Yes, the long term plan is to connect the Blue and the Gold, redirecting the Blue line from Long beach to Claremont and on to Ontario Airport, the southern part of the current Gold Line will become an extension of the Expo line, the map above represents the planning for the full Metrorail system envisioned and now thanks to Measure M may become reality.
Have fun with your trains
Yellow (Gold) + Blue = “A”
The reports are that the powers that be have been planning for a long time to connect the Gold Line (northern segment) to the Blue Line. Yellow (gold) plus blue equals green, but since there already is a Green Line … Letters are planned. So, the idea is to have a Long Beach to Azusa (Montclair) line called the “A” Line. Interesting concept …
The above photo of the present Blue Line was taken July 7, 2017 at Nadeau Street and Graham Ave., looking south towards the Firestone Blvd. overpass tracks, the left two are the Blue Line’s while the right two are Union Pacific’s, for a four-track right-of-way. UP’s tracks are for locals, whereas the Alameda Corridor trench for Intermodals is about a half a mile to the east.
vsmith (8-7):
Cool diagram map … but a microscope is needed to see it! Oh, well.
In connecting the present Blue Line to the Gold Line, I am somewhat at a loss as to how the powers that be plan on connecting the two lines. Do you know, vsmith? I sure hope “beam me over Scotty” technology won’t be used in the transition routing …
Continued …
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- K.P.’s absolute “theorem” from early, early childhood that he has seen over and over and over again: Those that CAUSE a problem in the first place will act the most violently if questioned or exposed.
vsmith (8-7) Continued:
South of Union Station in Los Angeles, where the southern Gold Line curves eastward, there seems to be a huge construction project going on, as if a subway was being built.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Los+Angeles,+CA/@34.0490947,-118.2385629,199m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x80c2c75ddc27da13:0xe22fdf6f254608f4!8m2!3d34.0522342!4d-118.2436849?hl=en
Along the Los Angeles River a bit to the east, there are tracks, assumedly new, that goes into some type tunneling.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Los+Angeles,+CA/@34.0517304,-118.2309508,199m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x80c2c75ddc27da13:0xe22fdf6f254608f4!8m2!3d34.0522342!4d-118.2436849?hl=en
Do you, vsmith, or anyone, have any enlightenment on these two mystery items?
Thanks,
K.P.
K. P. HarrierDo you, vsmith, or anyone, have any enlightenment on these two mystery items?
No mystery whatsoever !
The construction near Little Tokyo (Alameda and 1st) is the east portal of the Regional Connector, scheduled for completion in 2021. The west end will be the current north end of the Blue/Expo lines at 7th/Flower. I've not opened a topic on the RC as all of the construction is below ground, no civilians allowed.
The other construction near the east end of the Red/Purple line subway is expansion of yard tracks. New equipment will be needed for the Purple Line extension west. Metro's fantasy is to accelerate construction to UCLA/Westwood in time for the 2024 Olympics (HAH!); more reason to prefer the 2028 bid.
Links to my Google Maps ---> Sunset Route overview, SoCal metro, Yuma sub, Gila sub, SR east of Tucson, BNSF Northern Transcon and Southern Transcon *** Why you should support Ukraine! ***
MikeF90 (8-8):
Great, informative info, Mike! That underground construction so the Blue Line and the Gold Line can connect was suspected, but the hang up for me was that future track arrangement BETWEEN Alameda / 1st and Union Station (Gold Line). Are they going to build another bridge over the 101 Freeway or tunnel under Union Station with track rearranged north of Union Station?
Take care,
MikeF90 ~snip~
~snip~
No need to worry, the plan is for Paris to take 2024 and LA will take 2028.
K. P. HarrierAre they going to build another bridge over the 101 Freeway or tunnel under Union Station with track rearranged north of Union Station?
Unfortunately, Metro's staff is still infected with rectal-cranial inversion syndrome and decided to use the existing two track bridge and slow, stupid curves by the 101 Freeway and Alameda St. IMO they should have built a new four track bridge and track directly south to a large radius wye on 1st Street. Plan for future flexibility!
MikeF90 (8-11):
That downtown Alameda and 1st Streets aerial reshown:
There is a vacant piece of land north of Union Station …
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Los+Angeles,+CA/@34.060746,-118.2345571,398m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x80c2c75ddc27da13:0xe22fdf6f254608f4!8m2!3d34.0522342!4d-118.2436849?hl=en
… possibly where the Gold Line from the north could (“could”) steeply nosedive to tunnel underground to that Alameda and 1st Streets location.
