Central Maintenance Facility (CMF)

Operations Overview

CMF is one of two service, inspection and repair facilities in the Metrolink system and the only facility equipped to handle heavy maintenance and repair. Following early morning peak runs, nearly all Metrolink trains arrive at CMF to be inspected, tested, fueled, cleaned and serviced for afternoon departures. Testing usually takes between 45-60 minutes, but may take longer depending on equipment arriving for service, as any defects needing to be addressed prior to departure are corrected. During the inspection and testing process, the locomotives are required to be running to perform various functional tests mandated by the Code of Federal Regulations 49 Parts 200-299. More details about our operations can be found in the CMF factsheet: 
 

CMF DIAGRAM KEY

1. Locomotive Fueling Area – Trains are refueled for departure.
2. Standby Generator – A backup generator is located in the northern half of CMF to supply emergency power.
3. Fuel Truck Parking – The fuel truck, although not used at CMF, is stored to be used off site or in case of emergency.
4. S&I Tracks – Daily Service and Inspection (S&I) takes place here. These tasks include required safety system testing and inspections along with cleaning, fueling, troubleshooting and repairs. Troubleshoot may include load testing.
5. Load Testing – Periodic locomotive and HEP engine load testing.
6. Locomotive Shop – Heavy machine maintenance and repair takes place here.
7. Standby Generator – A backup generator is located in the southern half of CMF to supply emergency power.
8. Ground Power Stations – Ground power stations available for wayside electrical power.
9. River Tracks – All trains enter CMF from the south via these tracks paralleling the LA River.
10. Storage Tracks – Daily Service and Inspection (S&I) takes place here. These tasks include required safety system testing and inspections along with cleaning, troubleshooting and repairs. Troubleshoot may include load testing.

Description: For the last two years we have been working to improve our relationship with the CMF community. Recognizing that noise is a community concern, Metrolink decided to place Permanent Sound Monitors in both the community and at the facility to allow transparency. Two monitors have been placed in the community with the access to the live data provided at our website and two installed in the yard for comparison, a total of four monitors.

Disclaimer: Street noise such as trash trucks, ambulances or tree trimmers can impact the sound monitor readings.  The monitors at the CMF will serve to measure noise at the yard and will be compared to the community readings.

Note: The dB(A) is a unit of measurement for noise that is perceived by the human ear. The dB(A) is used by The City of Los Angeles to determine compliance to noise standards and is the A-weighting of the standard sound level that is measured in decibels (dB).

Train movement and switching occur throughout the CMF.

Private properties (residential and business) are located away from the CMF as follows:

1. East side: 160 ft. to 650 ft.
2. West side: 395 ft. to 464 f

*As of December 31, 2019

Sand Towers

CMF has two sand towers which are used to store and distribute sand to locomotives as needed. Sand is used to provide traction and prevent wheel slip when moving locomotives. We receive sand deliveries up to 6 times a year.

Sand Towers, circled in orange, at the CMF.

This video gives and overview of the sand delivery process and how our Sand Towers are used at the CMF.

Upgrading Our Fleet-Tier 4 Locomotives

Metrolink is transitioning primarily to a fleet of Tier 4 locomotives, with 40 units ordered. The state-of-the-art Tier 4 locomotives are the cleanest diesel locomotives in the nation, providing wide-ranging environmental benefits for our region. We anticipate all 40 units will be in service by summer 2020.

More information on Tier 4 locomotives can be found HERE: metrolinktrains.com/tier4.

Continuous Improvements

Metrolink has a long history with the CMF community -- including residents, businesses, elected officials and other stakeholders in Cypress Park, Glassell Park and Elysian Valley. In the past eight years, Metrolink has made various operational enhancements and modifications to reduce negative impacts to the community including, but not limited to: