Slowing the Gold Line

Some critics would argue the Gold Line from downtown to Pasadena is slow under normal conditions. Now, it's going to be a little slower:

Riders on the Gold Line will experience delays of about 20 minutes today and tomorrow because an electrical problem has knocked one of the two tracks out of operation over a section of the line, according to the MTA. The problem, which first cropped up last night, involves overhead electrical lines that power the trains, said Metropolitan Transportation Authority spokesman Jose Ubaldo. Until the problem is resolved, Gold Line trains will use only one track in each direction between the Mission and Southwest Museum stations, he said. (CNS)

Comments

[m]

This has now been extended through friday. It sucks because with 20 minute waits, it is pretty easy to spend more time waiting for a Gold Line train to come than it is to complete you ride on the gold line to your final destination and you can't force tranferring trains/buses to arrive "on time". I spent more time waiting for the Gold Line last night than it takes to drive from my work to home. It's too bad I purchased a weekly pass.

[John M.]

My single-seat, 45-minute ride from home (Pasadena) to work (South Park/downtown LA) turned into a horror show when they eliminated the 401-Pasadena Express. I had a very easy solution. I now have the comfort and convenience of a 35-minute trip door-to-door trip by car.

Who but the MTA would remove alternatives which encourage transit riding in order to promote a nasty, NOISY (stand on a platform in the middle of the 210 freeway to understand what I mean) ride on the Gold Line, complete with two transfers? Utter folly. If the Bus Riders Union were to take this example up, they'd have a good case which I'd support.

If you live in Staten Island, you have the choice of taking the train to the ferry to Manhattan, or you can take an express bus through Brooklyn over the bridges. You have to pay extra fare, but many people think that the convenience is worth it. MTA doesn't offer that choice.

The Gold Line - a brilliant idea - one continuous line from Long Beach to Pasadena with the northern end all underground - was turned into a Toonerville Trolley with its speed neutered by track placement and complaints about noise by nearby residents.

I'm sure the Subway to the Sea will be done better than this.

[Greg Kay]

Two days - including 4 rush hours - to fix an electrical problem? Can you imagine if this was the M.O. in New York or on the Bart?

[Derek]

Yeah, it sucked having to transfer to buses--I missed the last ever movie showing at the Rialto. And although I did make friends with a cute baby, I must follow this line of thought to its logical conclusion: Metro sucks.