ricco67 Posted October 28, 2012 Share Posted October 28, 2012 I happen to meet an engineer that was in town for Metro. Turns out a team of over 40 engineers were running sound/vibration tests on the material they used to sheath the rails with. Unfortunately, i don't know the results, but I'm sure someone might leak the info in the future.also a team came to test the new car that just arrived, but I wasn't able to wiggle that much more information from them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IHB2 Posted October 29, 2012 Share Posted October 29, 2012 I happen to meet an engineer that was in town for Metro. Turns out a team of over 40 engineers were running sound/vibration tests on the material they used to sheath the rails with. Unfortunately, i don't know the results, but I'm sure someone might leak the info in the future.also a team came to test the new car that just arrived, but I wasn't able to wiggle that much more information from them.in previous tests on the Red Line and projections based on that for the other lines, the dBs measured about the "same" range as existing traffic noise, and within the legal limit, so METRO's argument is the trains do not increase the ambient dBs in a given location.as far as I know, METRO has not commented on the effect of adding the "same" dBs to existing noise as opposed to increasing dBs. also left unsaid is the effect of that noise on a given location w/6 minute headways 21 hrs/day, since automobile traffic noise varies greatly in a 24 hr period, even on the fwys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slick Vik Posted February 21, 2013 Share Posted February 21, 2013 The Main Street bridge across Buffalo Bayou north of downtown will reopen midday Monday, Metro officials said, after a lengthy closure related to light rail expansion. The bridge, a key link between downtown and the near Northside, closed in August 2011 so workers could extend the tracks north from University of Houston Downtown to Northline Commons, just outside Loop 610. The North Line rail extension is scheduled to open next year. The bridge reopening ends months of circuitous detours around the construction, which at one point included a diversion through a work zone parking lot. Shops and restaurants along the route blamed the bridge’s closure for slumping sales, often complaining to the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County about the hit to their business. Metro offered businesses up to $25,000 for the loss of revenue, if they met certain criteria. But some said even that wasn’t enough. Opening the bridge will resolve some of the issues, though some businesses have also complained the work along Main and Fulton makes it tougher to turn into their parking lots. With work on the bridge and assorted traffic signals and lighting complete, Metro officials said the bridge is set to reopen following a Monday celebration and re-dedication. The event is scheduled for 10 a.m. at the southern end of the new bridge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricco67 Posted March 17, 2013 Share Posted March 17, 2013 Finally got around to making a new vid for this line. Talked to someone saying that they might be testing the lines sometime during the summer. He also said they were going to test the cars as well, but I don't know if he meant if they were going to be tested on the current line or not. It was only a brief meeting, so that was all I got. Additionally, when I go back to filming this summer, I'm going back to speeding up the vids, unless people like the real speed. Once the line is completed, I'll do a complete run. http://youtu.be/0q8w9mTIp-k 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted March 17, 2013 Share Posted March 17, 2013 The new style of car is supposed to start running on Red Line in mid to late March, so any day now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kennyc05 Posted March 17, 2013 Share Posted March 17, 2013 Does anyone have a pic of the new cars? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted March 17, 2013 Share Posted March 17, 2013 Does anyone have a pic of the new cars? http://houston.culturemap.com/newsdetail/10-16-12-bikes-on-a-train-metro-debuts-new-cars-with-racks-to-swoon-over/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronTiger Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 Cool video. But what's with the new lights? Don't they realize this is Texas, where lights face sideways? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLWM8609 Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 Cool video. But what's with the new lights? Don't they realize this is Texas, where lights face sideways? Traffic lights are only mounted sideways in Texas? I guess some small towns and parts of San Antonio and Austin didn't get the memo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slick Vik Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 Pretty impressive bridges Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronTiger Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 Traffic lights are only mounted sideways in Texas? I guess some small towns and parts of San Antonio and Austin didn't get the memo. I don't think I've seen the sideways lights anywhere else (not in Louisiana or Tennessee), where it's extremely common in Texas (College Station-Bryan, almost all of Houston, Waco, etc.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLWM8609 Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 (edited) I don't think I've seen the sideways lights anywhere else (not in Louisiana or Tennessee), where it's extremely common in Texas (College Station-Bryan, almost all of Houston, Waco, etc.) New Mexico is another state that commonly mounts their traffic lights horizontally. I've noticed that the vertically mounted traffic lights on the new light rail lines seem to be mounted mostly where the ROW is only 1 or 2 lanes in each direction with a few exceptions. Wider sections and cross streets seem to get the horizontally mounted traffic lights. Edited March 18, 2013 by JLWM8609 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_cuevas713 Posted April 6, 2013 Share Posted April 6, 2013 Can somone give me answer as to why all the sidewalk so inconsistent? There are patches with the grass strip along the side and a small narrow sidewalk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicman Posted April 6, 2013 Share Posted April 6, 2013 Can somone give me answer as to why all the sidewalk so inconsistent? There are patches with the grass strip along the side and a small narrow sidewalk.It varies because the right of way varies due to front setbacks of buildings. While METRO was forced to claim some properties through eminent domain, there are others where they did not to save some money so the sidewalks are narrow. I turned in a few to my councilmember who said "I didn't know there were any that narrow" METRO has trees and even bus signs coming up from the middle of the sidewalk which limits access for those in wheelchairs. It definitely is not would be considered a walkable environment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
