Fresh pics: Expo extension media ride

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Standing room only on the westbound ride to SaMo. Photos by Steve Hymon/Metro.

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Supervisor and Metro Board Chair Mark Ridley-Thomas.

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Los Angeles City Council Member and Metro Board Member Mike Bonin.

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Los Angeles Mayor and Metro Board Second Vice Chair Eric Garcetti.

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Supervisor and Metro Board Member Don Knabe.

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The view of the L.A. skyline on an eastbound train pulling into Culver City Station.

Expo Line VIP Train Santa Monica

SANTA MONICA, CA - MAY 9: Expo Line VIP train to Santa Monica station on May 9, 2016 in Culver City, California.

SANTA MONICA, CA – MAY 9: Expo Line VIP train to Santa Monica station on May 9, 2016 in Culver City, California.

SANTA MONICA, CA - MAY 9: Expo Line VIP train to Santa Monica station on May 9, 2016 in Culver City, California.

SANTA MONICA, CA – MAY 9: Expo Line VIP train to Santa Monica station on May 9, 2016 in Culver City, California.

SANTA MONICA, CA - MAY 9: Expo Line VIP train to Santa Monica station on May 9, 2016 in Culver City, California.

SANTA MONICA, CA – MAY 9: Expo Line VIP train to Santa Monica station on May 9, 2016 in Culver City, California.

SANTA MONICA, CA - MAY 9: Expo Line VIP train to Santa Monica station on May 9, 2016 in Culver City, California.

SANTA MONICA, CA – MAY 9: Expo Line VIP train to Santa Monica station on May 9, 2016 in Culver City, California.

Not from the media ride. This was taken during Friday afternoon's rush hour and shows some of the lovely traffic trapped on Pico Boulevard west of the 405. Photo by Steve Hymon/Metro.

Not from the media ride. This was taken during Friday afternoon’s rush hour and shows some of the lovely traffic trapped on Pico Boulevard west of the 405. Photo by Steve Hymon/Metro.

Well, you know it’s close to project-opening time when the traditional media ride is held. As expected, there was a healthy crowd this a.m. for the ride to Santa Monica and back. The ride on the new Kinkisharyo cars was smooth and took about 20 minutes, for those scoring at home.

Want to see what the Expo extension looks like from the cab? Check it out. And here’s the latest batch of pics of test trains taken on Friday — please feel free to download and use!

The extension opens at noon on Friday, May 20. And, yes, there are free rides on both the 20th and the entire service day of the 21st. Click here for more info about the opening and the station parties.

4 replies

  1. Behold, an elusive LASD Transit Deputy in the wild! They are known to appear when VIP’s and publicity can be found. Extremely rare otherwise.

    • You obviously don’t spend much time at either the 7th/Metro or Culver City stations. I very rarely go through either of those stations without seeing multiple sheriffs deputies.

      • That’s exactly what I was going to say. Try going to Union Station, Sierra Madre Villa, or Azusa – Downtown stations without paying fare and let me know how that turns out.