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Post by Gokhan on Mar 26, 2012 17:43:05 GMT -8
There was no mentioning of the Expo opening in USC's Daily Trojan newspaper today (Monday). They better have the front page dedicated to it when it opens! Edit: OK, it's in Daily Trojan today (Tuesday). They must have heard me. LOL
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Post by Gokhan on Mar 27, 2012 11:27:44 GMT -8
Expo Line down todayThere was no testing today either, despite having the Blue Line repaired last night, which I found very surprising. Orange-vested staff were inspecting the line at various locations. Then, when I came to Halldale (just west of Normandie), I saw that the eastbound left lane was closed to the traffic and there were several specialized vehicles, working on the OCS. I wonder if they gave in to the political pressure and announced an opening date before they were really ready. They could have at least waited until after the rain. I also somewhat doubt that the contractor will achieve substantial completion before April 28. I will see if I can find out more on what is happening.
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Post by Gokhan on Mar 27, 2012 12:22:42 GMT -8
Here is the info I received:
"We aren't sure what happened other than a pantograph tore down some OCS hangers. We should be back to running this evening."
So, it looks like the problem is not rain-related. Perhaps the wind had an effect.
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Post by Gokhan on Mar 27, 2012 18:44:53 GMT -8
Here is the info I received: "We aren't sure what happened other than a pantograph tore down some OCS hangers. We should be back to running this evening." So, it looks like the problem is not rain-related. Perhaps the wind had an effect. No repairs were taking place this evening but then there were no trains at all along the line. Ironically, since they announced the "full" prerevenue operation and the opening date, they have hardly been able to run any trains.
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Post by jamesinclair on Mar 27, 2012 23:02:12 GMT -8
Rain, accidents, pantographs....let me geuss, when a santa ana blows in, they find out their wires arent attached so well?
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Post by Gokhan on Mar 28, 2012 11:17:20 GMT -8
Expo Line prerevenue operation resumed today. Three-car Nippon Sharyo and Siemens trains are running with twelve-minute one-way headways as usual.
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dane
Junior Member
Posts: 59
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Post by dane on Mar 28, 2012 11:21:22 GMT -8
Here is the info I received: "We aren't sure what happened other than a pantograph tore down some OCS hangers. We should be back to running this evening." So, it looks like the problem is not rain-related. Perhaps the wind had an effect. No repairs were taking place this evening but then there were no trains at all along the line. Ironically, since they announced the "full" prerevenue operation and the opening date, they have hardly been able to run any trains. Two major incidents in two days on the blue line may have something to do with the inability to continue testing. I only hope that it doesn't postpone the opening.
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Post by Gokhan on Mar 28, 2012 11:26:29 GMT -8
Both the Expo and Blue Lines suffered damage. The Blue Line was repaired by 10 pm on Monday. The Expo Line OCS was repaired yesterday. (See the photo above.) The prerevenue operation resumed today.
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Post by gatewaygent on Mar 28, 2012 19:52:01 GMT -8
Is it me or is there something unsettling about the many fixes that have had to take place on the Blue and Expo Lines? OK...it's me LOL! I am happy to know that prerevenue service has started back up though.
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Post by Gokhan on Mar 28, 2012 20:39:17 GMT -8
OCSs on both the Blue and Expo Lines have broken down again. Somehow the pantographs are damaging the hangers. The cause is unknown.
Prevenue operation on the Expo Line has stopped again as a result.
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Post by tonyw79sfv on Mar 28, 2012 20:57:43 GMT -8
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Post by LAofAnaheim on Mar 29, 2012 8:18:59 GMT -8
Looks like a lot of maintenance is needed on the Blue Line. They should devote some money to help fix issues on the Blue Line; it's now 3 days this week there have been delays. None on the Gold or Green Lines.
Eventually, you can tell, the Blue/Expo will need to be undergrounded from 12th through Washington on Flower street. The slowness and amount of crashes (none of the fault of the trains, mind you) can cause headaches for commuters.
