Metrolink Service Interruption – March 20, 2010

At approximately 9:20 am on Saturday, March 20, eastbound San Bernardino Line train 354 (the 9:00 am departure from Union Station) struck a Union Pacific Railroad maintenance of way pick-up truck that was crossing the tracks at the Temple Avenue grade crossing in the City of Industry.  The Union Pacific Railroad employee, who was working on a track adjacent to the Metrolink track in that area, died as a result of the incident.  Injuries to three passengers on the train involved were reported and they were transported to a local hospital.

There was some damage to the front of the locomotive of train 354 which had a locomotive on each end.  There was also damage to a switch in the area that had to be repaired before service could be restored. Metrolink Public Information Officer, Angie Starr was on the scene to answer media inquiries. 

During the service disruption, buses were requested and provided by LA Metro for passengers at Covina, Baldwin Park and LA Union Station until the San Bernardino Line was reopened.  Metrolink Passenger Services Personnel was dispatched to LA Union, Covina and Baldwin Park Stations to assist passengers and External Communications personnel responded to maintain communications with passengers via our social media networks.  Utilizing social media tools like Twitter has proven to be an amazing tool for us.  We are now able to communicate with passengers as quickly as the information is available and interact virtually in real time. Metrolink sent nearly 20 update messages during this service interruption through @Metrolink and @MetrolinkSB and many other messages responding to passenger inquiries.

We believe we have the responsibility to provide relevant and timely information to our customers and we will strive to continue to improve our communications and expand our reach to the largest number of passengers possible.

We have over 4,700 followers via Twitter today but we think all our customers would benefit from following @Metrolink and/or any of the individual Metrolink Line twitter accounts @metrolinkOC, @MetrolinkIEOC, @Metrolink VC, @Metrolink91, @MetrolinkSB, @MetrolinkANT, @MetrolinkRIV).  We encourage all our passengers to follow us on Twitter for up to date information on any service disruptions of 15 min or more Monday through Friday from 6:00am to 7:30pm or 24/7 during a major service interruption.

AMTRAK SET TO OPERATE METROLINK COMMUTER TRAINS BEGINNING JUNE 26

Mutual commitment to safety key factor in new partnership

LOS ANGELES/WASHINGTON, March 26, 2010—Citing a mutual commitment to providing an exceptional safety environment for passengers, employees and the communities it serves, Metrolink and Amtrak announced today they have executed a final contract for Amtrak to operate Metrolink trains on all seven lines of the Los Angeles-based commuter rail agency beginning June 26, 2010.

“Moving to Amtrak as our new operating contractor is another important step in our multi-faceted public safety program. Amtrak brings a depth of experience and commitment to passenger safety that we share at Metrolink,” said Metrolink Board Chairman Keith Millhouse. “We look forward to having Amtrak provide our riders with a level of safety, service and professionalism that is second to none,” added Millhouse.

The Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA), the governing board of Metrolink, contracted with Amtrak, in part, because of its significant commitment to passenger safety and multiple safety programs that will complement and enhance the safety efforts undertaken by SCRRA.

“We are pleased to move forward with this board action,” said Metrolink CEO Eric Haley. “The depth of relevant experience and management support Amtrak has for our operation is unique in the passenger rail environment and we look forward to working with them again in this capacity.”

“Amtrak is proud of our safety record and we are dedicated to providing excellent and efficient service to Metrolink and its passengers,” said Amtrak President and CEO Joseph Boardman.

The final agreement provides for an initial four-year operating contract with the potential for two additional three-year extensions. Amtrak is to provide the train and engine crews required to operate the locomotives and railcars owned by Metrolink, including the new equipment being delivered that is built with state of the art crash energy management systems designed to enhance protection for passengers and crew.

Over the coming weeks and months Amtrak will work closely with Metrolink, Metrolink’s current operator and its employees, and other contractors to ensure a smooth transition.

SCRRA decided to enter into this contract with Amtrak because of the railroad’s unique qualifications and experience in intercity and commuter rail operations, its excellent safety performance, its present operation of intercity trains over four of the seven lines that comprise Metrolink service, and its prior experience as the original operator of Metrolink trains from 1992 to 2005.

What’s a “train cycle” and how does it affect me?

