The 18.5-mile line from Denver to the northern suburb of Thornton was originally slated to open in 2018, and most recently had been targeted for an opening in the first quarter of 2020. But the RTD announced that the line is now likely to open in May or August of 2020. The Denver Post reports that implementation of positive train control and perfecting the crossing-gate system — which has already been a problem for the commuter A and G lines — are the reasons for the delay.
The Post also reports that the mayors of Thornton and Northglenn, another city on the route, voiced their displeasure at the news.
Thornton Mayor Heidi Williams told the newspaper, “To be mayor of a city of 140,000 that has been paying forever for a train they don’t have makes me less hopeful.” And Northglenn Mayor Antonio Esquibel said, “They took our money and didn’t produce.”
The RTD acknowledged such unhappiness in its announcement of the delay. (link below)
“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,” Chuck Culig, RTD engineering project manager for the N Line, said in the press release. “We are working closely with the construction contractor and will keep our stakeholders and civic leaders updated as often as we can.”
Where has this been heard before? Just send us the money, and trust us. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain. Sounds like politics as usual in the Denver realm.
It should be added that three of the four commuter lines share a right of way with the Union Pacific or the BNSF. All of the freight railroads use the traditional signaling. The talked about N line uses the existing tracks of an unused UP line that had crossings that were hard wired.
Mr. Friedman, While not an expert on the situation here in Colorado, it seems RTD’s contractor has been trying to control crossing signals with some sort of wireless signal. From what I have read and heard this application does not play nice with PTC. Earlier excuses were that tall buildings were interfering with the signal. The N line is the fourth heavy commuter line that has been built here in the past four to six years and all of those lines had the same problems and were delayed in opening. RTD’s light rail lines all have crossings that seem to work fine and I believe they were all hardwired in like the crossing systems all across the country and the world. I am sure there is someone out there that can offer a more technical explanation but I hope this gives you an idea of what is going on here. One has to wonder however, if the same problems keep appearing, how safe are these lines?
Thanks for clarifying. I’m wondering why RTD doesn’t sue the contractor for the delays?
“Your stuff doesn’t work, put up or provide a working alternative by X date or else you’re fined $Y per day.”
I’m super confused about this crossing gate problem. These are absolutely NOT rocket science.
Could someone provide an explanation of the issue ? And why aren’t they just suing the vendor of the crossing gates to either fix the problem or provide an alternative? That’s how it works in the IT world that I work in. There have to be penalties in the contracts, right?
Part of the problem is that these communities gave the agency the money up front. Now they have no incentive to finish it any time soon. Never pay for anything until you receive it, especially if it involves the government.
If a privately owned railroad couldn’t get a crossing gate to work over the course of years, what would be said??????
Anthony, I believe that’s the problem. RTD went for the bells and whistles and shiny things that buzz and blink…..and it ain’t working. Tried and true everything would have been just fine.
Crossing gates have been around almost since the creation of Railroading, LOL. I cannot believe this problem continues to exist. What is wrong with tried and true?
Once again. The A line to the airport, delayed by the same problem. The G line to Wheat Ridge, a 2 year delay, same problem. Now the N line, same problem. Maybe RTD should hire real railroaders to fix these problems. Nothing but screwups from day one.