Passenger Trains > Denver RTD N Line Test 15 Nov 2019

Denver RTD N (North) Line underwent testing with several 2-car commuter trains on 15 November 2019.  Denver RTD 4039 (left) and 4065 sets were at the Eastlake-124th Station (end of the line) at Thornton, CO, 15 November 2019. 

The Regional Transportation District’s commuter rail line through the northern suburbs, the N Line, will likely open in May or August of 2020, rather than the first quarter of the year (2020) as previously planned, RTD General Manager and CEO Dave Genova told the agency’s Board on Sept. 24, 2019.

Construction of key elements is still underway, with extensive testing also required, and RTD must follow mandated labor scheduling windows when new services like the N Line open, agency leaders told the Board.

May or August of 2020 would be the first months available to coordinate service change needs with the N Line.

RTD officials said they understand that riders in the communities north of Denver are eager to see rail service begin, after recent agency openings of the G Line to the northwest suburbs and an extension of the E, F and R Lines through Lone Tree.

“We know this is frustrating for future passengers to hear, and we share their urgency in getting the N Line running for the public as safely and swiftly as possible,” said Chuck Culig, RTD engineering project manager for the N Line. “We are working closely with the construction contractor and will keep our stakeholders and civic leaders updated as often as we can.

”The 13-mile section of the N Line under construction is being built by Regional Rail Partners, a private joint venture of Balfour Beatty Infrastructure Inc. and Graham. The currently funded section is an electrified commuter rail line from Denver Union Station to the Eastlake-124th Station in Thornton. When construction and testing are complete, RRP will turn over the line to RTD for operation.

The entire 18.5-mile N Line is part of FasTracks, RTD’s 2004 voter-approved, multibillion-dollar transit expansion plan for the metro Denver region.

A Sept. 6, 2019 incident on the overhead equipment that supplies electricity to vehicles interrupted testing and prompted a full review of the system. That assessment has been completed, and testing has resumed.While trains are running on the line for testing, construction continues on station platforms, Park-n-Rides and other support systems.  (Info courtesy Denver RTD)
 



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/17/19 10:04 by cozephyr.

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Do they have any work locomotives ?

Sharp station!  All the design elements are there, kiss & ride, bus stalls, platform covers, etc.!

No work locomotive(s)-use hy-Rail trucks-!

It also has an old Rock Island caboose in the background that was part of the Boulder McDonalds on 28th street for years and years.  It wll be nice when this line is fully operational.  It sure has been a long time coming.

Jim Barton

Thanks, cozephyr, for the update.  I've been following the expansion of Denver's rail transit since a 2000 visit (my first trip to Denver as an adult) and your post is appreciated.

In response to wondering if the line was built on a railroad right-of-way, I did a little searching on the Internet and found out that the alignment uses Union Pacific's former Dent Line.

If one of their MU's get stuck, either breaks down or there is a power failure, how do they move it ?

joemvcnj Wrote:
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> If one of their MU's get stuck, either breaks down
> or there is a power failure, how do they move it ?

Hy-rail truck. It's not like they have to make track speed.

joemvcnj Wrote:
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> If one of their MU's get stuck, either breaks down
> or there is a power failure, how do they move it ?

How does anything under wire and or third rail move if it get's stuck?

They get a real diesel locomotive and move it. Do you think a hi-rail truck can move a 10 car train ? 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/17/19 06:25 by joemvcnj.

joemvcnj Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> They get a real diesel locomotive and move it. Do
> you think a hi-rail truck can move a 10 car train
> ? 



You need to tell Denver RTD they're doing it all wrong. Hy-rail truck indeed.

joemvcnj Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> They get a real diesel locomotive and move it. Do
> you think a hi-rail truck can move a 10 car train
> ? 

biggest train that runs are 4 car trains

they have some railcar movers

Duna Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> joemvcnj Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > They get a real diesel locomotive and move it.
> Do
> > you think a hi-rail truck can move a 10 car
> train
> > ? 
>
> You need to tell Denver RTD they're doing it all
> wrong. Hy-rail truck indeed.

Duna,

RTD does not run 10 car trains. 

You repeated sarcastic attacks on posters reveal you as a cranky, ornery, know-nothing that will continue to get zero respect  

joemvcnj Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Duna Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > joemvcnj Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > They get a real diesel locomotive and move
> it.
> > Do
> > > you think a hi-rail truck can move a 10 car
> > train
> > > ? 
> >
> > You need to tell Denver RTD they're doing it
> all
> > wrong. Hy-rail truck indeed.
>
> Duna,
>
> RTD does not run 10 car trains. 
>
> You repeated sarcastic attacks on posters reveal
> you as a cranky, ornery, know-nothing that will
> continue to get zero respect  



Yet somehow I managed to have a career in the rail transportation while you were pounding out internet posts 24/7.

You're opinions on railroading are worth ever cent you've earned. I started out as a switchman- blue collar. Why have you never been paid for your RR knowledge?
Subject was disabled Denver RTD trains.

 

Duna Wrote:

> Yet somehow I managed to have a career in the rail
> transportation while you were pounding out
> internet posts 24/7.
>
> You're opinions on railroading are worth ever cent
> you've earned. I started out as a switchman- blue
> collar. Why have you never been paid for your RR
> knowledge?
> Subject was disabled Denver RTD trains.

Nobody cares. 
 

RTD officials said they understand that riders in the communities north of Denver are eager to see rail service begin, after recent agency openings of the G Line to the northwest suburbs and an extension of the E, F and R Lines through Lone Tree.

I rode all the extension to Lone Tree this past May. There is literally nothing at the last two stops except a parking garage at the last one. The second to the last one didn't even have that. I suspect the extension was to prepare for future development but nothing there now and hope the developers paid for it as there is no current ridership except for the few that use the garage.

On the other hand the G line was popular and the stop at Arvada was full of visitors to Old Town. It should be extended to Golden where there is a need for that type of transportation to downtown Denver.