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Angels Flight Return Set After PUC Approval

By Eric Richardson
Published: Wednesday, March 10, 2010, at 06:18PM
Angel Landing Ed Fuentes

One of the two Angels Flight cars is placed back onto the track in a photo from November 1, 2008.

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Downtown's shortest rail line appears set to finally make a return to passenger service. Angels Flight will be open for rides on April 15, according to John Welborne, head of the non-profit that owns the incline.

The line, closed since a 2001 accident, has been "coming soon" for years. Today's announcement carries more weight, though, since it was accompanied by a letter from the California Public Utilities Commission certifying that the railway had passed its necessary safety checks.

Twin cars Olivet and Sinai were returned to the track that joins Hill street to the California Plaza Watercourt in November of 2008 after an off-site renovation.

Earlier this week, blogdowntown's Pamela Rouse took video of the cars in operation:

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User_32

Ken Hall on March 10, 2010, at 07:23PM – #1

YAY!!!!....It's about time....I hope this is true....I will believe it when I see.


User_32

Nancy Richardson () on March 10, 2010, at 08:56PM – #2

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-angels-flight11-2010mar11,0,4881940.story

Hmmm, Welborne hedges with the LA Times about when it will open...

"John Welborne, head of a nonprofit foundation that is trying to reopen the funicular, said he was pleased by the PUC's decision, calling it an important step forward. He said the group has been waiting for the PUC's approval for nearly a year.

But he stressed that more work needs to be donebefore the funicular can once again ferry passengers. Welborne could not estimate when it would open."

Gee, his various elves around the internet have been saying they were set to go from last April. Maybe time is needed to get various stories straight.


User_32

Tornadoes28 on March 10, 2010, at 09:03PM – #3

Hahaha, April Fools, right? Nice joke. You almost got me going with this story.

I'll believe it when I see.

I don't expect to see this April.


User_32

J-M on March 10, 2010, at 09:04PM – #4

I thought to myself: "It can't be!" and then I read the LA Times article and felt that familiar letdown feeling. I sure hope something will happen in April, but the whole stop-and-start nature of the "re-opening" makes me really pissed and skeptical. The Downtown News really lit a fire under their posterior this time. Haven't seen this much action in years.


User_32

Nancy Richardson () on March 10, 2010, at 09:14PM – #5

Well, you do know the station needs painting again...

And Welborne has to go do some more fundraising for the gala reopening...

and then there is question if the Foundation actually has the funds to operate the railroad....


User_32

on March 11, 2010, at 07:00PM – #6

Well, you know, just because they did it in 1901 doesn't mean we can do it in 2010...

(I, too, read the LA Times story before this one, so I am equally skeptical of the announced opening date. I'm inclined to agree more with Tornadoes28's assessment of the situation.) <-- but I'm happy to be proved wrong! Let's see if I am.


Guest 1

Guest on March 12, 2010, at 05:16PM – #7

Well, I do hope it actually opens. Also, I hope they have figured out to have a 'not responsible' desclaimer, incase of another accident. So, it doesn't have to just shut down again.


Guest 2

Guest on March 14, 2010, at 09:30AM – #8

Angels Flight will be open on Monday, March 15. See: http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/



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