illusionescape Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 Once this line opens, will trains run continuously from Fannin South Station to Northline Transit Center Station and back? Or will we have to transfer at UH-Downtown Station to another train? The reason I ask is because they call this the North Line, making it sound like its a completely different line from the existing line. Although sometimes they do call it the Red Line extension. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 Once this line opens, will trains run continuously from Fannin South Station to Northline Transit Center Station and back? Or will we have to transfer at UH-Downtown Station to another train? The reason I ask is because they call this the North Line, making it sound like its a completely different line from the existing line. Although sometimes they do call it the Red Line extension. Trains will run continuously... no transfers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 Christmas will come early - but just barely - for riders looking forward to Metro's North Line light rail extension.Better-than-expected construction progress means the line between University of Houston Downtown and Northline Commons north of Loop 610, via Main Street and Fulton Street, is scheduled to open this year, Metropolitan Transit Authority officials said Thursday."They are making good progress and instead of early 2014, will be opening the North Line in December, sometime before Christmas," Metro spokesman Jerome Gray said.Rail and concrete for platforms are in place, and most of the remaining construction involves electrical, landscaping and finishing the eight stations along the 5.3-mile extension.In addition to finishing construction, Metro will test the line by running trains without passengers. That testing is planned for later in the summer, said David Couch, Metro's vice president of capital projects, during an April presentation.Most of the $756 million project is being paid for with federal funds.The North Line is one of three new light rail lines under construction. The East Line and Southeast Line are not expected to open until next year. http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Metro-says-North-rail-line-to-open-early-4542806.php?plckFindCommentKey=CommentKey%3A8a41d678-5bde-4537-9eea-1d43d52a58ef Excellent! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slick Vik Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 Great news Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 (edited) Fantastic news! Thanks for the post Edited May 23, 2013 by Houston19514 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HtownWxBoy Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 Wow something done early ... that doesn't happen too often! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samagon Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 wow. To answer my own question before I even ask it, I doubt this will speed up completion of the other two rail lines. I assume there are early completion bonuses? and I wonder how much of this early completion is thanks to the few days of rain we have had in the past years? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slick Vik Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 Well they were supposed to all be done by 2012 originally, so is it still considered early? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 Well they were supposed to all be done by 2012 originally, so is it still considered early? Once construction finally started after the acquisition fiasco they were saying 2015, so pretty cool it will be a year earlier for the other lines and two years earlier for the North line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted May 24, 2013 Share Posted May 24, 2013 Just saw on the Metro website that they will start testing railcars on the North line next week. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triton Posted May 24, 2013 Share Posted May 24, 2013 Next week? There's no way. I live right by the north line near North Main and Boundary St. There's still A LOT of the electrical lines that aren't connected from pole to pole. Unless they really plan to do all of that work this week! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
totheskies Posted May 24, 2013 Share Posted May 24, 2013 Part of the Southeast Line seems like it's almost complete done... everything north of UH. METRO could open that branch by the end of the year if they wanted to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urban909 Posted May 24, 2013 Share Posted May 24, 2013 Next week? There's no way. I live right by the north line near North Main and Boundary St. There's still A LOT of the electrical lines that aren't connected from pole to pole. Unless they really plan to do all of that work this week! Apparently a rail car is going to be towed along the line: http://www.gometrorail.org/clients/2491/537923.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triton Posted May 24, 2013 Share Posted May 24, 2013 Wow, I stand corrected. So I drove up and down the north line today to see if I wasn't going crazy... apparently it's only the Boundary St section that has zero electrical lines for the rail cars. I guess they'll have to finish that up soon. The rest looks mostly connected and ready to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
