WES Commuter Rail

WES Commuter Rail (for Westside Express Service) is a commuter rail line serving part of Washington County, Oregon, United States, in the Portland metropolitan area. Owned by TriMet and operated by Portland & Western Railroad (P&W), the line spans 14.7 miles (23.7 km), running north–south generally parallel to and west of Oregon Highway 217 (OR 217) and Interstate 5 (I-5). It serves five stations within the cities of Beaverton, Tigard, Tualatin, and Wilsonville. WES operates on a 30-minute headway on weekdays during the morning and evening rush hours. It connects suburban commuters to the Blue and Red lines of MAX Light Rail at Beaverton Transit Center. In May 2018, the service carried an average 1,590 passengers.

Westside Express Service
A two-car WES train in 2012
Overview
StatusOperational
OwnerTriMet
LocaleWashington County, Oregon, U.S.
TerminiBeaverton (north)
Wilsonville (south)
Stations5
WebsiteWES Commuter Rail
Service
TypeCommuter rail
Operator(s)Portland & Western Railroad[1]
Rolling stockColorado Railcar Aero, Budd Rail Diesel Car
Daily ridership1,365 (as of February 2020)[2]
History
OpenedFebruary 2, 2009
Technical
Line length14.7 mi (23.7 km)
CharacterAt-grade
Track gauge4 ft 8 12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Operating speed37 mph (60 km/h)[1]
Route diagram

Beaverton Transit Center
Hall/Nimbus
Tigard Transit Center
Tualatin
Wilsonville Transit Center

Local officials began exploring the possibility of an intercity commuter rail service in 1996, and the Washington County commuter rail project acquired approval from affected jurisdictions in 2002. Construction commenced in 2006 and it opened on February 2, 2009. From the start of the first serious discussions of the idea,[3] it took thirteen years and $166 million to get WES operational.[4]

History

The route of WES consists of two historically separate railroads.

The route between Greton (near Tigard) and Wilsonville was originally built by the Oregon Electric Railway in 1908; at Greton the line continued northeasterly to Portland, a route that was abandoned in the mid-1930s. The Oregon Electric stopped running passenger trains in the late 1930s and soon after switched to diesel locomotives, continuing to run freight trains to Beaverton and Portland to the north, and to Salem, Albany and Eugene to the south.

The route from Greton to Beaverton was built by an affiliate of Southern Pacific beginning in 1906, and opened to traffic in 1910.[5] This route connected with Southern Pacific's existing west-east line in Beaverton that provided service to Portland and Hillsboro, and a second route south of Tigard to Cook, which was a junction with an existing route between Lake Oswego and McMinnville. In 1914, the Southern Pacific electrified these lines as part of its Red Electric service in competition with the Oregon Electric Railway; by 1929 the Southern Pacific ended electric service, and passenger service was switched first to steam trains and doodlebugs, and later buses.

Both the Southern Pacific and the Oregon Electric (and its successor Burlington Northern) continued to provide freight service on the line until the 1990s when both railroads leased its low-density branches to shortline operators. In this case, the Southern Pacific leased its lines to newly formed Portland & Western Railroad in August 1995; followed by the Burlington Northern leasing its lines to the Portland & Western in October 1995.[6] This put the operations of two competing railroads in the same hands for the first time in history.

Led by Washington County, planning for WES began in 1996, when county officials started working with the cities of Beaverton, Tigard, Tualatin, Wilsonville and Sherwood, as well as government transportation agencies to study the idea of establishing passenger rail service between Beaverton and Wilsonville on the existing Portland & Western line.[3] TriMet took over as the project's lead planning agency in 2002.[7] After years of delays due to lack of funding, the project received approval from the Federal Transit Administration in May 2004,[8] resulting in the funding of approximately 50 percent of the line's capital costs.

Construction

Wilsonville Station under construction

Construction began October 23, 2006, in Wilsonville, and a ceremonial "ground-breaking" was held two days later in Tigard,[9] although the project had already started and no dirt was moved.

