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Post by carter on Jan 10, 2012 18:09:07 GMT -8
New optomistic posters on the Gold Line last night... Oh my God, when you ride the Expo Line, there will be vicious-dinosaur attacks and ambushes by sword-yielding Trojan warriors on the way? Not to mention a space craft! (not pictured) ;D
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Post by Gokhan on Jan 10, 2012 23:33:33 GMT -8
If everything goes well, they can start the prerevenue operation on Sunday, January 22, 2012. I don't expect it to be any later than January 29 unless new problems arise or they still fail to fix the junction.
That means I don't expect this line to open any later than Sunday, April 22, 2012, assuming a maximal twelve-week prerevenue operation. A few weeks earlier is more likely.
The Festival of Books is on April 21 - 22; therefore, it better opens on April 15 or earlier!
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Post by jamesinclair on Jan 11, 2012 0:20:24 GMT -8
"The final testing phase, called pre-revenue service, generally takes about three months and simulates actual service but without passengers."
Generally? Doesnt it generally take 5 weeks?
Why on earth would they want to do 3 month anyway? Is there an operations money-parade if expo can extend testing longer?
Did this conversation happen?
-Metro executive: Mr engineer, youre the expert, how long will testing take? -Sr. Engineer: Shouldnt take longer than 4 weeks sir -Metro executive: Excellent, we'll plan your goodbye party, as your services will no longer be needed after that until phase 2 is ready. -Sr. Engineer: Ehm, Did I say weeks? I meant shouldnt take longer than 4 MONTHS, but Ill do my best to have it done in 3!
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Post by Gokhan on Jan 11, 2012 0:40:29 GMT -8
Why on earth would they want to do 3 month anyway? I think they are simply being wary. As Darrell reported this from a Metro citizens' committee before everyone else, they don't want to risk any accidents, breakdowns, closures, slowdowns, and other mishaps once the line opens. Given what this line went through (Farmdale etc.) during planning and construction, this is understandable.
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Post by masonite on Jan 11, 2012 10:11:17 GMT -8
Why on earth would they want to do 3 month anyway? I think they are simply being wary. As Darrell reported this from a Metro citizens' committee before everyone else, they don't want to risk any accidents, breakdowns, closures, slowdowns, and other mishaps once the line opens. Given what this line went through (Farmdale etc.) during planning and construction, this is understandable. Given the complications with running combined with the Blue Line as well as not having a maintenance facility on the line (having to route down to Blue Line Maintenance Facility), I think it makes some sense. Hopefully, it can be moved up a few weeks though to early April. On a positive note, at least the landscaping will look that much nicer and more grown in ;D
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Post by LAofAnaheim on Jan 11, 2012 10:50:52 GMT -8
Will Farmdale station open with the rest of the line?
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Post by Gokhan on Jan 11, 2012 12:05:07 GMT -8
Will Farmdale station open with the rest of the line? I think they still are a long ways at Farmdale. There is a one-year deadline after the line opens; therefore, it would have to open by April 2013. Although, I expect it to open by this fall, possibly at the same time with Culver City.
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Post by jamesinclair on Jan 11, 2012 13:00:01 GMT -8
I think they are simply being wary. As Darrell reported this from a Metro citizens' committee before everyone else, they don't want to risk any accidents, breakdowns, closures, slowdowns, and other mishaps once the line opens. Given what this line went through (Farmdale etc.) during planning and construction, this is understandable. I dont think its understandable at all. Theyve been doing significant pre-pre-revenue testing since August right? While that hasnt included the junction, it has included everything else. What can justify another 3 months on top of 5 months of testing...? Isnt that point of prerevenue to: -Familiarize the drivers with speeds, signals, stopping etc? ---They should have that down by now -Test signals, gates etc? ---They should have that down by now The only thing left is real the expo/blue segment. Does it really take 3 months to figure that out? That added frequencies arent an issue, as metro has experience with these frequencies during special service events. So what is?
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Post by LAofAnaheim on Jan 11, 2012 13:00:21 GMT -8
I don't understand why the contractors cannot work on Farmdale and Culver City stations while Metro does its train testing. It's like Metro wants everything focused on running the train first and then go back to working on Farmdale and Culver City.
This is getting ludicrous.
