Photos by Fernando Andres Di Zitti/Metro

Earlier this month, Metro staff took a new P3010 light rail vehicle manufactured by Kinkisharyo for a clearance test on both the Blue Line (from 7th/Metro to Willowbrook) and the Expo Line (7th/Metro to Culver City). As the name implies, clearance testing involves making sure the light rail vehicles work well with various structures along the tracks — such as platforms, signals and other equipment.

Metro has ordered 175 light rail vehicles from Kinkisharyo for use throughout the Metro light rail system — i.e. the Blue Line, Expo Line, Gold Line and Green Line. The cars are being manufactured in Japan and then are being shipped to Palmdale for final assembly.