Eastside Gold Line opening

Here are four photos of my experience of the Eastside Gold Line public opening today, with three-car trains on a frequent schedule. At the end of the line at Atlantic here's the train we're about to board and another nearing the station.

Trains were getting full with standees now. It was great seeing all the parents and kids there.

(Click photos to enlarge)

Lots of people were getting off and on the trains at the Mariachi Plaza subway station, where 1st Street was closed above for a street festival.

Before 11 a.m. there was no line and the cars had a couple of empty seats; back at Union Station before 1 p.m., the line now stretched the length of the tunnel, like for the 2003 opening of the Pasadena Gold Line.



And here is the view through operator's window during a preview ride in a Breda train, last Friday, November 6. (Click HD and full screen for the best ride!)

Part 1 of 2 is Union Station to 1st & Lorena. Part 2 of 2 is the rest of the way to 3rd & Atlantic. The video skips time stopped in stations; total travel time was about 22 minutes.

Eastside Gold Line testing

Here are some newer photos of Los Angeles' Eastside Gold Line as it nears opening (also see construction photos from early 2008).

This aerial view of the bridge from Union Station over the 101 freeway is from Metro's headquarters building (8/08).

A test train returns over that freeway bridge to the Gold Line platform at Union Station (7/09).

(Click photos to enlarge, or see Light Rail Big Photos for all large photos.)

Another view of that bridge, from Aliso Street on the south side of the freeway (12/08).

Two test trains are in the Little Tokyo station at First and Alameda.

A three-car eastbound test train crosses the First Street bridge. Note the bridge tower has been moved as part of its widening (9/09).

A one-car westbound test train crosses the bridge (9/09).

A test train passes the new school LAUSD built next to the Eastside Gold Line at Mission (9/09).

An older Siemens test car pauses in the station (with its lights briefly showing it to be westbound) before heading east into the tunnel under Boyle Heights (9/09).

An eastbound test train rounds the corner of First onto Indiana (9/09).

This catenary pole on Third Street includes weights to keep the overhead in tension (12/08).

This test train is about to leave the end-of-the-line station at Atlantic (9/09).

Here's the map of the 6 mile long Eastside Gold Line.