Denver Area Light and Heavy Rail (RTD) systems

[lpetrich]

RTD A-Line, B-Line get another 90-day waiver to fix gate crossings
Long-delayed RTD G-Line can resume limited testing of trains, feds say – The Denver Post
Long-awaited testing of RTD G Line train from Denver to Arvada, Wheat Ridge is set to resume - Denver Business Journal
Train horns blowing as G-Line testing to Arvada, Wheat Ridge resumes

This is from problems with the crossing gates. All three of the new commuter-rail lines use the same crossing-gate technology, and the first two to open have been granted waivers to operate -- wavers that involve posting flaggers at the gates. A fix is reportedly very close to ready, but it has yet to get approval from the appropriate regulatory agencies: the Federal Railroad Administration and the Colorado Public Utility Commission.

The G line has 16 grade crossings, while the A and the B lines likely have a much smaller number of them.

[zebrasepta]

How is the Commuter Rail side of RTD doing since it's been a over 2 years since the A line opened about a year since the B line opened?

[lpetrich]

Denver's tall buildings partly to blame for A-Line, G-Line problems, RTD tells feds -- "RTD ready to launch G-Line service in early 2019 if feds accept plan to fix crossing-gate timing"

The problem is from Denver's tall buildings blocking GPS signals, signals that the trains use.

Denver troubles with commuter rail "perfect storm"
Colorado lawmakers urge fix to A-Line, G-Line problems

As the deadline looms for RTD to submit an action plan to federal regulators that addresses long-standing issues with metro Denver’s commuter rail system, both of Colorado’s senators and two of the state’s congressional delegation weighed in Thursday in a letter urging everyone involved to find a fix.

Rail News - FRA allows Denver RTD to proceed with corrective plan. For Railroad Career Professionals

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) determined the Regional Transportation District of Denver (RTD) recently filed corrective action plan to address issues related to its A and G light-rail lines provides a "viable path forward," RTD officials announced last week.

...
Now that the action plan has been submitted and reviewed, RTD officials are hopeful that federal regulators will act on various pending issues. For example, on Dec. 21 the FRA approved the removal of grade crossing attendants from the three crossings on the A Line and the one crossing on the B Line, agency officials said.

...
Regulatory issues remain before revenue service can begin on the G Line, they said. Two agencies — the FRA and the Colorado Public Utilities Commission — have yet to approve those matters.

These guys made hilarious t-shirts mocking the fact the G Line keeps getting delayed | 9news.com

The “Ghost Train” shirt includes the line “the legend continues,” and the phrase “taking nobody nowhere real fast.”

RTD hopes to open G Line in early 2019 | Lakewoodsentinel.com

If a string of approvals from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)and the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) come through, the Regional Transportation District is optimistic that the G Line, which was completed in 2016, but has remained stuck in the testing phase with no opening date, could be open for business in the first few months of 2019.

[lpetrich]

I checked on the other extensions.

RTD | E and F Line Extensions
Rail News - Denver RTD to begin testing Southeast light-rail extension. For Railroad Career Professionals
So it should open some time in 2019, like the G line.

RTD | N Line
RTD facing 18-month construction delay on N-Line train, originally due in 2018
2020 Is RTD's New 'Ballpark' Estimate For North Metro Rail Line | CPR
RTD Pays Millions In Settlement With N Line Contractor | CPR

Still in planning:

• A further extension of the N line adding two stations to the six that are under construction
• RTD | C and D Line Extensions -- one station in the southwest
• RTD | L Line -- extension of the central line to the A Line (the airport commuter line)
• Westminster - Boulder - Longmont commuter-rail line

This was back in August 2018: U.S. 36 corridor communities considering commitment to help fund Northwest Rail service to Longmont - Longmont Times-Call

A letter that has been prepared to be sent to the RTD from the U.S. 36 Mayors and Commissioners Coalition would ask the transit agency to get an estimate from the BNSF Railway about the projected cost of using the railroad company's freight track between Denver and Longmont during weekday morning and evening peak commuter hours.

This is in contrast with the existing and under-construction commuter-rail lines, which have their own tracks. The G line's two tracks are built along an existing line's track. Also, the A and the B lines run all day, and the G and N lines may also do so.

The existing and u.c. lines are electric, while this Longmont line will likely be diesel. Infrequent service and shared track will make electrification difficult to justify, I think.

[dgvrengineer]

Denver's tall buildings partly to blame for A-Line, G-Line problems, RTD tells feds -- "RTD ready to launch G-Line service in early 2019 if feds accept plan to fix crossing-gate timing"

The problem is from Denver's tall buildings blocking GPS signals, signals that the trains use.

[/quote]

Maybe they should put a repeater on top of one of the tall buildings to transmit the signals. That's what RR's do in the mountains to get around tall mountains that block transmissions.

[Backshophoss]

GPS tracking is done by satellites in space, needs a clear sight line to space to work.
Buildings block that "clear sight line" to space. Repeaters are useless for GPS tracking

[dgvrengineer]

Thanks for the reply and clarification. I thought they used cellular transmission.

[BuddCar711]

https://www.cpr.org/news/story/every-rt ... k_2B1bq-SU" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Looks like RTD may be leasing MARC cars soon.

[ziggyzack1234]

Looks like RTD may be leasing MARC cars soon.

And what would they pull these cars with? RTD's heavy rail portion is a 100% EMU railroad. Unless there are some locomotives to go along with it (SEPTA had Amtrak to help them here), there is no point.

[electricron]

Maybe leasing MARC coaches does not mean RTD will.
And while it is true the RTD roster is full of EMUs it likewise does not mean they can’t use the MARC coaches;
just that they would also have to lease locomotives as well, which can use either electric or diesel prime movers. There is nothing physical preventing the use of diesels on these tracks.

[MattW]

I don't see anything in that article about leasing anything.

[Backshophoss]

With the exception of the first truck, they have been cycling the fleet, a few cars at a time, for replacement of that beam,
They acted after the SEPTA's problems started, but figured out to just replace that beam outright was the way to go.
They have not had any cracked beams since the first one was found.

[nomis]

Passenger seriously injured after being ejected from RTD train
https://kdvr.com/2019/01/28/passenger-s ... rtd-train/

AURORA, Colo. -- A passenger was seriously injured when they were ejected from an RTD train after it derailed on Monday morning, the Aurora Police Department said.

The R-Line train derailed near South Sable Boulevard and Exposition Avenue during Monday morning's snowstorm.

The incident remains under investigation, which may include charges against the driver. According to Aurora police, "speed and weather conditions, due to the heavy snowfall, are factors being considered."

[lpetrich]

RTD's Lone Tree light-rail extension project to open May 19 (Denver Post)
Rail News - Denver's RTD sets May opening for Southeast light-rail extension. For Railroad Career Professionals

Nothing in either article about the long-delayed G line, however.

[lpetrich]

G Line could soon see passenger service after reaching major milestone (Feb 7)

The G Line, which was scheduled to go into operation in 2016, reached a major milestone toward opening with two key approvals Wednesday from federal regulators, according to a release from the Regional Transportation District.

...
RTD has not provided a possible date when passenger service will begin on the line. However, December’s submitted plan to the FRA included the idea that the G Line could open in the first quarter of 2019.

RTD | G Line: "FRA has approved 2 key milestones toward G Line opening" (Feb 6)