Phoenix Light Rail - Testing begins on Central Ave.

September 15th, regular testing begins through Downtown Phoenix to Central and McDowell. Today, the test train (LRV 102) was still being escorted by police, but made about 4 roundtrips through downtown. 1st part catches the train southbound passing through the Central/Roosevelt Station onto the transition to 1st Ave.; 2nd part, northbound on Central passing through the Central/Roosevelt Station; 3rd part southbound again through the Central/Roosevelt Station but viewed from across the street (SW corner of 1st Ave/Roosevelt).

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Phoenix
• Light
• Rail
• Metro
• train
• testing

[Lukelr]

Funeral processions and motorcades for presidents and other dignitaries get police escorts.

Why did a light rail train, that was merely in a testing phase get a police escort through the entire city?

[cosmoflanker]

@Lukelr This phase of testing required continuous running, thus the trains had to operate against the traffic lights (and through some as yet unprotected crossings), requiring police to close the intersections as the train came through.

[67genxer]

i love the design of the stations and I think its great we are going to have light rail finally but i have to say, right now we could use the tax dollars we spent on this instead of laying all those people off...horn is going to be annoying as hell couple that with back up alarms on trucks and the planes taking off overhead ain't gonna be quiet down town anmore thats for sure.

[cosmoflanker]

The horn is no longer used as the primary warning, only when there is actually someone in the way. I suspect they were using the horn during early testing to get everyone to pay attention to the trains.

[railroadjim]

Is that horn sound coming from the "train/trolley/LRV" or from the police cars? It sounds like it's from the LRV, but I'm not sure.

I wonder how well the local drivers are going to adjust to the train.

[cosmoflanker]

Yes, the horn is on the train. They were using that during the early testing to get everyone's attention. Now they use the bell (sounds like a locomotive bell, but it's electronic) and only use the horn when there is someone actually in the way. They've had trains running for many months now, and had the first accident yesterday (minor). So far so good.

[SuperCoolDude2014]

nice horn :)

[SPUPRR]

Why do all these modern system look like crap?Come on,how about some style and class instead of Spacelys sprockets looking articulated busses on rails.Aerodynamics are not a factor since I don't see these things running 60-70MPH down the city streets.

[jackelliston]

PhART -- Phoenix Area Rail Transit

[14CPO]

I'm board of it already just after seeing this.. was that it

[Lukelr]

This is one long line too - 20 miles I think.

[Porgot138]

1:53 = That front police car looks light it's going to get creamed or get clipped

[RikuXPaine]

wait wth??? wen i favorite this?