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Post by simonla on Jan 11, 2012 13:19:47 GMT -8
Well, you might be able to get a handle on why things are so slow when you hear the tenor of Rick Thorpe's voice (listen to one of the Expo board mtgs in Gokhan's posts). There is absolutely no urgency to his speech; it's like he's half-asleep.
If you listen to someone like Zev, for comparison, he seems actually vested in opening things and placating the taxpayers of Los Angeles County (and, no, I don't work for Zev). Zev sounded pissed at the bad publicity too and said, 'Get it together,' without actually saying it.
I don't know what Thorpe did before and what he could possibly do after.
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Post by Gokhan on Jan 11, 2012 15:22:27 GMT -8
Well, you might be able to get a handle on why things are so slow when you hear the tenor of Rick Thorpe's voice (listen to one of the Expo board mtgs in Gokhan's posts). There is absolutely no urgency to his speech; it's like he's half-asleep. If you listen to someone like Zev, for comparison, he seems actually vested in opening things and placating the taxpayers of Los Angeles County (and, no, I don't work for Zev). Zev sounded pissed at the bad publicity too and said, 'Get it together,' without actually saying it. I don't know what Thorpe did before and what he could possibly do after. Gentle speaking is Rick's style. He built the Salt Lake City, San Diego, Pasadena Gold Line, and Eastside Gold Line LRT systems before moving to Expo Phase 1 and Phase 2. He will retire afterwards. As far as Zev is considered, he is Rick's strongest supporter on the Expo board and he has full trust in him.
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Post by rajacobs on Jan 11, 2012 15:31:05 GMT -8
Rick Thorpe is not supposed to be the politician and not supposed to be the PR guy who gets the public properly aligned. Rick is primarily project facing and secondarily facing external stakeholders. He's, after all, the project manager, the organizer and manager of the project team and the reporter of project metrics. Zev Yaroslavsky on the other hand is public facing, skilled with the face and attitude to motivate the public and stakeholders (otherwise he wouldn't have held office for such a long time!).
These guys, together, offer a great one, two punch, with each supporting the project using their strongest skills. I'd hate either having to take on the other's roll.
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Post by Gokhan on Jan 11, 2012 15:31:22 GMT -8
Update on the Expo Line: I checked out the line today. Train testing in Culver City is about to start. Give it perhaps another couple of weeks. Today, they were testing the OCS system with a high-rail vehicle. Note the retracted pantograph: There is still a lot of work to be done in the station area, including the parking lot. The line is definitely not ready for the prerevenue operation yet. There are a lot of hardware and software upgrades taking place along the line. They were upgrading the software at Buckingham Road and pulling wires at the Crenshaw and Western communications buildings. Hopefully these upgrades, along with the work at the junction, will be completed soon. At Farmdale, they are working in the communications building. They are in the process of installing automatic train protection (ATP) there. This work will probably take several months. The work at the station has stopped, as they are waiting for various station hardware. They are also working at the grounds of the former Expo Inn, and before the parking lot and the office is built there, the station cannot open.
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Post by Gokhan on Jan 11, 2012 17:06:43 GMT -8
With regard to my question about the latest hardware and software upgrades, Expo Authority just verified with me that they still have "plenty of" issues to deal with but things are getting better.
This means that it could be several weeks before the prerevenue operation can start. Perhaps, if they are eventually able to make everything very smooth and if they are confident, they can reduce the length of the prerevenue operation.
Well, our job is much easier: just to wait. It's a long journey, but we'll eventually get there. From the never-ending problems with the signaling system along the line, we are apparently still deep in the woods.
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Post by darrell on Jan 11, 2012 20:44:49 GMT -8
New optomistic posters on the Gold Line last night... Oh my God, when you ride the Expo Line, there will be vicious-dinosaur attacks and ambushes by sword-yielding Trojan warriors on the way? Funny, my first take on the picture was someone with his cute dog planning to ride the Expo Line. Now I realize the dog's nose was really the Tyranosaurus' mouth!
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K 22
Full Member
Posts: 117
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Post by K 22 on Jan 12, 2012 7:56:48 GMT -8
Sorry if this was already discussed earlier in the thread but how far along are they with the Culver City station? I haven't seen any new pics from it lately.
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Post by Gokhan on Jan 12, 2012 8:59:58 GMT -8
Sorry if this was already discussed earlier in the thread but how far along are they with the Culver City station? I haven't seen any new pics from it lately. I think the station itself is more or less completed but there are a lot of improvements that need to be done in the surrounding area, which is currently dirt. They need to build all the access paths, kiss-and-ride, a very large temporary surface parking lot, various amenities, etc. It looks like train testing is about to start there though.
