Update, 5:30 a.m. Wednesday: Repairs to the overhead power supply system near Compton Station remain in progress. Blue Line trains will continue to arrive every 12-15 minutes from end-to-end this morning, with bus shuttles running every 10 minutes between Willowbrook/Rosa Parks and Compton Station. Again, we would like to thank our customers for their patience and understanding as we work to restore service as soon as possible. Please continue to follow us here at the Source or on Twitter @metrolosangeles or @metrolaalerts for Blue Line status updates.
Update, 7 p.m. Tuesday: Emergency repairs remain in progress on the Metro Blue Line near Compton Station. Some of you may be wondering how a train-auto incident could require such extensive work. The answer has to do with the fact that in this particular incident, the trespassing car actually caused the train to derail, or go off the tracks, resulting in extensive damage to multiple components of the Blue Line in the area. This includes the tracks, over head power supply system and the signals system. On top of that, the incident car and train first needed to be moved, and the tracks cleared of all debris.
So, for the remainder of the evening and into early tomorrow morning, the Blue Line will continue its currently service pattern: trains will run every 12-15 minutes, and bus shuttles, arriving approximately every 10 minutes, will replace rail service between Compton and Willowbrook/Rosa Parks.
We did mention progress was being made–and it is. Tomorrow, Wednesday morning around 7 a.m., repairs already made to the Blue Line near Compton Station will undergo a series of tests. Pending the results of these critical safety tests, normal service may be able to resume.
Please continue to follow us here at The Source and on Twitter @metrolosangeles or @metrolaalerts to keep appraised of the latest Blue Line news. Finally, thank you to all Blue Line customers for their patience and understanding these last two days.
Update, 5 p.m. Tuesday: The same service plan that has been in effect on the Metro Blue Line since this morning will remain in effect through evening rush hour. Trains are running approximately every 15 minutes between 7th Street/Metro Center and Willowbrook/Rosa Parks, and Compton and Downtown Long Beach. Bus shuttles, scheduled to arrive approximately every 10 minutes, will continue to connect customers heading north from Compton Station or south from Willowbrook/Rose Parks Station.
Blue Line customers should consider alternate routes to avoid disruptions. Any further updates will be communicated here at The Source and via our Twitter handles @metrolosangeles or @metrolaalerts.
Update, 1:50 p.m. Tuesday: Blue Line trains are now running approximately every 15 minutes end-to end, and bus shuttles are in rotation between Willowbrook/Rosa Parks and Compton Station every 10 minutes. Please continue to check back here on the Source or on Twitter @metrolosangeles or @metrolaalerts for more Blue Line status updates.
Update, 7:30 a.m. Tuesday: Bus shuttles between Willowbrook/Rosa Parks and Compton Station are still in effect. Blue Line customers should consider alternate routes to avoid disruptions.
Repairs are ongoing, and we will provide status updates when more information becomes available. For the latest Blue Line updates, please check back here or follow us on Twitter @metrolosangeles or @metrolaalerts.
Update, 5 a.m. Tuesday: Blue Line customers can expect delays this morning due to emergency repairs near Compton Station. Train service is available between 7th Street/Metro Center and Willowbrook and between Compton and Downtown Long Beach only. Bus shuttles are operating approximately every 10 minutes between Willowbrook and Compton Station. If traveling thru the bus shuttle area, please allow extra time to complete your trip. For up-to-the-minute status updates, follow Metro on Twitter @metrolosangeles or @metroLAalerts.
Update, 7:30 p.m. Monday: Emergency repairs near Compton Station are still in progress. The service plan in place on the Metro Blue Line since this morning’s train-auto incident will remain in effect through Monday evening and through the Tuesday morning commute.
Full-platform trains will run every 15 minutes for the remainder of Monday evening, and bus shuttles will replace rail service between Willowbrook/Rosa Parks and Compton Station, and run every 10 minutes. On Tuesday morning, Blue Line trains will operate between 7th Street/Metro Center and Willowbrook and between Compton and downtown Long Beach, with bus shuttles again replacing service between Compton and Willowbrook with trains running approximately every 10 minutes.
