December. This has happened nearly every year I can think back to... |
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Post by bluelineshawn on Apr 10, 2011 8:48:21 GMT -8
Twice a year, Metro will adjust their bus and rail schedules It seems like bus only, not rail. Rail schedule and service changes occur more randomly. IIRC the gold line East LA extension also opened November 15. And they went to 3-car trains on the gold line in March. And the gold line express a few years ago started in February (I just looked it up). And I think that the shake up is more than just schedules. They reassign bus lines to different divisions and cancel lines. Anyway I don't think that the shake up has any effect on the opening date for rail lines and I agree with you that the money has already been budgeted. |
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Post by metrocenter on Apr 10, 2011 9:12:44 GMT -8
Yes I knew about the twice-a-year bus schedule update, but I hadn't heard it called "shake-up" before. I will admit I follow rail news more closely than bus news, so my knowledge of the bus planning process is more limited. :/
To my recollection, none of the Metro Rail corridor projects began service on the exact date of changes in bus service.
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Post by darrell on Apr 10, 2011 16:37:26 GMT -8
Here are two photos from this afternoon, looking north and south from 23rd Street, of new boxed trees that don't look like the ginkgos used elsewhere.   |
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Post by jdrcrasher on Apr 10, 2011 19:07:13 GMT -8
I think the trees are gonna make the line look much more appealing to potential riders.
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adamv
Junior Member
Posts: 51
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Post by adamv on Apr 10, 2011 20:37:17 GMT -8
I think the trees are gonna make the line look much more appealing to potential riders. As well as residents and potential developers, home buyers, renters, business owners, etc. I live about three-quarters of a mile from the La Brea stop, and I'm thrilled with the changes they're putting in. I'm hoping the ripple effect on foot/bus traffic kick starts some of the businesses. Between La Brea/Jefferson and La Brea & Venice, it's a no-mans land. |
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Post by transitfan on Apr 11, 2011 6:28:40 GMT -8
Twice a year, Metro will adjust their bus and rail schedules Also, the shakeup is when bus operators start new assignments that they bid for earlier. Usually in the same division, unless route and/or division changes require some of them to move to other divisions. |
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Post by darrell on Apr 11, 2011 9:40:13 GMT -8
Alan Fishel emailed yesterday this historic photo of PE PCC car #5028 in front of USC. Compare with about the same view, now the USC Expo Line station, taken last 8/6/10. Added: Photo by Ira Swett, 1953, per Alan.   |
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Post by bzcat on Apr 11, 2011 10:42:58 GMT -8
Alan Fishel emailed yesterday this historic photo of PE PCC car #5028 in front of USC. Compare with about the same view, now the USC Expo Line station, taken last 8/6/10.  Happy tears |
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Post by thanks4goingmetro on Apr 11, 2011 11:57:47 GMT -8
The Red Car livery is all class. Expo Line will have an distinct speed advantage over the local service streetcar so that's probably the real takeaway of ending 50 years no service when it's all said. The station adds to the permanence of the line too and of course not having rapid transit in this high density corridor is just plain silly, good thing those days will soon be behind us.
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;D 
:)It was nice to see the train being push by a truck but even better seeing it under it's own power! What a long week awaiting to see the train running under power! !
