Gold Line trains running full service on normal schedule

Gold Line trains are running full service from East L.A. to Pasadena on normal Sunday schedule .  Tracks are cleared and repairs to power line structure damaged by fallen tree in Highland Park on Friday morning were completed and fully tested by 7:35 a.m.

East L.A. to Pasadena service on the Gold Line continues but with a 20-minute delay

Service on the Gold Line continues with a 20-minute delay as a traction and power crew works to repair damage to the catenary system just north of the Highland Park station. Trains are running on a single-track between Southwest Museum station in Mt. Washington and Mission station in South Pasadena to bypass the work site at the Arroyo Verde road crossing. Service was disrupted at approx. 4 a.m. Friday morning when a large oak tree uprooted from the rain-saturated ground and fell on the tracks, downing some overhead catenary wires in the process. Work crews have removed the tree and are now repairing damage to the poles that support the catenary wire system that powers the trains. Tracks and power lines were not damaged in the incident.

Through-service to all Gold Line stations was restored by 1 p.m. on Friday. Until normal service is resumed, northbound and southbound trains will depart from all Gold Line stations at 20-minute intervals. Service will include three-car trains to accommodate passengers.

Repairs to the overhead support structure are expected to continue throughout the weekend.

Updates to follow.

Gold Line through-service restored – Trains running at 20-minute intervals

Gold Line service to all stations has been restored at 1 p.m. Repairs to tracks blocked by a fallen tree have enabled through-service on a single track. Repairs to overhead catenary wires continue until further notice. Until normal service is resumed, which is likely by tomorrow, northbound and southbound trains will depart from all Gold Line stations at 20-minute intervals. Service will include three-car trains to accommodate passengers. Bus service to transport passengers between the Southwest Museum station and Mission station has been cancelled.

Service was disrupted at approx. 4 a.m. this morning when a tree fell on the tracks just north of the Highland Park station near the Arroyo Seco Bridge. Work crews have removed the tree and are now repairing damage to the overhead catenary wires. Tracks were not damaged in the incident.

Gold Line repairs expected to clear single track for service by early afternoon

Tree damages overhead catenary wires and blocks Gold Line tracks between Highland Park and Mission stations near the Arroyo Verde road crossing and the Arroyo Seco Bridge. Photo: Luis Inzunza.

Northbound passengers boarding bus bridge at Southwest Museum Station are transported to Mission Station to continue Gold Line service. Southbound passengers boarding waiting buses that bypass the blocked tracks are transported to Southwest Museum Station, where they continue to their Gold Line destinations. Photo: Luis Inzunza.

At approximately 4 a.m., a tree fell on the overhead power lines of the Gold Line at the Arroyo Verde road crossing just north of the Highland Park Station, blocking both tracks and damaging overhead catenary wires.  Repair crews are on the scene and expected to clear the southbound track to enable the single tracking of trains within two hours or by 1 p.m. Normal operation may return as soon as tomorrow (Saturday).

Gold Line repairs underway -Limited service running between Mission and Sierra Madre stations

Two trains are operating between the Sierra Madre station in eastern Pasadena and the Mission station in South Pasadena. Five trains are operating north and south between Southwest Museum and Atlantic stations.  Service out of Sierra Madre will operate every 20 minutes. Service out of the Atlantic will operate every 10 minutes.

Bus service continues to transport passengers between Mission Station and Southwest Museum Station.

At approximately 4 a.m., a tree fell on the overhead power lines of the Gold Line at the Arroyo Verde road crossing just north of the Highland Park Station, blocking both tracks and damaging overhead catenary wires.  Repair crews are on the scene and hope to clear the southbound track to enable the single tracking of trains around the location as soon as possible.

Metro Gold Line down north of Southwest Museum Station – Bus service in operation

At approximately 4 a.m., a tree fell on the overhead power lines of the Metro Gold Line at the Arroyo Verde road crossing. The tree is blocking both train tracks. Repair crews are on scene and hope to clear track 2 to enable single tracking around the location when possible. However, at this time, an extended interruption to rail service north of the Southwest Museum Station is anticipated.

Bus service is now in operation to transport all passengers north of the Southwest Museum Station. There is no Gold Line service between Southwest Museum Station and Sierra Madre stations.

Updates to follow.

Board searches for way to install gates quicker on Eastside Gold Line

On item 13 on today’s agenda, the Board of Directors asked Metro staff to further study if there’s a way to install four-quadrant crossing gates on the Eastside Gold Line without doing a full-blown environmental impact report and/or study.

Staff had recommended hiring a contractor to do the environmental work. The Board of Directors want to see if it’s possible to declare a “mitigated negative declaration” on the gating project — i.e. that the impact of the gates does not require environmental review.

If the project doesn’t require detailed review, the gates can be installed quicker. Board member and County Supervisor Gloria Molina was particularly vocal that she wants to see the gates at some Eastside intersections sooner rather than later.

In the meantime, the Board voted this past summer to spend $4.5 million on other safety enhancements, including two miles of fencing along the route to separate the train from the street.

Metrolink responds to report of train failing to stop for red signal

The Los Angeles Times reported today that a Metrolink train failed to stop at a red signal last week on the San Bernardino line east of downtown, but that it stopped before reaching a stretch of tracks where there was an oncoming train.

Several members of the Metrolink Board of Directors were quoted in the story and the agency this afternoon released the following statement:

On Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009, Metrolink train # 334 traveling east towards San Bernardino was involved in an incident at 8:30 p.m. approximately 2 miles east of Los Angeles. No injuries or damage to equipment were reported.

According to Federal railroad regulations, when any rules violation is alleged, a thorough investigation must take place in order to confirm that a violation may have occurred and provide the engineer and conductor the appropriate due process.  Metrolink Operations staff and Connex have already begun this process and both crewmembers are out of service pending completion of the investigation

Meanwhile, Metrolink has stepped up existing measures intended to reinforce the awareness and vigilance of Connex train crew members to further enhance the safety of its passengers, SCRRA employees and contractors.

Because this matter continues to be under investigation, Metrolink is not providing additional comment at this time.

Blue Line back on schedule

Blue Line trains are back on schedule. No more delays.