If traveling through the bus shuttle area, please allow a little extra time to complete your trip. We encourage all customers to follow us on Twitter @metrolosangeles or @metrolaalerts for the latest Blue Line updates.
Update, 12:02 p.m. Monday: Bus shuttles are running approximately every 10 minutes for customers traveling between Willowbrook/Rosa Parks and Compton Station. If you were delayed by the Blue Line this morning and need delay verification for work or school, please call Customer Relations at 213.922.6235. Customers should also check back here at The Source, or on Twitter @metrolosangeles or @metrolaalerts, for the latest Blue Line updates.
Update, 10:45 a.m. Monday: Bus shuttles replace service between Willowbrook/Rosa Parks and Compton as crews work to restore normal service. The Blue is currently running approximately every 20 minutes with southbound trains turning back at Willowbrook and northbound trains turning back at Compton.
Customers are encouraged to use alternate routes. From 7th/Metro use the Metro Silver Line, Metro Bus 450 to Green Line Harbor Fwy Station or Metro Bus 460 to Green Line Norwalk Station.
Repairs are underway, and we will update on service restoration as we get more information. Currently we are expecting delays to last throughout the day. For up-to-the-minute status updates, follow Metro on Twitter @metrolosangeles or @metroLAalerts.
Update, 9:12 a.m.: Delays continue on the Metro Blue Line as we assess the extent of damage and length of time needed to make repairs. Preliminary reports from Metro indicate a motorist drove around the crossing gates into the path of an oncoming train. Crossing gates were working at the time of the incident, according to Metro.
Damage occurred to the train (which must be put back on the tracks), a track switch box and the support system for the overhead wires that deliver electricity to trains.
Bus shuttles are currently in effect for those wishing to travel between Willowbrook/Rosa Parks and Compton Station. As for the Monday afternoon rush hour, Metro is attempting to complete repairs in time to restore full service — we’ll provide updates as the day continues. For the latest Blue Line news, please check back here on the Source or follow our regular Twitter feed or the feed dedicated only to service alerts.
The earlier post:
The Blue Line is currently experiencing major delays due to a train-auto incident between Willowbrook/Rosa Parks and Compton Station that occurred at approximately 7:30 a.m. this morning.
Until the incident is cleared, northbound trains will be turning back from Compton Station and southbound trains will be turning back from Willowbrook/Rosa Parks. The cause of the incident is under investigation. Customers are encouraged to use alternates routes to avoid Blue Line disruption.
Metro would like to thank all customers for their understanding as we work to restore service to both tracks as fast as possible. For up-to-the-minute status updates, follow Metro on Twitter @metrolosangeles or @metroLAalerts.
Categories: Service Alerts
Shame on Metro for ramming bus shuttles down the throats of Blue Line customers who live in the Compton /Watts area. One more reason that Metro deserves to be shutdown immediately.
As an emergency responder, I have responded to a LOT of train derailments over the years last 30 years. The one thing that has remained consistent? The UPRR and BNSF lines have been repaired and opened in record times and at the worst, within the first 24 hours. What gives LA Metro?? Do you not have the support system to maintain your infrastructure??
Hi,
In this case, the damage is extensive, affecting track, signal & overhead power supply system. Many of the elements require safety testing before operations can restart, and work crews often need to wait for one portion to be complete before they can move onto the next (i.e. the concrete needs to be set before they can begin reinstalling utility pole). We are working round the clock to restore service as quickly as safety allows.
Anna Chen
Writer, The Source
I seem to be surrounded by traffic accidents this week.
