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Post by bobdavis on Apr 28, 2015 17:50:07 GMT -8
Test trains are scheduled to run the next few weeks from 4 to 11PM Monday through Friday. Last Sunday, 704 and 708 were resting next to the Monrovia shops. (I would have included a photo, but got a message saying it can't be done)
On the northwest side of the Campus, preliminary work for a small park and viewing area has begun. This will allow railfans and the general public to watch activities in the yard from a safe vantage point. The artist's conception of the spot shows succulent plants that remind me of the landscaping along the PE line through San Marino back in the ancient times.
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Post by bobdavis on May 2, 2015 22:50:22 GMT -8
The GLOC "trainwatchers park" had the concrete pathways poured in the last few days, now comes the drought-tolerant landscaping.
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Post by bobdavis on May 17, 2015 22:12:17 GMT -8
COME ONE COME ALL!
Next Saturday (May 23) is the Open House at the Operations Campus in Monrovia. It will be from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM; the public entrance will be on California Ave. Parking is available inside the campus and along Evergreen Ave. on the north side of the property. Public transit is available on the Foothill Transit 187 line, which connects at the present Gold Line terminal at Sierra Madre Villa.
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Post by darrell on May 23, 2015 13:37:18 GMT -8
COME ONE COME ALL!Next Saturday (May 23) is the Open House at the Operations Campus in Monrovia. It will be from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM; the public entrance will be on California Ave. Parking is available inside the campus and along Evergreen Ave. on the north side of the property. Public transit is available on the Foothill Transit 187 line, which connects at the present Gold Line terminal at Sierra Madre Villa. Got some nice photos of Kinkisharyo car 1003 at the Gold Line Monrovia maintenance facility today!
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Post by Gokhan on May 26, 2015 14:49:45 GMT -8
I love it that they are using good old sealed-beam headlights for the lower lights!
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Post by bobdavis on May 28, 2015 16:20:48 GMT -8
We had a fine turnout for Saturday's GLOC Dedication ceremony and open house. Dignitaries and interested citizens got an inside look at the now facility, which should be turned over to Metro next month. I couldn't help but reflect on the makeshift repair areas that maintained the Pacific Electric cars during the last years of Red Car service and compare those Toluca and Fairbanks yards with the new Monrovia shops.
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Post by bobdavis on Jun 30, 2015 23:30:10 GMT -8
Went to Monrovia this evening for the Board Meeting, swung by the GLOC and found Metro 704 testing the crossing signal for the 3-M driveway. News at the board meeting: All of the traction power substations are now energized. Turnover date for GLFE Phase 2A to Metro is set for Sept. 23. By then there should be a number of Kinki Sharyo cars (P-3010 LRVs) at GLOC, and having the line from East Pasadena to Azusa available for testing will mean they can be tested without interfering with revenue service. Once Metro has the line under its control, the line testing and training process will be ramped up over the following weeks until true pre-revenue speeds and headways are achieved. Current plans call for revenue service to begin in March 2016. Going back into history, one of the criticisms of Pacific Electric a hundred years ago was that their operating personnel were insufficiently trained before being turned loose with 40-ton interurban cars. Today's Metro may be seen to go too far the other way with caution, but that's the world we live in. There was some discussion about the headways and whether, at least at first, some trains would turn back at Sierra Madre Villa with others going on to Azusa. This is what PE did on the Monrovia-Glendora Line, with about half the trains turning back at Monrovia and the remainder going on to Glendora. Note that the Azusa-Citrus terminal will be about 1.4 miles west of the one-time PE Glendora station. Parking structures are complete in Arcadia and Monrovia; Duarte, Irwindale and Azusa-Citrus are coming together on schedule. Downtown Azusa parking structure is a separate project, but is expected to be done by the end of this year. Planning is proceeding on Phase 2B; if all goes well there should be a groundbreaking in 2017.
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Post by bobdavis on Jul 7, 2015 22:41:59 GMT -8
I went out to Azusa this afternoon and found Metro 704 running tests on the track from Citrus College to the other side of Azusa. The crossing gates at Pasadena Ave. weren't operating, and the Sheriff's deputies were providing crossing protection. The car was running at a leisurely pace; presumably in a week or two they'll be running faster. At the GLOC, I found an operator applying wheel chocks to Metro 746, either going to dinner or finished up for the day. Still no sign of the new 1000 -series cars (P-3010s) that are supposed to be arriving any time now, but they may be indoors.
