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Post by spokker on Jul 16, 2009 16:42:16 GMT -8
When people say light rail is booming in this country, they aren't kidding. I didn't even know Seattle was building a light rail system and it's opening this weekend and starting normal service on Monday. www.thenewstribune.com/topstories/story/812179.htmlThere is a station underneath the current Coast Starlight, Sounder and Cascades stop in Downtown Seattle, which will make it a lot easier for travelers to get further into Downtown or the stadium or whatever. Here's a video of light rail trains testing at an underground station. It's interesting to me that buses use the underground station as well. www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXfZGGEpGroThe train shows up at about the two minute mark. Earlier in the video a guy gets scolded by security for running between the platforms. Seattle's line is about 15 miles long and takes 36 minutes to ride end to end. They are projecting over 20,000 boardings per day and I wish them the best of luck. |
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Post by tonyw79sfv on Jul 19, 2009 4:26:28 GMT -8
Check out local TV news coverage from KING-TV (channel 5) in Seattle. They had a live remote (field report) from onboard the train (it's unusual to have live broadcasts from a moving land vehicle; news trucks have to be parked to broadcast live unless helicopter relays are used). |
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Post by spokker on Jul 19, 2009 17:18:59 GMT -8
Did the reporter have to use "mass transit wonk?" That's our word that we use to call ourselves. This guy is just being racist.
Anyway, first day of revenue operations is tomorrow.
I'm looking at the route from my limited vantage point and it looks pretty good, kind of speedy. I hope it's successful.
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Post by James Fujita on Jul 20, 2009 11:20:03 GMT -8
I'm glad that Seattle finally joined the light rail revolution, but aiiya, what a ridiculously convoluted road they travelled to get to this point.
keep in mind that their wonderful bus/rail tunnel was supposedly built with light rail in mind and then they had to rebuild it because it turns out it wasn't really designed for light rail after all.
but, congratuations, Seattle. your light rail line makes it to SEA-TAC, which is more than I can say about the Green Line (close, but no cigar)
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Post by Dan Wentzel on Jul 20, 2009 12:12:21 GMT -8
Actually it almost makes it Sea-Tac. The full extension to Sea-Tac opens at the end of the year. The next extension north goes to Capitol Hill and the University of Washington. Further northbound extension and an alignment to the eastside (a.k.a. "Microsoft") are being studied.
It has been exciting to watch this be constructed. I cannot wait to ride it on my next trip to visit the folks.
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Post by James Fujita on Jul 20, 2009 15:10:08 GMT -8
Actually it almost makes it Sea-Tac. The full extension to Sea-Tac opens at the end of the year. hey, end of the year still beats the Green Line. unless the LAX extension gets "shovel-ready" in a big fat hurry ;D but you know I kid. consider Sea-Tac "one more reason" to get a move on... |
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Post by erict on Jul 20, 2009 15:16:40 GMT -8
Why is Link so expensive? $2.3 Billion for 14 miles seems steep. Eventually the system will cost $18 billion to finish. Maybe it isn't so bad if you compare it to Expo Phase II.
The Kinkisharyo cars look nice, maybe the MTA could use those on the Gold Line?
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Post by spokker on Jul 20, 2009 15:29:27 GMT -8
I've read that there have been delays, but considering I only learned last weekend that this thing existed, I don't know.
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Post by spokker on Jul 20, 2009 17:36:15 GMT -8
I wonder if Sounder commuter rail ridership will go up. Train riders can connect to the new light rail line at Union Station.
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Post by James Fujita on Jul 20, 2009 23:14:01 GMT -8
The Kinkisharyo cars look nice, maybe the MTA could use those on the Gold Line? the Kinkisharyo cars are low-floor trains, so unfortunately, that particular model can't be used on Metro's high-platform rail lines. However, this would be a chance to keep an eye on how the trains operate and see if we would want Kinkisharyo in the future.... |
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Post by wad on Jul 21, 2009 3:41:48 GMT -8
However, this would be a chance to keep an eye on how the trains operate and see if we would want Kinkisharyo in the future.... Kinkisharyo would have to want us first. It must go through a bid process. |
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Post by James Fujita on Jul 21, 2009 12:26:30 GMT -8
However, this would be a chance to keep an eye on how the trains operate and see if we would want Kinkisharyo in the future.... Kinkisharyo would have to want us first. It must go through a bid process. Unless I'm mistaken, this is the same Kinkisharyo that paid to advertise at Dodger Stadium a few years back. they sure as heck wanted us then. of course, the MTA has a bidding process. so, invite them to the next bidding party or whatever. that's all I'm saying. |
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Post by JerardWright on Jul 24, 2009 18:12:52 GMT -8
Here's Seattle operating the at-grade portion of the line before heading in the Beacon Hill tunnel. Notice the pedestrian islands at the grade crossings in between the tracks.
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