Bus and light-rail collision in Los Angeles

[WMAveteran]

On 9/20/2008 THE NEW YORK TIMES reported that a MTA Blue Line train headed to Long Beach collided with a MTA bus on 9/19/2008 injuring 15 people.  "A preliminary report by Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies suggested that the bus operator, a mechanic who was test driving the otherwise empty vehicle, ran a  traffic signal as the light-rail vehicle, carrying about 250 people, was leaving the San Pedro station on the Metro Blue Line near the down-town garment district.  The six-car train, which was travelling relatively slowly, smashed into the side of the bus.  Its front car derailed." 

Looking at the picture on page A11 of THE NEW YORK TIMES, the bus (appears to be a New Flyer) has a bent frame and appears to be totalled.  Apart from the derailment and some damage to a headlight and a coupler, the Blue Line Train looks unscathed.

All in all - not a good month for public tranportation in Los Angeles!

[WES]

It was actually a NABI.  I saw it on tv after it happened and yea, that right side got smashed in pretty good, luckily there was noone on the bus at the time other than the mechanic.  Hopefully noone was seriously injured.

[Tritransit Area]

On 9/20/2008 THE NEW YORK TIMES reported that a MTA Blue Line train headed to Long Beach collided with a MTA bus on 9/19/2008 injuring 15 people.  "A preliminary report by Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies suggested that the bus operator, a mechanic who was test driving the otherwise empty vehicle, ran a  traffic signal as the light-rail vehicle, carrying about 250 people, was leaving the San Pedro station on the Metro Blue Line near the down-town garment district.  The six-car train, which was travelling relatively slowly, smashed into the side of the bus.  Its front car derailed." 

Looking at the picture on page A11 of THE NEW YORK TIMES, the bus (appears to be a New Flyer) has a bent frame and appears to be totalled.  Apart from the derailment and some damage to a headlight and a coupler, the Blue Line Train looks unscathed.

All in all - not a good month for public tranportation in Los Angeles

They have 6 car light rail trains? sure it wasn't 3 articulated units?

But I agree that rail transit in the LA area hasn't been looking good this month.