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Post by rajacobs on Mar 29, 2012 10:30:55 GMT -8
To the point of putting 12th through Washington on Flower underground, Chicago's mayor, Rahm Emanuel said new Chicago infrastructure projects "...include $1 billion for the Chicago Transit Authority to renovate more than 100 stations and eliminate 'slow zones' that cost riders an estimated 11,000 hours of delays every day."
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Post by LAofAnaheim on Mar 29, 2012 10:33:13 GMT -8
To the point of putting 12th through Washington on Flower underground, Chicago's mayor, Rahm Emanuel said new Chicago infrastructure projects "...include $1 billion for the Chicago Transit Authority to renovate more than 100 stations and eliminate 'slow zones' that cost riders an estimated 11,000 hours of delays every day." Flower tracks south of 12th through at least Washington 100% deserve a grade seperation. There were delays this morning due to train congestion/train out at Washington station on the Blue Line. Blue Line needs some serious infrastructure upgrade.
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Post by Gokhan on Mar 29, 2012 10:51:07 GMT -8
Expo Line prerevenue operation has resumed again.
I suspect that the announcement of the opening day was premature thanks to the political pressure by Antonio.
Meanwhile, the contractor is rushing to finish the unfinished work before the opening day. It will be interesting to see if they will be able to achieve substantial completion by the opening day or we will still see work going on after the opening.
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Post by Gokhan on Mar 29, 2012 10:58:09 GMT -8
Culver City Station is now almost ready for train testing! The hi-rail truck has now moved to Hayden Avenue, with the safety-grounding wire for the OCS and the derails blocking it but it should be gone by tomorrow or the weekend. A cart that was also sitting on the tracks by the platform for a long time is now also gone. Train testing in Culver City will likely begin as early as next week. The line will open in June, only about a month later than the premature opening to La Cienega, once the parking lot is paved and the other nearby amenities (sidewalks, roads, etc.) are finished.
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Post by bobdavis on Mar 29, 2012 16:57:45 GMT -8
Regarding "pans" damaging the overhead: Back in 1988 I was helping out at the opening of the San Jose (now VTA) light rail downtown loop, and defective pan caught a wire just north of downtown during opening-day operations. This was probably the first major "oops" for that operation, and they got the line crews and bucket trucks deployed quickly. Things were back to normal in a relatively short time, so they managed to turn an embarassment into a demonstration of ability.
Not sure if I've mentioned this before, but at Orange Empire, one of my favorite assignments is running Pacific Electric Tower Car 00157 during PE weekend, and in the past I've worked on it during trolley wire installations, so I have more than a casual interest in overhead line work.
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Post by gatewaygent on Mar 29, 2012 21:27:22 GMT -8
I read this before and I think it bares mentioning again only because I'm starting to see the practicality of it. This is also the wrong thread for it. However since Blue and Expo share tracks, it kind of ties in. Of course, our poor piece-meal rail transit system is akin to Frankenstein, but it speaks volumes on how we do things in L.A. But anyways, maybe it's time to completely eliminate the Washington Bl. at-grade running of the Blue Line and replace it with a grade separated running under another street...say starting at Washington Bl. but continue north under Long Beach Bl. to west under Olympic Bl. (There's probably a better configuration and it's fun to fantasize and debate them, but this is just an example.) The current tracks would remain in use until this upgrade is finished and then the old Washington tracks could be used for layover trains, express service, dismantled and never acknowledged again, be reconstructed all underground for train storage, used as a part of an entirely new line (the Santa Ana Line) , or whatever turns on the L.A. County Board of Supervisors/Metro Board.