During planning and construction, the project was called the Washington County Commuter Rail,[10] or alternately the Wilsonville to Beaverton Commuter Rail[11][12] since much of Wilsonville is in Clackamas County. TriMet held a naming contest to choose a name for the new line, and in November 2007 it announced WES (Westside Express Service) as the winner.[13] By December of that year, construction on the rail line was 75 percent complete and included five new bridges and two rehabilitated bridges, and improvements to 14 miles (23 km) of track and 14 road crossings. A distinctive feature of the line is the gauntlet track sections installed at the three intermediate stations (Hall-Nimbus, Tigard and Tualatin).[14] The feature allows freight trains to swing clear of the high-level platforms at the stops, so that wider cars do not strike them.[15]

In June 2008, the line was more than 90 percent complete, with all the track in place.[1] The four Colorado Railcar Diesel multiple unit (DMU) cars ordered for the line then arrived;[1] a total of three powered DMU cars and one non-powered "trailer car" were tested on the route. A ceremonial inaugural run for dignitaries and journalists took place on January 22, and public preview rides on January 30, ahead of a February 2, 2009, public opening.[16]

Delays and problems with Colorado Railcar

Originally scheduled to open in September 2008, opening was delayed several times and eventually to February 2009 due to technical and other difficulties,[17] most notably the failure of Colorado Railcar (CR).[18] TriMet lost $3 million from the delays and from its financial support of CR, which included paying CR's suppliers and providing "rail engineering expertise and on-site technical assistance."[17] They provided bailout funds to CR, paying rent, phone, and power bills, and ultimately taking control of the failing company long enough to take delivery of its vehicles.[19]

Ridership

YearAverage
weekday
ridership
20091,175
20101,200
20111,449
20121,639
20131,739
20142,008
20151,869
20161,779
20171,759[20]
20181,632
20191,503

Service

WES trains run every 30 minutes between Wilsonville and Beaverton during morning and afternoon rush hours.[21] The scheduled one-way travel time is 27 minutes. For its first 312 years of service, the WES line was located entirely within TriMet fare zone 3, but travel on WES required a TriMet "All-Zone" (three-zone) fare, rather than a one-zone or two-zone fare. However, effective September 2012, TriMet discontinued all use of fare zones, and WES fares consequently became identical to the fares on any other TriMet rail or bus line. C-Tran all-zone day and monthly passes are also accepted as valid fare on WES. P&W, which continues to run freight trains on the line, operates the commuter trains, and TriMet maintains them.[22]

Stations

The self-propelled rail cars on the 14.7-mile (23.7 km) line serve stations in Wilsonville, Tualatin, Tigard, and at two locations in Beaverton. At the Beaverton Transit Center, the northern terminus of the line, commuters using WES are able to transfer between the WES cars and either of two light-rail lines: the MAX Blue Line, serving the Hillsboro–Gresham corridor via downtown Portland, and the MAX Red Line, connecting to Portland International Airport via downtown Portland. The Beaverton Transit Center station also offers connections to 11 TriMet bus lines.[23] Hall/Nimbus Station, the second stop in Beaverton, is served by local TriMet bus lines 76 and 78 and has about 50 park-and-ride spaces.[22] The station is within walking distance of Washington Square Mall and Nimbus Business Park.[22] The Beaverton Transit Center station has no park-and-ride facility.

Tigard Transit Center Station was an existing TriMet transit center and is served by seven TriMet bus lines. Located in downtown Tigard, the station has about 100 park-and-ride spaces.[22] Tualatin Station is in downtown Tualatin, on Boones Ferry Road near the intersection with Tualatin-Sherwood Road. The Tualatin station is served by TriMet bus lines 76 and 97 and includes 130 park-and-ride spaces, plus another 24 spaces in a nearby lot connected to the station by line 76.[24]

The Wilsonville Transit Center, at the southern end of the line, provides about 400 park-and-ride spaces.[23] Wilsonville's South Metro Area Regional Transit (SMART) opened a new transit center, known as "SMART Central", at the station in January 2009.[25] Wilsonville Station is connected via buses to residential and employment zones in the city.[23] Wilsonville and Salem-Keizer Transit (Cherriots) currently provide express bus service between the two cities, linking to the rail line.[1] The city of Canby to the southeast also links to WES through SMART's service.[26] Other neighboring communities are also expected to use the Wilsonville stop, including Lake Oswego, Donald, Woodburn, and Aurora.[27][28]

