by justalurker66
Sand Box John's reporting on the first day of service of Phase I:
viewtopic.php?f=64&t=60992&start=1230#p1285190
Simulated service began July 20th, 2014, the Sunday before opening. A full week of trains running the full service pattern, sans passengers. It is a coin flip whether Saturday 7/18/2020 or Saturday 7/25/2020 will be the celebratory "first day of service". It could be any Saturday after July 16th. 7/25 sounds reasonable.
Holding the party at Wiehle-Reston in 2014 (the end of the line) made sense. I expect that the first train will originate at the Ashburn Station, even though Dulles seems to be a better place to hold a party for a line serving Dulles. Perhaps a two party celebration?
When in service will all trains serve Ashburn or will some terminate at Dulles and go into the yard? Do all current Silver Line trains run to Wiehle-Reston or are some turned back early?
viewtopic.php?f=64&t=60992&start=1230#p1285190
The 5 new stations opened their entrances a 11:30 AM, The faregates at Wiehle- Reston East were turned on before noon to allow passengers to board the first inbound train that was scheduled to depart at noon. The faregates at the 4 Tysons Corner station were turn on a noon to allow passengers to inspect the station before the first inbound passengers carrying train from Wiehle- Reston East arrived. No passengers were allowed to board trains until the first inbound train from Wiehle- Reston East arrived. No passengers were allowed to board outbound trains until the first outbound train departed the East Falls Church station. The first outbound train departed East Falls Church after the first inbound train arrived. Trains operating westbound displaying an Orange line East Falls Church destination sign simultaneously changed to Silver line trains with a Wiehle- Reston East destination sign on the fly after the first inbound Silver line train arrived at East Falls Church.I see no reason for this pattern not to be used for Phase II. I expect trains will be running their full "after opening" pattern long before the first official train, with passengers forced off at Wiehle-Reston. People will not be able to board trains inbound trains west of Wiehl-Reston until the official "first train" inbound passes through each station. Outbound passengers will not be able to ride past Wiehle-Reston until the "first train" inbound passes through.
Simulated service began July 20th, 2014, the Sunday before opening. A full week of trains running the full service pattern, sans passengers. It is a coin flip whether Saturday 7/18/2020 or Saturday 7/25/2020 will be the celebratory "first day of service". It could be any Saturday after July 16th. 7/25 sounds reasonable.
Holding the party at Wiehle-Reston in 2014 (the end of the line) made sense. I expect that the first train will originate at the Ashburn Station, even though Dulles seems to be a better place to hold a party for a line serving Dulles. Perhaps a two party celebration?
When in service will all trains serve Ashburn or will some terminate at Dulles and go into the yard? Do all current Silver Line trains run to Wiehle-Reston or are some turned back early?