Cap Metro Testing Out Rail Cars
Service begins 2008
By Lee Nichols, 11:16AM, Tue. Dec. 18, 2007
PRESS RELEASE from Cap Metro:
Capital MetroRail is on the Move
On Track Testing Begins Tonight
Austin, Texas, December 17, 2007 – Today marks a major milestone in Capital Metro’s Urban Commuter Rail project. The first MetroRail vehicle will be tested on a portion of the Authority’s tracks beginning tonight.
Preliminary testing will take place sporadically from approximately 8:00 p.m. – 5:00 a.m. between U.S. Hwy. 183/Burnet Road and MoPac/Howard Lane, and will continue for the next three nights.
During this initial testing period, the MetroRail vehicle will travel up to 20 miles per hour and will sound its horn at railroad crossings. Capital Metro is upgrading many crossings to quad gate signals which will allow trains to pass without blowing horns in the future.
Capital MetroRail will begin passenger service between Leander and Downtown Austin in fall 2008. Safety on and near the rail line is a top priority for Capital Metro. For more
information about the innovative safety outreach program, station locations and railcar amenities, visit http://allsystemsgo.capmetro.org/capital-metrorail.shtml.
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