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Post by rubbertoe on Mar 30, 2012 5:21:41 GMT -8
Speaking of catenary problems... I was in San Diego a couple months ago. My visit fortunately coincided with some work downtown on C street where they were replacing about a 2 block length of track. This is street running down the center of the street. A few blocks further down, at the same time, they were replacing a complete section of the overhead wiring system. Thats everything, including the parts that attach the wires to the support posts in the street. That system started running in 1981, so the Blue Line isn't far behind with respect to age of the system. Maybe some of what we are seeing is the result of just the gradual deterioration of the hardware? I know in San Diego the work was being done as part of the "Trolley Renewal Project". They are essentially re-building two entire lines for $620 million. Will this need to be done to the Blue Line at some point? www.sdmts.com/trolleyrenewal.aspAlso, I see that Dwight has posted some pictures showing several shots of trains on the Expo Line with what looks to be brand new red pantograph installed: www.flickr.com/photos/expoline-part-2/show/with/7025169459It's funny, while I was watching the work above being done, this young gal comes running up to me totally winded. She stops and looks at me and says "Please don't tell me the Trolley isn't running". I just pointed at the 2 foot deep hole where the tracks were the day before. It was all I could do to keep the coffee from coming out of my nose
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Post by metrocenter on Mar 30, 2012 7:27:05 GMT -8
But anyways, maybe it's time to completely eliminate the Washington Bl. at-grade running of the Blue Line and replace it with a grade separated running under another street...say starting at Washington Bl. but continue north under Long Beach Bl. to west under Olympic Bl. (There's probably a better configuration and it's fun to fantasize and debate them, but this is just an example.) We have discussed this, many times, as you will find threads in the Regional (Downtown) Connector and Blue Line forums. Streets which might be used to replace all or part of Washington Blvd include: - 20th Street (south of Washington)
- 18th Street (parallel to freeway)
- Olympic
- Venice or Pico
- Long Beach Ave (not Blvd)
- Grand
- Alameda
- Figueroa
And of course, there are various grade options too (at-grade, elevated, trench, tunnel), each with its own complications and cost.
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Post by Gokhan on Mar 30, 2012 7:52:49 GMT -8
I think the best option would be to tunnel under the abandoned Santa Monica branch railroad right-of-way that crosses the Blue Line at Long Beach Ave and 25th St and connect this to the Expo Line at Exposition and Flower or more conveniently at Jefferson and Flower.
Disadvantages:
* Cost * Several Blue Line stations would be eliminated * Blue Line would become 2.2 miles longer
Advantages:
* Blue Line would directly connect to USC * Washington Blvd median running would be eliminated, somewhat compensating for the longer Blue Line * Washington and Flower rail junction would be eliminated
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Post by gatewaygent on Mar 30, 2012 10:30:14 GMT -8
I just google-mapped it. Wow! So was this ever part of the Santa Monica Line or was this always strictly for freight?
I'm sure that a couple of generations ago, when people were a little more practical and responsible, the many street crossings were not an issue. Wasn't it Yvonne Burke that put a stop to considering this ROW? She's not an L.A. County Supervisor anymore and the political climate has changed, so maybe the idea will resurface either as a tunnel or trench.
There is so much potential here. Once the connector is built/operational, in concert with the Washington ROW (or whatever tunneled ROW takes its place), the Santa Monica Branch ROW could be used to loop back Expo, Blue, Crenshaw, and Gold Line trains as needed or even as part of a new Metro rail route to/from Huntington Park, Santa Fe Springs, Santa Ana, etc.
