Metrolink Shutdown, 26-29 December

[daveklepper]

3 November news:

 

All Metrolink trains will be shut down for four days after Christmas for maintenance and repairs, the passenger-rail agency announced on its website on Friday, Nov. 3.

 

Metrolink trains will not operate from Tuesday, Dec. 26 through Friday, Dec. 29. The Southern California regional rail system will resume its Regular service willresume on Saturday, Dec. 30. San Bernardino-to- Los Angeles, Antelope Valley, Ventura County, Riverside, Orange County, 91/ Perris Valley, Arrow Line (between Redlands and San Bernardino) and Inland Empire- Orange County,  During the four days, Metrolink will update all track and signal systems where trains enter and exit at Union Station, the multi-modal rail hub in downtown Los Angeles.

 

Metrolink Website and Scott Johnson, Metrolink Spokesman:

 

“We're making the most of the closure to clean, repair and upgrade our rail network, including a new signal system that will provide better operational throughput and reliability in and out of Union Station for our trains,  The signal system going into and out of Union Station needs an entire overhaul.  Although the Arrow Line and the IE-OC Line do not enter Union Station, the rail agency is using the closure to do maintenance on tracks of those lines and trains on the Arrow Line We made a decision to have a system-wide service closure. We have seen lower ridership during that week. Often, individuals don't go to work and take vacation during those days. And none of our universities are open, so there will be fewer students taking our trains,  The work will be completed during the four-day closure.”

 

"By modernizing our rail network, we are preparing our system for the World Cup, Olympics,  

 

Metrolink is not providing alternative transportation. All LA Metro subways, light-rail trains and buses will be operating as usual out of Union Station.

 

Metrolink customers can get more information by calling: 1-800-371-LINK (5465) or by visiting: https://metrolinktrains.com/no-service for a list of FAQs.

 

Edited abd compressed from  The Whittier Daily News, Calif. And Mass Transportation/

 

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

This sounds similar to a BNSF maintenance blitz.  The lack of alternate service may not be a major issue since a fair number of people take that week off from work.

[croteaudd]

daveklepper:

While your thread and its subject matter involves system signals and track circuits, it has to be wondered if Metrolink will also take advantage of their locomotive fleet being idled to do a quick spruce-up of the locomotive fleet.  Recently the operating dept. was advising passengers that some train runs had to be canceled and would not run because there were insufficient locomotives available to cover the runs.  Since the overwhelming majority of the power fleet are F125’s, that certainly gives EMD, Progress Rail, and CAT a bad name.

[daveklepper]

Can somebody closer to the operation investigate and report?

[blue streak 1]

No words yet from Amtrak .  How will LAX union station no accessability effect the LD trains and Surfliners?