Metrolink train sets are comprised of three to six cars depending on the routes it will run and the number of passengers it may transport. Currently we operate thirty two train sets on any given weekday. These train sets are scheduled on cycles. A cycle may be defined as the complete set of trips a train makes in a given 24 hour span. Cycles are created to maximize the available fleet and resources.

What does this have to do with what we call “cascade” train delays? Anytime a train experiences a problem that causes a delay, it may affect other trips. For example, on cycle #1 (see chart below) if Ventura County Line train 109 out of LA Union Station (LAUS) experiences a significant delay for any reason, whether it is passenger, weather, equipment or track related; it may delay train 116 and potentially delay train 113. Trains 109, 116, 113 and; 102 are the same train and are operated by the same engineer and conductor. Once train 109 reaches Moorpark, it makes its way back to LAUS as train 116, then that same train becomes train 133 out of LA Union Station heading toward the Montalvo Station. This train stays at Montalvo overnight and becomes train 102 at 5:27 a.m. to LAUS and starting the cycle again later that day.

You may wonder how a delay on the Orange County Line may affect a train on the Riverside Line. Cycle #1 is a simple cycle with all trains operating on the same route. However, if you review cycle #23 on the chart below, you will notice that the same train travels on four of the seven Metrolink lines and makes 4 round trips. It first makes a full round trip between LA Union Station and Irvine on the Orange County line as trains 686 from LAUS and 689 back from Irvine. The second round trip is between LAUS and Riverside-Downtown on the Riverside Line as trains 412 from LAUS and 401 the next morning from Riverside, then a trip on the 91 Line to LAUS as train 702 and back to Riverside-Downtown on the Riverside Line as train 409. The last trip for that cycle is on the San Bernardino Line as trains 306 to San Bernardino and 323 back to Union Station completing a total of 450 miles. Therefore, a delay on train 686 on the Orange County line may affect the on-time performance of train 412 on the Riverside Line.

Cycles may cover anywhere from 125 to about 525 miles and all 32 cycles cover over 8,500 miles per day.

Train cycles are changed when train schedules are adjusted or changed. All of the train sets except one start out from train storage or “layover” locations at the end of each route: (San Bernardino, Riverside, Montalvo, Moorpark, and Oceanside). One train set originates from Metrolink’s Central Maintenance Facility (CMF) near Glendale early in the morning. Following the morning rush and mid-day service, train sets return to the Central Maintenance Facility for inspection, testing, cleaning and minor servicing in preparation for afternoon mid-day service and the afternoon rush.

When building train cycles or determining trains that can turn from one schedule to another using the same size train consist, Metrolink considers

• Passenger load factors to determine how many cars are needed for individual trains;
• Mileage traveled of each train schedule which affects fuel consumption
• The time each train arrives at Los Angeles Union Station following morning service and is brought to the CMF to allow sufficient time for inspecting, testing, servicing and cleaning of each train.

As of February 15, train cycles are scheduled as follows:

Metrolink makes every effort to advise customers in real time of any disruptions in service utilizing station signs, via the use of Twitter and on our website. To learn more about how to follow Metrolink or your specific line on Twitter, click here.

Two CEM Cars Arrived at Metrolink's Facility in Colton

Metrolink’s two new CEM cars made the approximately 65-mile trek on Burlington Northern –Santa Fe Railway flat cars to Metrolink’s Eastern Maintenance Facility in Colton where the manufacturing process will continue according to “Buy America” standards. 

In the first photo, a contract welder is cutting the hold-down bracket weld that held one of the cars in place and prevented unnecessary movement throughout its shipment from South Korea.

The second photo shows a team of Hyundai Rotem crewmembers moving the truck assembly (made up of the bottom two side frames, wheel sets, brake rigging, yaw dampers and shocks) toward the car for placement.

Metrolink will keep you updated on this exciting process - Stay tuned!

First Two Metrolink CEM Cars Have Arrived!

Metrolink and the SCRRA Board of Directors welcome the first two of its new fleet of crash energy management-enabled Hyundai Rotem passenger rail cars upon their arrival at the Port of Long Beach from South Korea.


Building on its history of safety innovation, Metrolink will be the first passenger rail system in the nation to adopt these state-of-the-art cab and passenger cars, which feature unique crash energy management (collision-absorption) technology.

