Route Route Proposal: La Metro Blue Line - Los Angeles To Long Beach

Hello, here is a very niche and unique route suggestion that some might have considered, but no one has suggested before. The Los Angeles Metro Blue Line light rail/tram, from Downtown Los Angeles to Downtown Long Beach. Before I delve into specific details, here is a general overview of the route and the time period that most appeals to me.

Length: 22.10 miles
Max. Speed: 55mph
Station Stops: 22
Right-of-way: Tunnel, street running, at-grade, elevated
Equipment: Nippon Sharyo P865 light rail vehicle
Time Period: Late 1990s-early 2000s

History:
The Los Angeles Metro Blue Line was the first of the modern-day light rail lines to emerge after the fall of the Pacific Electric Railway in 1961, Los Angeles' expansive electric railway that once dominated the region. The Metro Blue Line runs on the original Pacific Electric right-of-way on the former Long Beach line, through cities and communities including Downtown LA, Vernon, Watts, Willowbrook, Compton, Carson, and Long Beach. The present-day Blue Line is now called the A Line, and was connected with the Metro Gold Line through a downtown regional connector tunnel in 2023 to form a one-seat light rail ride from Long Beach to the San Gabriel Valley. The line currently extends as far as Pomona.

Route:
Beginning in Downtown LA, the Blue Line originates at 7th Street/Metro Center, an underground station located in the center of the Financial District of LA. The train runs underground for about 3,000 feet, then emerges from the Flower Street portal, street running along Flower St, making a left-hand turn at Washington Blvd and street running until Long Beach Ave, then makes a right-hand turn onto its own dedicated at-grade right-of-way. Between Washington and Vernon Station, the Union Pacific Wilmington Subdivision parallels the Blue Line tracks, and follows the light rail until between Artesia and Del Amo stations. The UP SD40-2 from Cane Creek or Sherman Hill can be used to provide AI freight traffic. After Willow Street station, the tracks street run again all the way to the single track Long Beach loop, which features 5th Street, 1st Street, Transit Mall, and Pacific Ave stations. There are comprehensive cab ride videos in the Blue Line's modern era as well as 1991, that demonstrate how the line has changed over time, and are excellent field reference. There is also a video from 1993 showing the general flavor of the Blue Line from the exterior, featuring freight train traffic on the parralleling Wilmington Subdivision.

Present cab ride, southbound
Present cab ride, northbound
1991 cab ride, southbound
1991 cab ride, northbound
1993 general footage




Equipment:
The Blue Line used P865-class light rail cars built by Nippon Sharyo in Japan between 1989 and 1990. These are articulated, 87-foot-long, DC traction rail vehicles capable of travelling up to 60mph. They were retired in 2018 and replaced by Kinkisharyo P3010 cars. In their original form, they featured a single-chime Nathan P-series air horn and no "cyclops" headlight. In 1994, they were retrofitted to have two cab roof-mounted speakers with an electronic horn and gong system, and a cyclops headlight for increased nighttime visibility. The original paint scheme had a white body with a black band surrounding the windows, a stripe with 3 shades of blue and 1 shade of red running the side-middle, and another blue stripe on both the side-top and bottom. In ~1998, a new scheme was introduced, following a similar white body with a black window band and a yellow-gold stripe below the black window band. "Metro Rail" lettering and the introduction of the blue Metro logo were also featured in this variant. For the Blue Line's 10-year anniversary, a pair of P865s were repainted into Pacific Electric colors and even featured a PE-style center headlight on the nose and trombone whistle, paying homage to the line's heritage. I have previously worked with these railcars in both operations and maintenance, and have access to sound recordings and other reference photographs if needed.




Stations:
Along the 22-mile route, there are 22 stations, each with its own unique characteristics and artistic installations. This website features a comprehensive photographic gallery of each station and the artwork associated. There is a mix of street running, at-grade, grade-separated (elevated), and one underground station stops along this route.


Why this route appeals to the TSW market:
This is a unique route that would be a first for TSW, as there are no light rail/tram routes available for the game to my knowledge. It pays a nod to the recent past and LA transit history, as the train that revived rapid transit in the Los Angeles area. With access to plenty of references, it should be easily recreated. With its diverse running territory, fast-paced timetable, and unique history, this route will be a favorite among all TSW players. Thank you for reading this!