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Post by JerardWright on Mar 30, 2012 15:13:13 GMT -8
I think the best option would be to tunnel under the abandoned Santa Monica branch railroad right-of-way that crosses the Blue Line at Long Beach Ave and 25th St and connect this to the Expo Line at Exposition and Flower or more conveniently at Jefferson and Flower. Disadvantages: * Cost * Several Blue Line stations would be eliminated * Blue Line would become 2.2 miles longer Advantages: * Blue Line would directly connect to USC * Washington Blvd median running would be eliminated, somewhat compensating for the longer Blue Line * Washington and Flower rail junction would be eliminated One additional thing to note, if this is undergorund here, this would require significant demolision and rebuild of the current below grade trench at Exposition/Flower in order to make this junction work correctly. So that is added cost and impacts to the Existing Expo Line. I read this before and I think it bares mentioning again only because I'm starting to see the practicality of it...replace it with a grade separated running under another street...say starting at Washington Bl. but continue north under Long Beach Bl. to west under Olympic Bl. (There's probably a better configuration and it's fun to fantasize and debate them, but this is just an example.) The current tracks would remain in use until this upgrade is finished and then the old Washington tracks could be used for layover trains, express service, dismantled and never acknowledged again, be reconstructed all underground for train storage, used as a part of an entirely new line (the Santa Ana Line) , or whatever turns on the L.A. County Board of Supervisors/Metro Board. I like this alignment with some variations to have it run under Fashion District to serve this key area and then have it come to grade at 12th Street to become a dedicated transit mall/surface alignment with actual signal priority to meet with a new junction at 12th/Flower by Staples Center. All they need to do to make this 12th/Flower junction grade separated is to remove vehicular traffic from crossing here and have a pedestrian bridge over the tracks. Then there would be multiple platforms for multiple destinations for patrons before and after events at LA Live/Staples/Convention Center.
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Post by Gokhan on Mar 30, 2012 16:40:46 GMT -8
I just google-mapped it. Wow! So was this ever part of the Santa Monica Line or was this always strictly for freight? I'm sure that a couple of generations ago, when people were a little more practical and responsible, the many street crossings were not an issue. Wasn't it Yvonne Burke that put a stop to considering this ROW? She's not an L.A. County Supervisor anymore and the political climate has changed, so maybe the idea will resurface either as a tunnel or trench. There is so much potential here. Once the connector is built/operational, in concert with the Washington ROW (or whatever tunneled ROW takes its place), the Santa Monica Branch ROW could be used to loop back Expo, Blue, Crenshaw, and Gold Line trains as needed or even as part of a new Metro rail route to/from Huntington Park, Santa Fe Springs, Santa Ana, etc. Yes, this was built in 1875 along with the rest of the Los Angeles & Independence Railroad that connected Santa Monica to Downtown Los Angeles. It was used until late 1980s, when Southern Pacific sold the right-of-way to MTA. The trains, originally steam, then electric, then diesel, carried passengers and freight along the right-of-way by which Exposition Boulevard (back then Santa Monica Avenue) runs and then through this right-of-way east of USC. It turned north at Long Beach Ave (at the so-called Amoco Junction) and then northwest on Olympic Blvd and finally north on San Pedro St to the station at San Pedro and 5th Streets. Later the station was moved to the Pacific Electric (Lofts) building at Main and 6th Streets via elevated tracks. This steel elevated section was torn down after the Pacific Electric era ended. In summary this was the historical roue of the Expo Line predecessors: - From near Ocean and Colorado Avenues to USC on the Expo right-of-way
- From USC to the Long Beach Avenue (Blue Line) on the presently unused eastern section of the Expo right-of-way
- On Long Beach Avenue to Olympic Blvd
- On Olympic Blvd to San Pedro St
- On San Pedro St to 5th St
- (Later: From San Pedro and just south of 6th Streets on elevated tracks just south of 6th St to the Pacific Electric [Lofts] Building between Los Angeles and Main Streets)
[/b][/li][/ul] This was going to be part of a nonrevenue connector to the Blue Line during the DEIR phase of Expo Phase 1 but it was killed in the FEIR phase by Councilperson Jan Perry because of neighborhood opposition. It would be a challenge to connect this through the existing USC trench. A straight connection going toward Santa Monica would be much easier than a rail junction there to head it northward on Flower.
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Post by gatewaygent on Mar 30, 2012 19:15:00 GMT -8
That poor, misunderstood junction at Flower/Washington.... It'll be the bad guy in the many Metro fables people tell their great grand-children because I'm sure panicked Metro board will, from this point on, look at junctions as MAJOR negatives to the creation of new routes. "Once upon a time, there was an evil rail junction on Flower/Washington. Oh...it had a mind of it's own, sending one train straight and then capriciously sending another east. It was terrible! People were losing their minds! Then one day the nefarious witch of the southeast created a four-way junction; and then the world ended. 'Snip, snap, snout, this tale is told out!'"
