The test train passes by Nin in Japanese Restaurant at 5th and Colorado on Wednesday. Photos by Steve Hymon/Metro.
Looking east down Colorado Avenue in Santa Monica from Lincoln Boulevard.
Looking west down the tracks toward the final Expo station and the Santa Monica Pier beyond. A pedestrian plaza is being built between the Downtown Santa Monica Station (at left in the photo) and Ocean Avenue.
The train just east of the Downtown Santa Monica Station.
A clearance test of an Expo Line test train reached Downtown Santa Monica Station on Wednesday afternoon, making it the first time that a passenger train has gone that far west in the L.A. area since the early 1950s.
The second phase of the Expo Line is scheduled to open next year (sorry, no exact date yet). Completion of construction is forecast for October to be followed by several months of testing and employee training.
If you need full resolution version of any of these pics, they’re available for download at our Flickr site. Click on the down-facing arrow at the bottom right of each image.
The project is largely funded by the Measure R half-cent sales tax increase approved by Los Angeles County voters in 2008.
Categories: Projects
[…] complete, The Source reports the Expo Line, which currently runs from downtown L.A. to Culver City, will be extended 6.6 miles […]
Congratulations, @metrolosangeles. Job well done!
[…] trains have traveled through West LA and pulled into the Palms station—but now, thanks to photos from The Source (and various others), we’re all witnessing the first train to chug around Santa Monica since […]
it is like a dream to actually see trains on tracks where there was just an abandoned right-of-way for over 60 years…
At what point are trains going to start running through this section on their own power?
Hi Jacob–not sure of date but I’ll check. I believe the overhead wires have been energized.
Steve Hymon
Editor, The Source
At what point are they going to start running trains on their own power?
Nice set of photos, Steve. Thanks.
I have to admit these photos gave me goosebumps. I can’t wait!
Did you know Los Angeles Metro
EXPO LINE’s Robertson Station, will be unreachable 8/23/15 forward, thanks to Santa Monica Big Blue Bus @ http://www.bigbluebus.com horrible changes??? METRO has not been providing adequate mass transit service, to Los Angeles West area.
Posted this on Santa Monica Big Blue Bus Facebook today, 7/29/15, plus many previous protests.
https://www.facebook.com/garcetti/posts/10155964109800089
???
LA Metro Line 220 only runs ONCE per hour & zero on weekends & METRO refuses any changes. BAD DECISION Santa Monica made & heartless, discriminating against working class, Seniors, students & anyone interested in mass transit. Don’t you care you’re forcing many people away from mass transit & others, will have no way to get around… at all??? NO real way for most people to get to & from, the Robertson Expo Line? HOW can this be a good thing?
“Route 5
Major route changes:
Will no longer provide service east of Century City.
Alternate travel options:
Refer to Metro Route 28 for service east of Century City along Olympic Blvd.
Refer to BBB Routes 7 or Rapid 7 for service along Pico Blvd.
Refer to Metro Route 220 for service along Robertson Blvd. to Culver City Station Expo Line.
Or plan your trip using Google Transit.”
Cc: Los Angeles
Mayor Garcetti
DOT-LA
There are a number of service changes upcoming for the Big Blue Bus, with many of the changes designed to better serve the Expo Line’s future stations. For those interested in ALL of the changes — not just one route — please see http://bigbluebus.com/Routes-And-Schedules/ServiceChanges.aspx
Steve Hymon
Editor, The Source
“discriminating against…Seniors…will have no way to get around”
Sorry, I have to take offense to that as it sounds like this is an assumption based on that seniors cannot learn something new. Not withstanding, age isn’t a factor in learning to drive new methods to get around either. Many retirees and seniors do ride motorcycles and scooters and it only shows that you’re never too old to learn something new and that seniors too can be young at heart.
http://i.imgur.com/Ff3XJGr.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/mAiJTZT.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/DK1Nos3.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/maRdQ32.jpg
So exciting!!!!
Something tells me that section is gonna be slow…. Like Downtown.. Fingers crossed
Something, like all the at-grade crossings? I’m really curious to see how the test runs will go, and whether both car and train traffic will be slowed. The Lincoln Blvd intersection can often get backed up by people heading for the 10 fwy, plus now there’s the added detour for PCH, so that might cause some congestion.