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Post by bobdavis on Jul 12, 2015 21:02:49 GMT -8
Latest photo from IWillRide.org shows new Metro car 1005 inside the Monrovia shop building--one down and a bunch to go.
This morning I was heading up Michillinda Ave. (the western edge of Arcadia) and saw a 700-class car heading westward on the overpass. I thought, "That's cool, getting a bit of trainspotting in on my way to a musical event." Then I thought, "Hey! What's that train doing EAST of Sierra Madre Villa on a Sunday morning?" Perhaps it was part of the reconfiguration of the signalling system to connect the Foothill Extension to the active line. And in another six months, seeing a train crossing Michillinda will be an everyday experience.
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Post by bobdavis on Aug 4, 2015 18:01:06 GMT -8
Went by the GLOC yesterday, found two Bredas and two Kinki-Sharyos in the yard. Further east in Duarte, a crew was installing ticket vending machines an putting other finishing touches on the station. I've seen Hi-Railer trucks and track machines in other locations, apparently making final adjustments and fine-tuning operations. The GLFE Board will not be meeting this month; next meeting is scheduled for Sept. 16, which is one week before the planned turnover to Metro on the 23rd.
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Post by bzzzt on Aug 31, 2015 20:15:42 GMT -8
Countdown clock on the foothill goldline website is going to 21 days. Turnover is three weeks away!
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Post by Philip on Sept 1, 2015 8:06:22 GMT -8
So awesome. Why can't the Expo Line have its stuff in order like this?
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Post by bobdavis on Sept 3, 2015 23:34:02 GMT -8
As someone who has followed the Foothill Extension closely for the past five years, I have great admiration for the team that has brought Phase 2A to completion. In a time when cost overruns and delays seem to be a common occurrence, this segment will be completed on time and on (or maybe even under) budget. Once the turnover is done in less than three weeks, the Metro staff is expected to announce an opening day around the 21st of October. At least two of the San Gabriel Valley officials at the Irwindale station dedication "challenged" Metro to start revenue service in January.
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Post by bobdavis on Sept 3, 2015 23:40:20 GMT -8
Last time I went by the Operations Campus, I saw what I thought was a new LRV in the shop building. I was peeking through the fence on the east side, and a security guard came over and asked "Could I help you?" He was probably a bit surprised when I asked, "Could you confirm that the car in the shop is 1007?" but he said, "Yes, sir, it is 1007." So I thanked him and headed off to my next errand. That makes at least three of the Kinki-Sharyo cars on the property, and they are expected to be coming in every week or so.
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Post by Gokhan on Sept 22, 2015 12:28:37 GMT -8
Gold Line Foothill extension Phase 2A to Azusa is being handed over to Metro tomorrow (September 23) and Metro will announce an opening date within a month.
Gold Line Phase 2A beat Expo Line Phase 2 despite starting later, having longer tracks to lay and OCS to build, having more bridges to build, having a much larger maintenance facility to build, having to build freight tracks, and having to coordinate things with BNSF.
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Post by masonite on Sept 22, 2015 16:41:12 GMT -8
Gold Line Foothill extension Phase 2A to Azusa is being handed over to Metro tomorrow (September 23) and Metro will announce an opening date within a month. Gold Line Phase 2A beat Expo Line Phase 2 despite starting later, having longer tracks to lay and OCS to build, having more bridges to build, having a much larger maintenance facility to build, having to build freight tracks, and having to coordinate things with BNSF. I wonder what that date will be. I guess theoretically it could be as soon as Jan., but will more likely be March assuming no testing problems. It seems Expo is probably more like May.
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Post by bobdavis on Sept 30, 2015 19:24:37 GMT -8
From a quick survey this afternoon: At Sierra Madre Villa, there are green barrier fences in place between the present tracks and the new section. At the Monrovia facility, cars 1005, 1006 and 1007 are in the yard near the maintenance platform; they've been on the property for a few weeks now. There are at least two more of the new cars in the shop building, but they were too far away for me to read the numbers in the late afternoon light, even with my binoculars.