This past Saturday morning, an intersection near my house was tied up with a major collision, DIRECTLY BLOCKING my normal course to my organ lesson and my weekly docent shift at the International Printing Museum. Sunday morning, I got off of a freeway to find an SUV barreling around the corner behind me, horn blowing continuously, threatening to rear-end me. That night, on my way home from the evening’s concert at Disney Hall, SOMETHING BIG was going down on the Northbound side of the 405, around Huntington Center, involving at least three fire engines and at least three police cars, blocking all but one lane. Thankfully, there wasn’t any spectator slowing. And yesterday evening, I passed one collision being cleared near my house, on my way home, only a block away from the one from Saturday morning, then when I ran an errand, I saw something going down at THE VERY INTERSECTION WHERE THE SATURDAY MORNING INCIDENT WENT DOWN.
So why should it surprise me that some utter imbecile who didn’t know any better to play chicken with a train of 47-ton (unladen) trolley cars would manage to not only drive around a lowered crossing gate, and DERAIL at least the lead car. Assuming the driver survived, he’s got a lot of explaining to do.
It’s a bit annoying, but it could be much worse. My commute last night and this morning was not what I expected, but it’s all a matter of perspective. I did not have to use the bus bridge, but traveled from Willowbrook to 7th/Metro station. I prefer the Metro Rail over a local bus any day! Also, getting to a bus stop is not convenient for me.
My biggest frustration is with idiot drivers and pedestrians that feel invincible.
Its about 25 miles from DTLB to DTLA for $1.75 that’s a bargain. While yes delays like this is annoying for the most part it doesn’t happen that often. The Metro Employees for the most part have been helpful. I would suggest more crowd control getting on and off the trains. Also extra assistant for riders with disabilities and/or seniors.
“Its about 25 miles from DTLB to DTLA for $1.75 that’s a bargain.”
And most people do not ride from DTLB to DTLA. The average ride on a Metro Rail is only 12 miles. Put it another way is that it also costs $1.75 from Florence to Vernon which is only 2 stops away as well. DTLB to DTLA could easily be raised to a $5.00 fare and it’ll still be cheap for such a long distance, but sure isn’t going to be cheap if fares go up to $5.00 if you’re doing Florence to Vernon.
It makes me super mad. We have the poorest transportation system. Metro trains running every 25 minutes. Come on. Every one pack like sardines. You should provide shuttles for all the stops. Very sad such poor transportation system
The best part of ALL of this is all of the Metro employees standing, getting paid, doing NOTHING at 7th & metro right now. You guys been standing around milking this all day?!?
Metro should end up milking this as a huge justification for more graft/unnecessary overtime for Metro employees can pad their pockets with some overtime/doubletime for the Holidays.
I’m sure we’ll see a fare increase in 2016.
You are free to think and discuss among your peers about the idea of privatizing Metro if you think your taxes isn’t doing anything good under government ownership of Metro, and you can Google up and do your research on how well privatization/partial-privatization of mass transit works elsewhere (i.e. Asian mass transit).
And you live in a democracy so you have all the freedom to write and let your elected officials serving on the Metro Board know about your frustrations. Bypass the Metro bureaucracy who could careless and are nothing but public employee union cronies and go straight to letting your voices heard to your elected officials – that’s what they are paid to do by your tax dollars.
but we dont… so we have to deal with it… 🙂
Why should it be “we.” Metro can go make their own money through profitable ventures like real estate or putting in shops at the station instead of expecting Congress or expecting voters to hand them more money. The Metro employees can also get a salary cut, funny you never hear that idea proposed, right?
if only we had tho money to build a completely grid separate system… ehem….
This is exactly why at-grading crossings shouldn’t be built in the first place.
Why does Metro continue to give drivers the ability to go around gates and drive onto the tracks when a train is coming? That could be eliminated fairly easily with concrete bollards.
I hope Metro charges the driver with all costs associated with this!!! Isn’t there quad gates? How did the driver go ‘around?’ Sounds like the driver busted through the gates?
No quad gates at that rail crossing. See Google Maps ped view.
Steve Hymon
Editor, The Source