Gold Line Eastside Extension to Begin Regular Testing on Sunday (Source: LAist)

Link: Gold Line Eastside Extension to Begin Regular Testing on Sunday - LAist

Gold Line Eastside Extension to Begin Regular Testing on Sunday

A Gold Line train pulls out of the Little Tokyo/Arts Distrct station during a test run | Photo by STERLINGDAVISPHOTO (website) via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr

If you see the Gold Line running through the Eastside and East L.A. on a regular basis next week, don't think you can hop on board at the nearest station. Metro officials announced today that pre-revenue light rail train testing will begin Sunday, lasting at least a month before opening to the public.

The testing phase will allow operators and control staff to experience service in real-time. Trains from Pasadena will begin to head eastbound (without passengers) instead of turning around at Union Station. Trains heading to Pasadena will arrive after traveling the new Eastside route.

Commuters will now get used to new weekday traffic patterns as trains will run during peak hours every 7 minutes to 8 minutes in the morning and afternoon; midday service will be every 12 minutes, and night service will be every 20 minutes. On Weekends, service will run every 12 to 20 minutes, depending on the time of day.

The eight new stations of the Metro Gold Line to East Los Angeles include Little Tokyo/Arts District, Pico/Aliso, Mariachi Plaza (underground), Soto (underground), Indiana, Maravilla, East L.A. Civic Center and Atlantic.