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Post by bobdavis on Oct 13, 2015 22:54:40 GMT -8
The City of Monrovia is finally moving ahead with the restoration of the former Santa Fe depot east of the Gold Line station and parking structure. Alan Weeks sent me a report showing that the city is planning to select the "partner" for the restoration project next month, and have set aside $1.5 million for the job.
The local media have published photos of Metro "ambassadors" who have been appointed to prepare the public for next year's opening of service to Azusa. Metro is scheduled to announce opening day in one week, but I wouldn't be shocked if the announcement is postponed. We'll just have to see what develops.
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Post by bzcat on Oct 20, 2015 12:45:15 GMT -8
Metro will announce the start date for Foothill extension service and the new 501 Express bus this Thursday.
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Post by masonite on Oct 20, 2015 17:25:00 GMT -8
Metro will announce the start date for Foothill extension service and the new 501 Express bus this Thursday. I wonder what the speculation is on the opening. March?
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Post by antonio on Oct 22, 2015 11:56:38 GMT -8
March 5th, 2016. Woohoo.
Why six months for testing though? They probably want to be safe on the railcar issue
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Post by Gokhan on Oct 22, 2015 11:59:19 GMT -8
Revenue-operation date (ROD): Saturday, March 5, 2016 Gold Line to Azusa to open March 5, ten things to know about the Foothill ExtensionThe line could have opened a lot earlier but here in US things move at glacier speed. Well, Gold Line Phase 2A to Azusa has won the race against Expo Line Phase 2 to Santa Monica despite Expo having months of head start and a shorter and simpler line to build. That's the difference between the Foothill and Expo Construction Authorities!
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Post by bobdavis on Oct 22, 2015 14:38:24 GMT -8
Thanks, Gokhan, you beat me to it! Yes, we San Gabriel Valley natives are rejoicing at the posting of the official opening day for service to Azusa. I have already sent word to a family member who now commutes on Metrolink from the Covina station to LA on weekdays. Many of the passengers who live north of Covina are upset at the new ML timetable and are ready to travel better electrically with 12 minute headways and service from before sunrise to after midnight.
And I am proud to be associated with the GLFE Construction Authority--they are a "Can Do Crew". Now it's "On to Ontario!"
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Post by masonite on Oct 22, 2015 17:46:50 GMT -8
March 5th, 2016. Woohoo. Why six months for testing though? They probably want to be safe on the railcar issue 5-6 months is pretty standard. It was about the same with the Eastside Gold Line and actually turned out to be a little longer since they discovered problems in testing. They probably could speed up the testing, but they have to train new staff and also are going to be testing Expo before year-end so I imagine resources are thinned out some. There was a pretty good presentation in the Expo meetings on everything that is involved and that includes getting fire personnel trained as well for the inevitable car collisions and accidents. Def. more than a 2-3 month process.
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Post by johanragle on Oct 22, 2015 19:56:21 GMT -8
Thanks, Gokhan, you beat me to it! Yes, we San Gabriel Valley natives are rejoicing at the posting of the official opening day for service to Azusa. I have already sent word to a family member who now commutes on Metrolink from the Covina station to LA on weekdays. Many of the passengers who live north of Covina are upset at the new ML timetable and are ready to travel better electrically with 12 minute headways and service from before sunrise to after midnight. Let's not forget the cheaper fares. With a fuel efficient car, Metrolink is barely competitive with the cost of gas (but still cheaper, if slightly, when you factor in car payments & insurance etc... except for the part where most Metrolink stations are poorly serviced by local transit thus requiring driving to the stations in most cases.)
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Post by masonite on Oct 22, 2015 20:41:19 GMT -8
Thanks, Gokhan, you beat me to it! Yes, we San Gabriel Valley natives are rejoicing at the posting of the official opening day for service to Azusa. I have already sent word to a family member who now commutes on Metrolink from the Covina station to LA on weekdays. Many of the passengers who live north of Covina are upset at the new ML timetable and are ready to travel better electrically with 12 minute headways and service from before sunrise to after midnight. Let's not forget the cheaper fares. With a fuel efficient car, Metrolink is barely competitive with the cost of gas (but still cheaper, if slightly, when you factor in car payments & insurance etc... except for the part where most Metrolink stations are poorly serviced by local transit thus requiring driving to the stations in most cases.) If the riders are just coming from Metro,ink then it is a loss for the county. Eventually Metro is going to have distanced based fares most likely. That ride from Azuza to LA isn't going to cost $1.75 for long. Should be more like $4 -$5 to be sustainable long term.
