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10/3/2008    Project Update

TriMet to open first commuter-rail line in February

The Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) recently announced plans to launch revenue service on its Westside Express Service (WES) commuter-rail line on Feb. 2, 2009. The 14.7-mile corridor will serve the cities of  Beaverton, Tigard, Tualatin and Wilsonville.

The line originally was scheduled to open this fall, but production on the diesel multiple units TriMet ordered from Colorado Rail Car Manufacturing L.L.C. fell behind schedule. The final car was delivered last month and still needs to undergo testing.

The commuter-rail line — Oregon's first — will run over Portland & Western Railroad tracks. TriMet installed a new signal system on the corridor, and the 35 freight locomotives and WES vehicles that will operate on the corridor will feature cab signal systems designed to prevent train-to-train collisions.