Station[29] Image Location Opened Connections and notes
Beaverton Transit Center
Beaverton 2009 MAX Light Rail: Blue and Red lines
TriMet: 20, 52, 53, 54, 57, 58, 61, 76, 78, 88
Secure bike parking
Hall/Nimbus
2009 TriMet: 76, 78
50 park and ride spaces; secure bike parking
Tigard Transit Center
Tigard 2009 TriMet: 12, 45, 64, 76, 78, 93; YCTA
103 park and ride spaces; secure bike parking
Tualatin
Tualatin 2009 TriMet: 76, 97; Tualatin Shuttle
129 park and ride spaces; secure bike parking
Wilsonville Transit Center
Wilsonville 2009 SMART, Cherriots
399 park and ride spaces; secure bike parking

Equipment

Maintenance building

TriMet's fleet of commuter-rail cars consists of three powered cars and one "control trailer", a type of car which isn't powered but has an operating cab at one end and can control the powered car to which it is coupled. The trailer can be pulled or pushed. The self-propelled diesel cars do not require a locomotive or overhead electrical wires.[23] Each of the three powered rail cars seats 74 passengers, while the control trailer seats 80. The cars are numbered 1001–1003 (powered) and 2001 (trailer) in TriMet's fleet of vehicles. Originally priced at $4 million each prior to cost overruns, the cars are equipped with places for two mobility devices and two hanging bicycle racks, and have enough space for 139 standing passengers.[30] In a two-car train, passengers can pass between the two connected cars.[31] Interiors of both car types contain high-back seats with blue upholstery.[32]

Interior of a WES train

Trains on WES were designed to travel at an average speed of 37 miles per hour (60 km/h) with a top speed of 60 miles per hour (97 km/h).[21] Each self-propelled car has two Detroit Diesel Series 60 12.7L engines, each of which is rated at 600 horsepower.[22] TriMet was required to purchase U.S.-manufactured trains due to federal funding of the commuter line, and purchased from Colorado Railcar, the sole U.S. maker of DMUs that comply with Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) rules.[33] The WES cars and the 35 freight locomotives sharing the track with WES include cab signals as part of a system designed to prevent train-to-train collisions. Positive train control is being installed along the line.[34] Cars on the line are serviced and maintained by TriMet at the maintenance facility at the southern end of the line in Wilsonville.[30] Adjacent to Wilsonville Station, the blue metal structure employs six mechanics.[30] The adjacent rail yard is used to store all WES trains when not in service.[35]

One piece of equipment replaced only a month after WES began operations is its train horn.[36] The FRA requires all trains operating on heavy rail lines to sound their horns for at least 15 seconds at a minimum level of 96 decibels (from 100 feet) as they approach crossings. For the rush hour-only schedule used when WES began operation, that meant over a thousand blasts a week along its route, starting as early as 5:30 am.[36] Complaints about the noise caused TriMet to replace the original 102-decibel (from 100 feet) Leslie rs3k horns for a fleet-wide cost of $5,000.[36] The new 96-decibel (from 100 feet) k3la horns, which met the minimum requirements, still led to complaints. TriMet asked the FRA for a waiver, proposing that they install yet another horn — similar to that used on MAX Light Rail — that would sound at 80 decibels and be accompanied by bells that would ring at 60 decibels continuously as the train neared a crossing.[36] However, the FRA turned down this request, citing safety concerns.[37]

A WES train parked next to the maintenance building. Each of WES's Colorado Railcar-built cars has one streamlined end (on the right in this view) and one non-streamlined end.
TriMet's RDC train 1702+1711 on Lombard Avenue in Beaverton in 2017

Equipment failures and periodic maintenance on the agency's Colorado Railcar DMUs resulted in TriMet substituting buses for some runs on several occasions since the service began. To provide backup equipment for the line, TriMet purchased two Budd Rail Diesel Cars (RDCs) from the Alaska Railroad in 2009.[38] The cars were originally built in 1953, and had been taken out of service in 2008. TriMet refurbished the cars, and planned to operate them as a backup for the Colorado Railcar units when they are out of service. They entered service on January 24, 2011.[39][40]