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Post by Gokhan on Mar 30, 2012 21:59:41 GMT -8
Tonight at 10 pm, four three-car trains were parked by USC -- two at the Expo Park / USC Station platforms and two east of Watt Way.
Earlier today, they were working on the OCS in Culver City.
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Post by gatewaygent on Mar 30, 2012 22:43:27 GMT -8
That is great news! There's a chance of rain tomorrow. So here's hoping that none of the train systems/functions are effected.
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Post by LAofAnaheim on Mar 31, 2012 9:19:50 GMT -8
I rode my bike for 40 minutes along the Expo Line alignment last night...and not a single test train in sight. WTF?!? As Gokhan mentioned, the trains were sitting in front of USC.
When the Eastside Extension was in pre-revenue mode with an announced date 5 weeks later...you saw actual test trains. Something odd is happening........ I have a feeling that the opening of April 28th will not happen, and there will be an "unexpected technical delay". Something just doesn't appear right........
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Post by gatewaygent on Mar 31, 2012 10:16:51 GMT -8
Are the test trains running today or did the possibility of rain cause the postponement? This is so frustrating! How worthless is this route going to be if it cannot run in the rain?!?
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Post by Gokhan on Mar 31, 2012 11:01:20 GMT -8
I rode my bike for 40 minutes along the Expo Line alignment last night...and not a single test train in sight. WTF?!? As Gokhan mentioned, the trains were sitting in front of USC. When the Eastside Extension was in pre-revenue mode with an announced date 5 weeks later...you saw actual test trains. Something odd is happening........ I have a feeling that the opening of April 28th will not happen, and there will be an "unexpected technical delay". Something just doesn't appear right........ Are the test trains running today or did the possibility of rain cause the postponement? This is so frustrating! How worthless is this route going to be if it cannot run in the rain?!? Today Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards will take place at the Galen Center. There is a huge stage on Jefferson just west of Flower St by the Jefferson Station, blocking the southern part of the street. I think that's why they are not prerevenue-operating the Expo Line today. I don't know how they will handle these things in the future. Here is the advisory: USC Campus Community,
The Galen Center is hosting the 2012 Kids Choice Awards on Saturday March 31, 2012 from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m.
Below is a list of street and sidewalk closures which are scheduled to be in effect from March 26th through April 1st:
West sidewalk of Flower St. closed to pedestrian traffic from Jefferson Blvd. to Exposition Blvd.
South sidewalk of Jefferson Blvd. closed to pedestrian traffic from Figueroa St. to Flower St.
East sidewalk of Figueroa St. closed to pedestrian traffic from Jefferson Blvd. to Exposition Blvd.
# 3 eastbound lane of Jefferson Blvd .closed from Figueroa St. to Flower St.
# 3 and # 4 northbound lanes of Figueroa St. closed from USC McCarthy Way to Jefferson Blvd.
Additional important closures and dates include:
# 3 southbound lane of Flower St. will be closed from Jefferson Blvd. to Exposition Blvd. beginning March 20th through April 2nd.
# 2 eastbound lane of Jefferson Blvd. will be closed from Figueroa St. to Flower St. beginning March 27th through April 1st.
All northbound lanes of Figueroa St. from Exposition Blvd. to Jefferson Blvd. will be closed beginning March 29th through April 1st.
All eastbound lanes of Jefferson Blvd. from Figueroa St. to Flower St. closed beginning March 31st through April 1st.
If you have any questions, please contact Gabriel Badillo at (213) 740-7806.
We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your continued support.
Fight on!
Sincerely, USCTransportation. 620 West 35th Street, PSX LA, CA 90089 213-740-3575 213-740-2625 - fax
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