Silver Line Dulles WMATA Metrorail progress/pictures

[Sand Box John]

"dgvrengineer"
I just flew into Dulles Sunday (11/18) and there were signs posted in the airport and on shuttle busses announcing the re-opening of the tunnel. Not sure when that happened, but it is open now.

This press release was originally posted on 11 14 2018. The press release was pulled mid morning of 11 15 2018 and appears to have been reposted on 11 16 2018. Me thinks the opening was delayed from the pre opening announced date of 11 13 2018 to 11 16 2018.

[JackRussell]

I just flew into Dulles Sunday (11/18) and there were signs posted in the airport and on shuttle busses announcing the re-opening of the tunnel. Not sure when that happened, but it is open now.

I took a few pictures of the tunnel over the weekend, but have not yet gotten around to posting anything. So far it looks fairly nice - when you exit the elevators you go through sliding glass doors, and that brings you next to the station entrance. If you continue on maybe 50 feet or so, there is a 2nd set of sliding glass doors that takes you back into the climate-controlled part of the tunnel with the moving sidewalks.

There is a roll-up gate in front of the actual station, but it doesn't obscure your view of the station at all. There is a 2nd roll-up gate on the opposite wall which covers an area where I assume the farecard vending machines will ultimately be installed.

There is still much to do, of course. I saw them installing celing tiles, and there is no sign of any of the faregates or associated farecard vending machines.

[Sand Box John]

@ JackRussell

Did the contractor relocate the over head cable chase the crossed the open area in front of the entrance?

https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1817/4416 ... 3d3b_b.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[JackRussell]

@ JackRussell

Did the contractor relocate the over head cable chase the crossed the open area in front of the entrance?

https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1817/4416 ... 3d3b_b.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

No, that remains - it seems to be mainly the mechanism for the rollup gate, plus perhaps some other cabling. When they are done, they will probably install some sort of trim over it to make it look nice.

I can't get the BBCode working with the 'img' tag - it just complains that it can't work out the image size. So here are the raw links of the pictures I took the other day. The first link of each pair is the full-sized picture, the second link is the thumbnail. The light was weird with strong sunlight coming from the back, which made the exterior photos not as good as I might have liked.

Platform level:
http://www.andante.org/images/Metro/Nov ... C_0723.JPG" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.andante.org/images/Metro/Nov ... 723_01.JPG" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Station construction:
http://www.andante.org/images/Metro/Nov ... C_0726.JPG" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.andante.org/images/Metro/Nov ... 726_01.JPG" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Exit to garage:
http://www.andante.org/images/Metro/Nov ... C_0727.JPG" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.andante.org/images/Metro/Nov ... 727_01.JPG" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Farecard vending area:
http://www.andante.org/images/Metro/Nov ... C_0729.JPG" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.andante.org/images/Metro/Nov ... 729_01.JPG" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Tunnel entrance:
http://www.andante.org/images/Metro/Nov ... C_0730.JPG" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.andante.org/images/Metro/Nov ... 730_01.JPG" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Station entrance, showing rollup gate:
http://www.andante.org/images/Metro/Nov ... C_0731.JPG" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.andante.org/images/Metro/Nov ... 731_01.JPG" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Sand Box John]

"JackRussell"
No, that remains - it seems to be mainly the mechanism for the rollup gate, plus perhaps some other cabling. When they are done, they will probably install some sort of trim over it to make it look nice.

Seems I asked a question I already had the answer to. The cable chase was above the center line of the pedestrian tunnel when it was daylighted. Upon reviewing the previous pictures I have taken, they relocated it to its present location, at some point in the second half of 2017, after completing the retaining walls on both sides of the original pedestrian tunnel envelope.

[JackRussell]

I am wondering if they will install any PIDS outside of the station. For example, near the tunnel entrances in the main terminal, or in the elevator lobby at the ground floor of the parking garage.

The thought comes to mind that people would likely prefer to wait in the climate controlled area of the parking garage until their train is perhaps 5 minutes away. That would be more than enough time to go through the faregate and go up the escalator to the platform level. Having PIDS and some benches in there would make this relatively comfortable and easy. Even without any of this, it seems likely that people would loiter in the climate controlled areas - a PIDS near the faregates would likely still be visible through the glass doors.

[justalurker66]

Station entrance, showing rollup gate:
http://www.andante.org/images/Metro/Nov ... C_0731.JPG" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.andante.org/images/Metro/Nov ... 731_01.JPG" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

What is in the space that looks line windows between the platform and the entrance level?

[dcmike]

I am wondering if they will install any PIDS outside of the station....

I'd prefer to see a product like transitscreen.com which could be customized to include other pertinent information and not be restricted to Metrorail only.

[Sand Box John]

"JackRussell"
I am wondering if they will install any PIDS outside of the station. For example, near the tunnel entrances in the main terminal, or in the elevator lobby at the ground floor of the parking garage.

My guess is, not likely. The passenger information displays in the existing Silver line station are easily visible from the free area of the mezzanine. Most are mounted on the mezzanine to platform elevator shaft enclosure. At Spring Hill it's hung from ceiling between fare gates and the first mezzanine to platform escalator / stair. The photograph below leads me to believe that it will be located in the box under mezzanine to platform escalator pair behind the ladder.
http://www.andante.org/images/Metro/Nov ... C_0726.JPG" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.andante.org/images/Metro/Nov ... 726_01.JPG" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

"justalurker66"
What is in the space that looks line windows between the platform and the entrance level?

The mezzanine level (entrance level) is roughly 20' below grade, the platform is roughly 40' above grade. The escalator pair in the picture below is the same escalator pair in the picture above.
http://www.andante.org/images/Metro/Nov ... C_0723.JPG" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.andante.org/images/Metro/Nov ... 723_01.JPG" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[justalurker66]

The mezzanine level (entrance level) is roughly 20' below grade, the platform is roughly 40' above grade. The escalator pair in the picture below is the same escalator pair in the picture above.
http://www.andante.org/images/Metro/Nov ... C_0723.JPG" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.andante.org/images/Metro/Nov ... 723_01.JPG" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

So the space that looks like windows is windows. While not fully climate controlled it appears to be a sheltered area.

[Sand Box John]

"justalurker66"
So the space that looks like windows is windows. While not fully climate controlled it appears to be a sheltered area.

Yes, glazing between underside of the elevated structure and the top of the retaining walls surrounding entrance mezzanine.

https://static.routesonline.com/images/ ... 40x520.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Sand Box John]

How long until I can take the Silver Line to Dulles?
Max Smith
11 25 2018 0443 EST
WTOP FM 103.5

[Sand Box John]

Quick update:

Signals in the interlocking at Innovation Center station and in the interlockings on either side of the airport station are lit. Horsepen Run is N96, Autopilot Drive is N97.

More to come.

[JDC]

Just heard a story - sorry do not have link - that about 400 concrete ties are deficient in phase II. The contractor has rejected the manufacturer's proposed solution and is requiring them to replace the ties.

[Sand Box John]

Just heard a story - sorry do not have link - that about 400 concrete ties are deficient in phase II. The contractor has rejected the manufacturer's proposed solution and is requiring them to replace the ties.

New problems for the Silver Line Phase 2: Officials say rail ties are flawed
Lori Aratani
Washington Post
12 12 2018 1858

Seems some of the long ties under interlocking are warped along their length resulting in the rails not being on the same plane in the Y axis, outer rail being lower then the inter rail.