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Post by masonite on Oct 22, 2015 20:41:48 GMT -8
Thanks, Gokhan, you beat me to it! Yes, we San Gabriel Valley natives are rejoicing at the posting of the official opening day for service to Azusa. I have already sent word to a family member who now commutes on Metrolink from the Covina station to LA on weekdays. Many of the passengers who live north of Covina are upset at the new ML timetable and are ready to travel better electrically with 12 minute headways and service from before sunrise to after midnight. Let's not forget the cheaper fares. With a fuel efficient car, Metrolink is barely competitive with the cost of gas (but still cheaper, if slightly, when you factor in car payments & insurance etc... except for the part where most Metrolink stations are poorly serviced by local transit thus requiring driving to the stations in most cases.) If the riders are just coming from Metrolink then it is a loss for the county. Eventually Metro is going to have distanced based fares most likely. That ride from Azuza to LA isn't going to cost $1.75 for long. Should be more like $4 -$5 to be sustainable long term.
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Post by bobdavis on Nov 24, 2015 9:50:48 GMT -8
Yesterday I took the Gold Line into LA for a look at the Regional Connector project and a visit to the Auto Show. Not that I'm in the market for a car, but I find it amusing to ride three electric railways to motordom's big hootenanny. I noticed that the barriers are still in place between the in-service tracks and the new section at Sierra Madre Villa. Considering how activities tend to slack off at the end of the year, we may not see pre-revenue testing start until January. That still gives us two months for "live testing" and training before opening day. This is just a guess--I will try to get some firm info. Some may ask, "why does it take so long?" Back in 1906, the United Railroads in San Francisco converted the quake-damaged cable car lines on Market St. to electric power and had them up and running in a matter of weeks. But I can also look at the history of Pacific Electric and point out how the scandal-sheet newspapers of the day raked PE over the coals for putting poorly trained men at the controls of 40-ton interurban cars and blaming the railway for the apparently numerous collisions, many of the fatal. Nowadays we have ambulance-chasing lawyers, ready to sue at the slightest hint of "negligence", so Metro has to make sure all the bases and their collective rear ends are well covered.
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Post by culvercitylocke on Nov 24, 2015 10:04:03 GMT -8
Thanks, Gokhan, you beat me to it! Yes, we San Gabriel Valley natives are rejoicing at the posting of the official opening day for service to Azusa. I have already sent word to a family member who now commutes on Metrolink from the Covina station to LA on weekdays. Many of the passengers who live north of Covina are upset at the new ML timetable and are ready to travel better electrically with 12 minute headways and service from before sunrise to after midnight. Let's not forget the cheaper fares. With a fuel efficient car, Metrolink is barely competitive with the cost of gas (but still cheaper, if slightly, when you factor in car payments & insurance etc... except for the part where most Metrolink stations are poorly serviced by local transit thus requiring driving to the stations in most cases.) Don't worry! Rail advocates want to make sure you stay in your car by imposing distance based fares for the new gold line extension!
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Post by TransportationZ on Nov 24, 2015 19:11:42 GMT -8
Let's not forget the cheaper fares. With a fuel efficient car, Metrolink is barely competitive with the cost of gas (but still cheaper, if slightly, when you factor in car payments & insurance etc... except for the part where most Metrolink stations are poorly serviced by local transit thus requiring driving to the stations in most cases.) Don't worry! Rail advocates want to make sure you stay in your car by imposing distance based fares for the new gold line extension! Oh please. The Gold Line is quickly getting into commuter rail territory. Lets quit pretending that it would actually be sustainable for Metrolink to have everyone ride for $1.75 no matter the distance. Heck, Seattle's Central Link light rail(which is much closer to our kind of light rail) already uses distance-based fares. Also, Metrolink is fighting an uphill battle with the member agencies. It's hard to compete when each county subsidizes their own system at much a higher percentage rate from the same pot of money. There's no reason why most of San Bernardino Line shouldn't be double tracked. Metrolink will also be a faster ride than the Gold Line ever will if it goes to Montclair to get to LA. Also, unlike the Gold Line, 83% of Metrolink riders are choice riders. The fact that the member agencies put Metrolink so low on the funding totem pole when it's the most productive in getting cars off the road continues to boggle my mind.
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