In 2014, TriMet considered purchasing one two-car Nippon Sharyo DMU trainset to supplement the WES fleet, as an option under an existing contract between that manufacturer and Sonoma–Marin Area Rail Transit,[41] but could not reach an agreement with the manufacturer on the price.[42] US Railcar, Colorado Railcar's successor, offered to sell TriMet two cars at $5 million each.[42] TriMet opted instead to purchase two more used Budd RDCs, for a total of not more than $1.5 million, in 2017 from Allearth Rail of Vermont,[43] which had last been operated by Dallas Area Rapid Transit's Trinity Railway Express (TRE) commuter rail service.[42] TriMet had unsuccessfully bid to purchase the same two cars in 2016, when they were auctioned by DART, but subsequently negotiated to purchase them from the winning bidder and new owner, Allearth Rail.[43][44] The two cars, ex-TRE 2007 and 2011, arrived at the WES maintenance facility in August 2017.[43] They were originally expected to enter service on the WES line in fall 2018, after the completion of a few modifications,[43] but this was subsequently delayed to sometime in 2021.[45]

Fleet
Car number(s)ManufacturerModelYear builtFirst used
on WES
Notes
1001–1003Colorado RailcarAero[40]20082009Diesel multiple units (DMUs)
2001Colorado RailcarAero20082009Unpowered control car
1702[40]BuddRDC1953[40]2011Ex-Alaska Railroad 702; originally New Haven 129[40]
1711[40]BuddRDC1952[40]2011Ex-Alaska Railroad 711; originally New Haven 121[40]
2007 Budd RDC-1 1957[43]   Ex-Trinity Railway Express (Dallas) 2007;[43] ex-Via Rail
2011 Budd RDC-1 1957[43]   Ex-Trinity Railway Express (Dallas) 2011;[43] ex-Via Rail

Costs

According to TriMet, WES Commuter Rail has a cost of $16.32 for each rider; compared to $4.21 for a bus rider or $3.23 for a MAX light rail rider.[20]

Future

There are no plans to expand WES service, owing to low ridership.[46] In the past, there have been proposals to extend WES along existing P&W tracks to Salem.[47]