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adamv
Junior Member
Posts: 51
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Post by adamv on Jan 12, 2012 20:56:12 GMT -8
Not really news, but I did see trains going in both directions through the La Brea stop tonight. As that's my station, it was a gratifying site.
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Post by Gokhan on Jan 12, 2012 23:10:09 GMT -8
Not really news, but I did see trains going in both directions through the La Brea stop tonight. As that's my station, it was a gratifying site. This is appreciated. Those who know the old, crude board will remember that so many more people used to contribute to the board. Nowadays, with this new board, it's usually very sleepy here.
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Post by Gokhan on Jan 13, 2012 12:14:54 GMT -8
Still no train testing at Culver City. Perhaps they are having issues with the OCS.
I timed the line from La Brea to Expo Park / USC today. I noted that the dwell time was 15 seconds at La Brea.
Although I couldn't see it exactly, as the train was perhaps a quarter to half mile ahead of me at the end, it took just about 11 minutes from La Brea to Expo Park / USC. This is only 1 minute longer than the estimate at Wikipedia. Therefore, it looks like they are now better able to sync the signals.
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Post by simonla on Jan 13, 2012 12:57:24 GMT -8
Re: Culver City, this is what Dwight wrote on Expo's Facebook page (which is becoming a sounding board for the airing of grievances):
"they were testing the OCS system with a high-rail vehicle with a pantograph the Last few Days"
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Post by Gokhan on Jan 13, 2012 13:29:31 GMT -8
Re: Culver City, this is what Dwight wrote on Expo's Facebook page (which is becoming a sounding board for the airing of grievances): "they were testing the OCS system with a high-rail vehicle with a pantograph the Last few Days" Yes, this was also reported with a photo a few posts back here.
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Post by Gokhan on Jan 13, 2012 13:31:30 GMT -8
Here is a video recorded today at Buckingham Road, showing an eastbound train:
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Post by jdrcrasher on Jan 13, 2012 18:08:25 GMT -8
^ Wow, that train was flying. if only it could always be like that!
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Post by Gokhan on Jan 13, 2012 19:47:32 GMT -8
^ Wow, that train was flying. if only it could always be like that! I am glad that you enjoyed it. Hopefully the next video, recorded at Farmdale Avenue, that I will post doesn't make you cry.
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Post by Gokhan on Jan 13, 2012 20:28:34 GMT -8
It was painful to record this video at Farmdale Avenue while the train was approaching the platform 10 MPH and then pulling to the platform with the same speed. Nearside full stops before the train came to the crossing were more than enough here. The 10 MPH speed limit throughout the area around Dorsey High School on top of that is total overkill. It's all thanks to a very unreasonable LAUSD. And, how come the cars have a 35 MPH speed limit? The students can dodge cars moving 35 MPH but can't dodge a fully stopped train waiting at the platform?
The lighting for the bike path along the line is impressive though.
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Post by jamesinclair on Jan 13, 2012 23:24:44 GMT -8
Gokhan, in the last video, when the gates were down and it appears that there was red in every direction (why?) did the pedestrian signal turn on, or was it pointless red hand for the pedestrians?
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Post by Gokhan on Jan 14, 2012 0:05:19 GMT -8
Gokhan, in the last video, when the gates were down and it appears that there was red in every direction (why?) did the pedestrian signal turn on, or was it pointless red hand for the pedestrians? I recorded another clip in the Los Angeles red-light district tonight, before I recorded the clip I posted above, in which the memory card filled before I was able to complete the passage of the westbound train. In this clip, an eastbound train passes and you can see the red-light action better. I think it's red for the pedestrians because you need to push the button to make it green. This train passed while I was waiting for the westbound train, which took forever to get there.
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Post by Gokhan on Jan 14, 2012 19:05:35 GMT -8
Driving eastbound on National Boulevard, I noticed the white-LED lighting rods in the median of the Ballona Creek aerial structure tonight. They look really good! No pictures though.
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Post by jamesinclair on Jan 14, 2012 21:13:03 GMT -8
That gate timing is atrocious. The NIMBYS were right when they complained about the gates...not because the gates must be down that long, but because someone decided they should be. Knock off 10 seconds of gate time!
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