NEXT MONTH is due to see the opening of the 22 km Gold line between Los Angeles Union Station and Sierra Madre Villa in Pasadena. The line is now substantially complete, and was handed over to operator Los Angeles MTA on April 18 for test running and driver training. Delivery of the 26 Siemens-built P2000 LRVs began in January.
Under the terms of the $262m construction contract awarded in 2000, the Los Angeles - Pasadena Blue Line Construction Authority voted in April to award a $2·5m performance bonus to contractor Kiewit-Washington for keeping the project on time and on budget. A further bonus of $1m was dependent on completing the handover of the 13 stations by mid-May.
On April 24 the MTA board awarded a $158·7m contract to AnsaldoBreda for the supply of 50 additional LRVs, designated P2550, with two options for 50 cars each. Delivery of the initial batch is due to be completed by May 2007, ready to handle an anticipated growth in ridership when the Gold line extension from Union Station to East Los Angeles opens in 2008.