Metrolink Heralds Arrival of Pilot Crash Energy Management-Enabled Passenger Cars

System is first railroad in the nation to adopt state-of-the-art technology as part of comprehensive rail safety program

LOS ANGELES, CA, March 2, 2010–Today at the Port of Long Beach, Metrolink Board Chairman Keith Millhouse, Chief Executive Officer Eric Haley and a distinguished group of leaders greeted the arrival of the system’s first two Crash Energy Management (CEM)-enabled cars. Delivered from their manufacturing site in South Korea, the cars are the first of 117 cars the agency will put into service later this year after a rigorous testing program. Metrolink will be the first commuter rail system in the nation to adopt these state-of-the-art cab and passenger cars, which feature a unique collision-absorption technology.

“As the latest technological addition to our comprehensive public safety program, these new CEM cars will help save lives,” said Millhouse. “Their arrival on our shore is the result of dynamic collaboration with world-class vehicle safety experts across two continents who share our commitment to passenger safety. On behalf of Metrolink’s thousands of loyal commuters, I want to thank them for their innovative work to enhance the safety of our transportation network.”

The CEM program now enters the critical testing phase, which is the most essential part of the procurement. Any elements in need of modification will be identified and corrected during this phase, which will prevent those that do not meet the highest standards from showing up in the entire production run. This will ultimately save time and money, produce a much higher quality product from the start, expedite the successful final testing and acceptance of the cars here in the U.S. and help ensure a successful introduction into regular train service.

Procurement of the cars began more than five years ago when Metrolink contacted the Volpe Institute and the Federal Railroad Administration in order to incorporate collision absorption technology into the system’s cab and passenger fleet that was already on order.

Speaking dockside where the cars were offloaded from U.S. flagged cargo ship, Ocean Charger, Millhouse acknowledged some of the partners in attendance who helped bring this important technology to Southern California. They included: CEM car manufacturer Hyundai-Rotem for providing world-class railway vehicle design and production; Intermarine USA for carrying the cars on their heavy-lift vessel, Ocean Charger; Suntrans International, the oceanic freight forwarder that ensured the safe passage of the cars from Korea; and the Port of Long Beach, leading gateway for Trans-Pacific trade, for their global leadership in goods movement and for hosting the arrival event.

Millhouse also announced that most of the work to assemble the new cars will be done at Metrolink’s Eastern Maintenance Facility in the City of Colton in accordance with the “Buy America” program that requires final assembly of rolling stock take place in the United States.

“Performing the work here will also result in expedited training, quicker access to the cars, the extension of more than 50 jobs and the opportunity to start working on modifications to ready the cars for Positive Train Control in accordance with our accelerated strategy to bring this technology to Southern California,” added Millhouse.

ABOUT METROLINK

Metrolink is Southern California’s regional commuter rail service in its 17th year of operations. The Southern California Regional Rail Authority, a joint powers authority made up of an 11-member board representing the transportation commissions of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties, governs the service. The agency currently contracts with Connex Railroad, LLC for the personnel that operate, supervise and manage Metrolink commuter rails service. Metrolink operates over seven routes through a six-county, 512 route-mile network.

Crash Energy Management White Paper by Volpe National Transportation Systems Center

First Two Metrolink Crash Energy Management-Enabled Passenger Rail Cars Arrive at the Port of Long Beach

Press opportunity scheduled for TODAY at 10:00 A.M.
Port of Long Beach

LOS ANGELES, CA, Tuesday, March 2, 2010—Join the Metrolink Board of Directors as we welcome the first two of our new fleet of 117 Hyundai Rotem rail cars upon their arrival at the Port of Long Beach from South Korea. Building on our history of safety innovation, Metrolink will be the first commuter rail system in the nation to operate these state-of-the-art cab and passenger cars, which feature unique collision-absorption technology.

Who: Metrolink Board Chairman Keith Millhouse and members of the Metrolink Board, CEO Eric Haley and Guests from the Port of Long Beach, Hyundai Rotem, Intermarine USA and Safetrans International.

Event location is a secure facility. Only authorized/credentialed media outlets permitted to enter. Please confirm your attendance by contacting Angie Starr by email at starra@scrra.net.