Final Update: Red/Purple Line resumes normal service

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FINAL UPDATE 8:15 p.m.: The Red and Purple Lines are resuming normal service, as the earlier police investigation at Civic Center/Grand Park has been resolved.

UPDATE 4:50 p.m.: The Red and Purple Lines are currently experiencing major delays due to the police investigation following this afternoon’s train-trespasser incident. Red Line trains serving Downtown L.A. currently share 1 track in the area, and will require customers to disembark at Westlake/MacArthur Park for connection to additional Red Line trains serving the MacArthur Park-North Hollywood segment. Purple Line still runs ONLY between Wilshire/Western and Wilshire/Vermont stations on the upper platform.

For alternate bus routes to avoid Red/Purple Line delays, click here.

The Metro Red and Purple Lines are currently experiencing delays of up to 20 minutes due to a train-trespasser incident that occurred at approximately 1:35 p.m. this afternoon. According to initial reports from Metro, the individual—a confirmed fatality—apparently jumped in front of an approaching North Hollywood-bound train at Civic Center/Grand Park Station. Delays on the Red and Purple Line are expected to continue through rush hour as police investigate the incident.

Metro Red Line trains currently share the Union Station-bound track between 7th Street/Metro Center and Union Station. Purple Line trains are ONLY running between Wilshire/Vermont and Wilshire/Western. For alternate bus routes to avoid Red/Purple Line delays, click here.

Those headed to Union Station on Metrol Rail to take the Dodger Stadium Express should consider driving to the station or taking one of the many bus lines that serves Union Station. For maps and timetables: http://www.metro.net/riding/maps/.

Finally, Metro would like to thank all Red and Purple Line customers for their patience as we work to resolve this incident as quickly as possible. Please check back here at The Source, or follow us at @metrolosangeles or @metroLAalerts, for further updates.

Categories: Transportation News

12 replies ›

  1. I CONSTANTLY see the LA County Sheriff standing around, talking with each other, checking their cell phones, and sipping their Starbucks. They are usually at the Gold Line waiting for the patrons to exit from their trip. I really don’t think that’s the place to catch people that haven’t paid, especially considering that most of the morning riders are students or hard working individuals who have valid TAP cards or MetroLink monthly passes.

    Whenever those who haven’t paid for their trip see the gathering of County Sheriff at the bottom of the Gold Line stairs, they just back up and jump back on to the train.

    All the homeless people that ride and sleep on the trains in the morning, don’t even make an attempt to exit at Union Station because they already know who could be waiting. And yet the LA County Sheriff are content to wait indoors, right by the stairs and the TAP card machines, time and time again. When in fact they could be patrolling on the trains, making sure those of us who have actually paid for our trip are safe and sound without any possible incidents.

    • I absolutely agree with you. Bravo and Thank You for speaking the truth on how it is with MTA’s Train System. Applaudingly, ~Susan R. in Reseda

  2. It seems that “suicide by Red Line train” has now become a popular perceived method du jour. I believe the time has come for MTA to take aggressive steps to prevent this practice, even though it will require unbudgeted costs. At each Red Line Station, there are already yellow bump or other floor markings for where the train car doors will be when the train stops. There need to be fences along the entire platform lengths, high enough to be “jump-proof”, with electronically controlled doors that only open when the train’s doors open, and close when the train’s doors close. This will eliminate access to the tracks by would-be jumpers. Some of the funding currently assigned to expanding the rail lines needs to be diverted to creating higher risk prevention for the Red Line we already have, in light of the increased Red Line suicide rate, and the enormous impact these incidents have on the daily commuters who depend on the Red Line to get to & from work & home on work days. For me, getting home this last Thursday was nothing short of a confusion-filled fiasco, and took 3.5 hours instead of the usual 1.5-2 hrs to get from 7th/Metro to Reseda. This is Los Angeles, we are Amazing, therefore we can and must do better. Time to raise the bar on the Red Line, MTA. Please pass this communique on to the MTA Board. Thank you.

  3. I was highly disappointed regarding the incident yesterday. When I arrived at union station to catch the purple line I was instructed just to grab the next train. When I asked for clarity in regards to the purple line I was instructed just to get on the train. After forty minutes of sitting on the train we eventually departed. I was never informed the train was only going to macarthur park. When I arrived there to macarthur park, I was never informed that I had to take a bus to arrive to the Wilshire/Normandie area. Highly disappointed with the lack of communication to riders. I feel that stronger “Policies and Procedures” need to be implemented and enforced by MTA personal when dealing with a high-risk situation. At least the Gold Line has a better protocol when dealing with delays and I wonder why there is such a discrepancy between the two metro lines dealing with delays in transportation?

    Also in regards to the Sheriffs wearing the white shirts they need to stop being so selective with their job description. On numerous occasions I have witnessed these sheriffs talking amongst themselves and not monitoring all posts. If they’re going to check fare, they need to actually do their job.

    Once again “Policies and Procedures” are being neglected. Who monitors the quality assurance of them?

  4. As a constant rider, the sheriff department needs to do more patrols than checking tap cards. Safety should be metro top priority not the taps. They have the security there let them do that while sheriff checks safety. But all I see everyday is the sheriff and security hanging out together. I have also witness numerous fights in front of sheriff and security while taps were being checked. Let’s think safety first always!

  5. Platform doors (either full-height or mid-height) would preclude any passenger incursions onto the track. Although expensive, the full-height platform doors like those in most Asian metro systems would help decrease air conditioning costs within stations and presumably lower electricity costs as a result. Additionally, I would assume that full-height platform doors could help capture additional internal wind that will help Metro’s MACE wind turbine project is expanded to the entire subway network. Perhaps additional proceeds from the energy generated from the MACE wind turbines could be used to fund platform doors.

    • Hi Leo,

      At this time the situation has not changed, but we will have an update soon. Please check back in an hour or so, or follow us on Twitter @metrolosangeles for all service alerts.

      Thank you,

      Anna Chen
      Writer, The Source

  7. Rather than suggesting driving to Union Station to catch the Dodger shuttle, how about taking the 2, 4, or 704 (there is a new stop at Elysian Park Ave and Sunset Bl) and walking up the hill? The walk is not as bad as it once was.

  8. these trains are a critical part of our economy. any investigation, no matter whether involving a fatality or otherwise, must be concluded in a manner that guarantees that trains are running on all tracks three hours later. get it together.

  9. Metro needs to build more track crossovers and to build doors on the platforms to prevent people from jumping (or falling) onto the tracks. This is not the first death related to the trains this year.