See also

References

  1. "WES rail car debuts in Wilsonville". Portland Tribune. June 19, 2008. Archived from the original on June 23, 2008. Retrieved January 1, 2017.
  2. "Feb 2020 Monthly Performance Report" (PDF). TriMet. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  3. Hamilton, Don (July 18, 1996). "Cities take another look at trains". The Oregonian. p. 1.
  4. Justin Carinci (July 7, 2009). "State studying WES possibilities". Daily Journal of Commerce. Retrieved July 13, 2009.
  5. The Southern Pacific in Oregon, Ed Austin & Tom Dill
  6. PortlandandWesternRR
  7. Gunderson, Laura (September 26, 2002). "TriMet takes over lead on commuter rail". The Oregonian, p. B3 (Portland)/B2 (Wash. County).
  8. "Wilsonville–Beaverton commuter train OK'd" (May 11, 2004). The Oregonian (MetroWest edition), p. C1.
  9. "TriMet Breaks Ground for Commuter Rail Line". This Week in Passenger Transport. American Public Transportation Association. November 6, 2006. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved September 27, 2008.
  10. Washington County Commuter Rail Project. City of Beaverton. Retrieved July 1, 2008.
  11. "Smith Announces FTA Approval of Wilsonville to Beaverton Commuter Rail". Senator Gordon Smith news release. May 10, 2004. Retrieved September 27, 2008.
  12. Land Use & Transportation: Wilsonville to Beaverton Commuter Rail. Washington County. Retrieved July 1, 2008.
  13. "A New Name for Washington County Commuter Rail". City of Tigard. November 21, 2007. Archived from the original on September 7, 2008. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  14. Cornillie, Thomas C. (2013). "Diesel Multiple Units in North America – Trends in Construction, Maintenance, and Operating Practices" (PDF). American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association. p. 532. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  15. "Central Connecticut Rail Study: Diesel Multiple Unit Alternative [section "Chapter 3.2: Infrastructure and Operational Considerations"]" (PDF). Connecticut Department of Transportation. March 2016. p. 23. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  16. Leah Weissman (February 5, 2009). "WES' first day — 'I plan on using it every day'". Beaverton Valley Times. Retrieved September 30, 2014.
  17. Tyler Graf (October 9, 2008). "TriMet's WES is delayed". Daily Journal of Commerce. Archived from the original on November 19, 2008. Retrieved November 4, 2008.
  18. Colorado Railcar Goes Out Of Business
  19. Les Zaitz (December 14, 2008). "Westside Express Deal Cost TriMet Millions". The Oregonian.
  20. TriMet FY 2016 Ridership Report (PDF), Tri Met, September 26, 2016
  21. "Partnership brings Oregon's first commuter rail line closer to reality" (PDF). TriMet. May 2007. Retrieved August 17, 2008.
  22. "WES Commuter Rail Cars" (pdf). TriMet. August 2008. Retrieved September 14, 2008.
  23. "Making Tracks: P811 Construction Summary" (pdf). Washington County Commuter Rail Project. 2006. Retrieved September 25, 2008.
  24. WES Station Locations. TriMet. Retrieved March 13, 2009.
  25. http://www.ridesmart.com/Index.aspx?page=72 SMART History
  26. WES Fares, Route/Station Map and Schedule. TriMet. Retrieved August 18, 2008.
  27. Tims, Dana (June 28, 2001). "Shaping Wilsonville's center". The Oregonian.
  28. Tims, Dana (August 2, 2001). "Commute rail line closer". The Oregonian.
  29. "WES Commuter Rail". TriMet. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  30. Foyston, John (August 21, 2008). "It's training day for TriMet". The Oregonian. p. Metro West Neighbors, 10.
  31. "WES Commuter Rail cars" (PDF). TriMet. Retrieved October 13, 2008.
  32. Foyston, John (June 20, 2008). "Thumbs-up on new railcars". The Oregonian.
  33. Christensen, Nick (October 3, 2008). "Train problems delays launch of Westside Express". The Hillsboro Argus. Retrieved October 9, 2008.
  34. Fetsch, Mary (May 27, 2015). "TriMet adopts budget that expands service, improves system reliability and adds 77 new buses". TriMet. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  35. "Construction Scope and Road Closures". TriMet. Retrieved October 13, 2008.
  36. "TriMet takes another run at turning down the WES horn". Portland Tribune. July 9, 2009. Retrieved January 2, 2017.
  37. Schmidt, Brad (April 7, 2010). "Feds cite safety as they deny quieter horns for WES". The Oregonian. Retrieved July 5, 2010.
  38. Budd RDCs purchased to bolster Portland’s WES service Railway Age October 29, 2009
  39. "Oregon commuters get first ride on historic RDCs". Trains. January 24, 2011. Retrieved February 1, 2011.
  40. Craghead, Alexander (March 2011). "Time Travel in Oregon? TriMet Turns to the Venerable Budd RDC". Railfan & Railroad. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
  41. "WES Ridership and Fleet Requirements" (PDF). April 9, 2014. Retrieved October 1, 2014.
  42. Njus, Elliot (May 23, 2016). "TriMet wants to buy used trains from Dallas to bolster WES service". The Oregonian. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  43. "Worldwide Review [regular news section]". Tramways & Urban Transit. October 2017. p. 394. ISSN 1460-8324.
  44. "TriMet Resolution 17-03-26" (PDF). TriMet. March 22, 2017. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
  45. https://trimet.org/history/pdf/making-history.pdf
  46. Wong, Peter (February 23, 2017). "Three of four top priorities identified by TriMet GM affect Washington County". Beaverton Valley Times. Archived from the original on June 13, 2017. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
  47. Harden, Kevin L. (January 31, 2015). "Lawmakers (again) consider sending WES on a longer ride". Portland Tribune. Retrieved May 3, 2018.

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