Passenger Trains > The Broad Gauge Comes to Irvington, CA

The Bay Area Rapid Transit District's extension from Fremont to Warm Springs, CA continues to inch along with a very limited amount of trackwork now appearing. We're looking south this morning at 11:00 from the Washington Blvd. overpass in Irvington(a district of Fremont) as UP's northbound MMIRV heads up the Warm Springs Sub which parallels much of the new BART track.

Unknown just how much of the extension will have this slab track as opposed to concrete ties and ballast as the latter would seem to be better suited to at grade sections. Has this type of track now become the standard for new rapid transit lines?

And, yes, BART is 5' 6" gauge. More on the extension from BART:
http://www.bart.gov/about/projects/wsx

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The limited length of the slab section suggests a station site?

PHall Wrote:
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> The limited length of the slab section suggests a
> station site?


I agree but how will the board on the track next to the wall?

> PHall Wrote:
> The limited length of the slab section suggests
> a station site?
>
> ATSF429 Wrote:
> I agree but how will the board on the track next
> to the wall?

That problem will dawn on them when they're 99.999 percent completed with the project. Then, they'll have to rip everything out, redesign it, and start the construction over again from scratch.

Don't you know this is how things are done when taxpayer money is involved? I thought everyone knew that.

Water troughs for high speed braking

The map shows an Irvington Station at Washington Bl...

I would say that is the pad for a future station site. Looks like the wall is "temporary" and the platforms will be built on the sides.

Gary

The photo caption suggests that it is looking south from the Washington overpass. When compared to the map, the proposed Irvington station would appear to be just about where that pad is. Perhaps the government that can never do anything right has anticipated the possible construction of that proposed Irvington station.

John Gezelius
Tustin, CA

How did Mission Blvd., CA-238, become I-238? Gerry

That trough is probably for wiring...

Bill Deaver
Tehachapi, CA

john1082 Wrote:
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> The photo caption suggests that it is looking
> south from the Washington overpass. When compared
> to the map, the proposed Irvington station would
> appear to be just about where that pad is.
> Perhaps the government that can never do anything
> right has anticipated the possible construction of
> that proposed Irvington station.

Guys, it's a cinderblock wall which can be removed and repurposed quickly and easily. Since the full station is not funded, and building the platforms may require additional right of way, utility relocation, or extensive grading, the wall was probably a good interim measure.

If you want to be critical about transportation finance, ask why the regional agency agreed to tunnel this line under the city's park at enormous expense or why heavy rail rapid transit technology is being utilized for poor performing suburban extensions.

Nice shot of the Irvington station site. Looks like it will be one of the stations with the boarding platforms outboard of the tracks as opposed to the platform being between the tracks. BART traditionally alternates between the two styles of platforms along its lines.

BART trains are limited to a max length of ten cars, so the length of the slab track base would match that specification. Concrete ties and ballast track construction will start at both ends of the station/slab section.

They put in a similar setup for the West Pleasanton/Dublin station, except that it was a center platform, when the Dublin/Pleasanton line was constructed, and before the West Pleasanton/Dublin station was constructed.

Good to see some progress on the line.

Wonder if the tracks will be in service before all of the new BART cars are placed in service?

Bob


shed47 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The Bay Area Rapid Transit District's extension
> from Fremont to Warm Springs, CA continues to inch
> along with a very limited amount of trackwork now
> appearing. We're looking south this morning at
> 11:00 from the Washington Blvd. overpass in
> Irvington(a district of Fremont) as UP's
> northbound MMIRV heads up the Warm Springs Sub
> which parallels much of the new BART track.
>
> Unknown just how much of the extension will have
> this slab track as opposed to concrete ties and
> ballast as the latter would seem to be better
> suited to at grade sections. Has this type of
> track now become the standard for new rapid
> transit lines?
>
> And, yes, BART is 5' 6" gauge. More on the
> extension from BART:
> http://www.bart.gov/about/projects/wsx

> If you want to be critical about transportation
> finance, ask why the regional agency agreed to
> tunnel this line under the city's park at enormous
> expense

Because that is what the residents wanted. The people spoke and the plan was changed, IIRC.


> or why heavy rail rapid transit technology
> is being utilized for poor performing suburban
> extensions.

Suburban? Anyone been along I-880 lately? The traffic on that and 680 is ridiculous. And this is step 1 to San Jose, which can hardly be called suburban any more.

Z