First FrontRunner train rolls into Utah County
Lehi Mayor Bert Wilson, second from left, and city administrator Derek Todd, third from left, pay a visit to the Lehi FrontRunner Station, at 3101 N. Ashton Blvd, for the first train arrival, a test run, of the FrontRunner South line Monday, June 11, 2012. MARK JOHNSTON/Daily Herald
Crew members stand alongside the test train of the new FrontRunner South line at the Lehi FrontRunner Station, at 3101 N. Ashton Blvd, Monday, June 11, 2012. MARK JOHNSTON/Daily Herald
Lehi City Mayor Bert Wilson steps off the first FrontRunner train to arrive in Utah Valley at the Lehi FrontRunner Station after touring the test train Monday, June 11, 2012. MARK JOHNSTON/Daily Herald
The first FrontRunner train arrives in Utah Valley at the Lehi FrontRunner Station, at 3101 N. Ashton Blvd, during a test run of the FrontRunner South line Monday, June 11, 2012. MARK JOHNSTON/Daily Herald
For the first time a UTA FrontRunner train made it around the Point of the Mountain and entered Utah County.
One of UTA’s 290,000-pound diesel locomotive arrived today in Lehi blaring its horn and slowly creeping down the rails past Thanksgiving Point, marking the end of track construction in the valley and the beginning of a six-month track testing period.
“It is exciting to see this beautiful train here in this lovely city,” said Mike Allegra, UTA’s general manager. “Later on this week they will begin testing small sections of the track running trains at varying speeds.”
After four years of construction UTA will use its red, white and blue locomotive No. 20 to survey each portion of the track laid from Lehi to Provo to make sure it will be operational by the Dec. 10 opening day for passenger service.
UTA representatives said they will be examining the track and working on the functionality of the crossing gates for the first three months of testing. The last three months leading up to the December opening will be when train operators will run empty trains to simulate full passenger service to familiarize themselves with the rail lines and stations throughout the valley.
Lehi Mayor Bert Wilson was on hand for the event and glowed as he talked about the impact that the train making a stop in his city will have.
“I’m excited, I can’t hardly wait,” he said. “I think this is going to be a great asset to the whole state of Utah. Especially our community because it is going to take an awful lot of miles off our cars by shipping people on the train from here into Salt Lake and also into the Provo area.”
Wilson noted that Lehi is primed for success with the station. With attractions like Thanksgiving Point and Cabela’s, in addition to employers like IM Flash and Adobe, Wilson said Lehi will become a popular destination for the commuter rail service.
“Lehi is a natural stop for trains because of the many industries here,” he said.
UTA has been busy in the county for the past two months educating the public on how to handle the trains when they go live. UTA has held assemblies in schools to promote safety near tracks and also is working to educate the general public about how to handle the new high-speed trains in the area.
Motorists are told to not attempt to cross the rails when crossing gates are lowered and to never cross the tracks if the red lights at the gates are flashing. Pedestrians also are being told to avoid walking on the tracks and to remove any distractions, such as headphones, hooded sweatshirts and cell phones when near the tracks so they can be aware of the trains that might be coming.
Trains will begin initial testing at about 45 mph but will increase speeds up to 79 mph, the top cruising speed that the trains will reach in the county, as they get closer to opening day.
The train will make four stops in the county at Lehi, American Fork, Orem and Provo. A stop is planned for the Vineyard area, but that station is scheduled to open at a later date. Wi-fi service will be available on the trains. Once open the line will run 90 miles from Provo to just north of Ogden in Pleasant View, and allow for connections to UTA buses and TRAX trains in Salt Lake City.
“The view along the whole line is spectacular,” Allegra said. “I think people will really enjoy the ride.”
FrontRunner stops in Utah County
• Lehi: 3101 N. Ashton Blvd.
• American Fork: 782 W. 200 South
• Vineyard (future station)
• Orem Intermodal: 1000 S. Geneva Road
• Provo Intermodal: 700 S. University Ave.
Cost:
The fares may change before the Provo to Salt Lake segment of FrontRunner is complete. FrontRunner fares are distance-based. For information on current FrontRunner fares, visit the fares page at www.rideuta.com.
How often trains will run:
Currently, FrontRunner operates Monday through Friday from 4 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. with daytime trains running every 30 minutes and hourly night trains. FrontRunner operates hourly on Saturdays from 6 a.m. to 1:30 a.m., and trains do not operate on Sundays.
Source: www.rideuta.com
