Railroad Forums 

  • WMATA Summer 2019 BL/YL Virginia platform project

  • Discussion related to DC area passenger rail services from Northern Virginia to Baltimore, MD. Includes Light Rail and Baltimore Subway.
Discussion related to DC area passenger rail services from Northern Virginia to Baltimore, MD. Includes Light Rail and Baltimore Subway.

Moderators: mtuandrew, therock, Robert Paniagua

 #1514284  by Sand Box John
 
"davinp"
Metro's latest report on this summer PIP shows continued progress, especially of the installation of new tiling. https://www.wmata.com/service/rail/Plat ... pdates.cfm


What's up with the tile at Braddock Road? I thought WMATA quit using the quarry tile in their outdoor station for new construction or rehabilitation.

"JDC"
The Franconia-Springfield station is barely 25 years old as it did not exist when VRE began service in 1992. So you'd think this station's platform would not be in as bad condition as the others further noth


I think WMATA is being proactive in this case. They may have noticed some signs of possible future issues and decided to take care of it now instead waiting 10 years when things might be really bad.
 #1514299  by mtuandrew
 
I can’t speak to F-S, but Van Dorn was losing tile chunks and I could see why they’d just redo the entire floor. It seems somewhat extravagant to me but if the system won’t shut down for major maintenance anytime soon, better to do it now.
 #1514436  by JDC
 
Sand Box John wrote: Wed Jul 17, 2019 6:48 pm
What's up with the tile at Braddock Road? I thought WMATA quit using the quarry tile in their outdoor station for new construction or rehabilitation.
Someone asked Metro about this on Twitter, and Metro said these tiles were being installed (in lieu of the other new prefab tiles recently used at outdoor stations) to "preserve the original design". They still improve traction, though. Metro also said more details about these new tiles were coming. https://twitter.com/Metrorailinfo/statu ... 0011152384
 #1514462  by Sand Box John
 
"JDC"
Someone asked Metro about this on Twitter, and Metro said these tiles were being installed (in lieu of the other new prefab tiles recently used at outdoor stations) to "preserve the original design". They still improve traction, though. Metro also said more details about these new tiles were coming. https://twitter.com/Metrorailinfo/statu ... 0011152384


Took someone 30 years to figure out it might be a good idea to spec the nonskid version of the quarry tile for outdoor applications. I was working in commercial kitchens 40 years ago that had nonskid quarry tile on the floors.
 #1514737  by JDC
 
As it did with King Street, Metro's latest PIP blog post includes historic photos of construction of Eisenhower Ave station. The photos are a bit tighter, so there is less to see of the surrounding neighborhood, which I assume was vastly different in early 80s than today. https://www.wmata.com/service/rail/Plat ... fm?id=1047
 #1514864  by JDC
 
Metro's PIP website has a new update detailing all of the improvements coming to the 6 stations currently being renovated, including details on specific improvements at individual stations. https://www.wmata.com/service/rail/Plat ... r-feet.cfm. This update, which was also sent via a short email to registered customers, contains nuggets of information many may not be familar with.

For instance, "The screens on the platforms (known as PIDS) that scroll through next arriving trains, service alerts and other announcements are being upgraded to digital screens. There will also be twice as many screens on each platform, making them more visible from more areas on the platform. Additionally, the information on the screens will be split, so that you can always view the train arrival times, while service alerts and other important messages will scroll along the bottom." I do not recall Metro touting this big - and welcome - change.
 #1514923  by STrRedWolf
 
JDC wrote: Tue Jul 23, 2019 11:21 amFor instance, "The screens on the platforms (known as PIDS) that scroll through next arriving trains, service alerts and other announcements are being upgraded to digital screens. There will also be twice as many screens on each platform, making them more visible from more areas on the platform. Additionally, the information on the screens will be split, so that you can always view the train arrival times, while service alerts and other important messages will scroll along the bottom." I do not recall Metro touting this big - and welcome - change.
Oh definitely. It's the difference between LED displays (mmmm Charlieplexing) that have limited resolution and essentially LCD TVs. I want to see a demo of the new screens.
 #1515232  by JDC
 
Metro's blog features photos of the stations boasting the new upgrades mentioned in the prior post of mine. https://www.wmata.com/service/rail/Plat ... ements.cfm. It's quite jarring to see those stainless steel shelters at stations that used to feature the Metro brown paint scheme.
 #1516832  by Sand Box John
 
"JDC"
A fun read on the misuse of fonts by a contractor replacing the platform signs at Van Dorn as part of the PIP this summer. https://wamu.org/story/19/08/09/the-wro ... got-upset/


What surprises me is how they managed to get from the fabrication shop all the way to platforms without being noticed that they were incorrect.