In my opinion, that would keep people away from Union Station trains, and that may be the objective. Any that wanted to take a Union Station train would have to take an elevator to the trains, and NOT just get off a light rail unit to ‘look around’ at all the Union Station tracks.
Exactly what the rather new, present track (and bridging over the 101 Freeway) from Union Station to Alameda and 1st Streets would be used for thereafter isn’t clear.
It is unknown if any of us have thought of it or not, but the 605 Freeway and nearby river would make an Irwindale-Pico Rivera right-of-way for light rail AND the BNSF. If the BNSF (with taxpayers money, of course) had a single-track line adjacent the 605 Freeway their Transcon would have a routing option 10 miles SHORTER that their present line through Fullerton and Corona. Hmmm. I wonder if THAT is why BNSF’s “Pasadena Sub” (Second District) has NEVER had the ABS signals removed …
Best,
Holiday Season
K.P. had been in San Gabriel, CA to photograph UP’s new San Gabriel Trench, CA and thought because the 210 Freeway was in such a rush hour jam he would take some time and photograph the Foothill Extension Arcadia Station stop at night. But, on the way to the station stop, he couln't resist photographing the new bridge over Santa Anita Blvd. lit up in holiday colors.
The Arcadia stop at night was an experience, to say the least! Some photos will be shared with the forum in a few days.
The Arcadia Stop at Night
Part “A” (of A-B)
On the night of Friday, December 8, 2017, the Arcadia stop was stopped by. The between the tracks station ramp between trains:
When outbound trains stopped, it was surprising how many passengers disembarked here and walked down that ramp.
It was rush hour and more trains than usual were operating. An inbound movement:
The Gold Line goes diagonally through a vehicle intersection, so there are more crossing gates that usual, both for vehicles and pedestrians.
Two commuter trains sometimes arrived close to the same time.
But, mostly not, and TWO up and down cycles of the crossing games is the norm.
Continued in Part B
Part “B” (of A-B)
A rather new light rail train to “East LA” came with unit 1008 leading.
The 1008 was fascinating to K.P. because San Diego Trolley had an old U2, 1008, now owned by the Orange Empire Railway Museum in Perris, CA. In storage at OERM on a very drizzly, rainy day:
December 22, 2016
The OERM recently repainted their Santa Fe GP60M (whoops, make that an FP45!!!) in warbonnet colors, unit 108. It is wondered if the museum has a thing for 1 and 8 (1008 and 108), or if it was just a coincidence. Incidentally, Santa Fe 108 in younger days in its roaming the Santa Fe system came right through the diagonal “X” grade crossing depicted therein. Anyway, when the L. A. Metro 1008 came by Arcadia, K.P. just had to photograph it …
A “quiet” moment (no light rail trains) when a photo was taken of the ramp and cross walkway WITHOUT any center crossing flashers! Note the crossing gate THIS side of the tracks and NOT between the tracks also. A makeshift electrical Christmas tree is in the background right.
Finally, an outbound set almost silently zips away quickly with only a slight whirl sound.
This will end the series.
Catching up on Metro blog posts:
Monrovia station renovation: http://thesource.metro.net/2017/11/27/a-quick-look-at-renovation-work-taking-place-at-monrovia-santa-fe-depot/
Aerial video of planned extension: http://thesource.metro.net/2017/11/30/new-video-take-an-aerial-tour-of-the-gold-line-extension-to-claremont-and-montclair/
Groundbreaking for Gold Line extension east to Montclair: http://thesource.metro.net/2017/12/02/groundbreaking-ceremony-held-for-gold-line-extension-to-claremont-and-montclair/
Another article on the Monrovia station: http://www.sgvtribune.com/2017/12/06/heres-what-developers-are-planning-for-monrovias-restored-1926-santa-fe-train-depot/
Time to wake up this old topic!
The Gold (L) Line Foothill extension is now over 50% complete. Their website has good drone aerials of the construction progress; here is September 2022: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IEnZcdrvHg
See more at https://foothillgoldline.org
Note that the current project ends at Pomona; Claremont and Montclair stations are currently unfunded.
Metro L Line map and schedule: https://www.metro.net/riding/schedules/?line=804
Metro system maps: https://www.metro.net/riding/guide/system-maps/
My Google LAMetro station map (periodically updated): http://goo.gl/XQGpY9
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.