illusionescape Posted May 27, 2013 Share Posted May 27, 2013 I think the East End Line could've been up and running this year too (up to the Hughes Underpass) if it weren't for the large amount of work needed on the downtown portion of the line on Capitol and Rusk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triton Posted May 28, 2013 Share Posted May 28, 2013 Does anyone know the exact date they will be testing the railcar? I'd definitely take some pictures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted May 28, 2013 Share Posted May 28, 2013 (edited) n/t Edited May 28, 2013 by kylejack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted May 28, 2013 Share Posted May 28, 2013 Does anyone know the exact date they will be testing the railcar? I'd definitely take some pictures. Supposed to start this week. I'm sure it will go on for a number of days along different segments of the line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted May 28, 2013 Share Posted May 28, 2013 There's some towing going on right now. A friend just saw one go by. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triton Posted May 28, 2013 Share Posted May 28, 2013 Guess I answered my own question... Right now! I'll upload more and get a closer view when it comes down. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triton Posted May 28, 2013 Share Posted May 28, 2013 (edited) Double post but for a good reason! Edit: This is along Main St. at Paschall (before Quitman). Second edit: And sorry if my images are colossal! I can resize them if you guys think they are too large. Edited May 28, 2013 by Triton 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urban909 Posted May 28, 2013 Share Posted May 28, 2013 Triton, how fast was it moving along? Nice catch btw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triton Posted May 28, 2013 Share Posted May 28, 2013 (edited) Triton, how fast was it moving along? Nice catch btw. Sometimes around 1 mph. Other times it was blazing at 5 mph. hah It usually dropped down to 1mph when it had to go past a sign and those white "things" around the railcar almost touched. They literally had to hold back one of the signs in the center between the rails to let the railcar go on through. Not sure if that means they're going to have to move that sign or what but they did mark it. Since I have today off and I live right by the north line, I'm about to go back to see how much progress they made. PS: Surprisingly, the fastest they went (again, around 5 mph) was when they sped through this station.. I have no clue why Edited May 28, 2013 by Triton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricco67 Posted May 28, 2013 Share Posted May 28, 2013 They want to make sure all clearances and Rail gauge width are up to spec. It would suck to damage one of the cars during testing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
illusionescape Posted May 29, 2013 Share Posted May 29, 2013 Houston Chronicle article has some good photos from today's testing...http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/gallery/Riding-the-new-rail-line-63391/photo-4698272.php Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triton Posted May 29, 2013 Share Posted May 29, 2013 The railcar is spending that night at Fulton and Catherine St, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slick Vik Posted May 29, 2013 Share Posted May 29, 2013 The railcar is spending that night at Fulton and Catherine St,I saw that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
editor Posted May 30, 2013 Share Posted May 30, 2013 Metro sent over some pictures today. METRORail turned many heads this week on the new North Line. A caboose-looking shuttlewagon towed a light-rail car along the entire new stretch of track. Since electric power is not yet traveling through the overhead lines, the light-rail train was tugged up and down the five-mile line by a bright red railcar mover. This safety exercise is in advance of a series of tests to be conducted this summer with electric-powered trains running the new lines. METRORail and contractor HRT crews are monitoring progress to check that functions like track, poles, underground and overhead wiring, are in order before the electrical test phase begins. The North Line extension is ahead of schedule and more than 80 percent complete at this time. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slick Vik Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 Interesting contraption Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricco67 Posted June 6, 2013 Share Posted June 6, 2013 (edited) Had a bit of free time, so I decided to go snap a pic. I'm fairly curious about the format and how it would be utilized. Edited June 6, 2013 by ricco67 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfastx Posted June 6, 2013 Share Posted June 6, 2013 My guess is that some trains will stop there and not go all the way to the end of the extension. Some trains will turn around so that the main part of the Red Line has a higher frequency. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted June 6, 2013 Share Posted June 6, 2013 Once this line opens, will trains run continuously from Fannin South Station to Northline Transit Center Station and back? Or will we have to transfer at UH-Downtown Station to another train? The reason I ask is because they call this the North Line, making it sound like its a completely different line from the existing line. Although sometimes they do call it the Red Line extension. It is being referred to as the "Red Line extension" already. It will be just Red Line. http://www.ridemetro.org/News/Releases/2013/05232013-2.aspx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samagon Posted June 6, 2013 Share Posted June 6, 2013 My guess is that some trains will stop there and not go all the way to the end of the extension. Some trains will turn around so that the main part of the Red Line has a higher frequency. this is probably true of both directions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hartmann Posted June 6, 2013 Share Posted June 6, 2013 Are they building a staircase/elevator at the elevated station? Would have been pretty cool had the entire length been elevated. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricco67 Posted June 6, 2013 Share Posted June 6, 2013 There is, I drove on Elysian to get it, my buddy was in a hurry and could only get a couple of off angle shots. The stairway itself is pretty large. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricco67 Posted June 6, 2013 Share Posted June 6, 2013 I was just thinking, this would be a great place to stage cars for special events as they are needed. Just pile them up there and they won't interfere with normal operations until they're needed. At least, I hope that is part of what they're thinking of using it as. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.