Culture
11:56, 01-Sep-2017
LA's historic Angels Flight Railway recommences public service
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Los Angeles' historic incline railway, the tiny Angels Flight, recommenced public service Thursday after an almost four year closure.
The world renowned 116 year old funicular takes passengers on a scenic ride between Hill and Olive Street in the Bunker Hill District of downtown Los Angeles. It has two funicular cars, Sinai and Olivet, running in opposite directions on a shared cable on the 298 foot (91 m) long inclined railway.
The world's shortest railway was most recently featured in the Oscar-winning film La La Land. It reopened after a five million US dollar full-scale modernization with state of the art safety upgrades.
A photograph of Angels Flight dated July 21, 1962 /Los Angeles Public Library
A photograph of Angels Flight dated July 21, 1962 /Los Angeles Public Library
Originally opened in 1901, Angels Flight has given more than 100 million rides along its hillside track. It once reopened in 2010 only to be shut down again for an unsafe wheel in 2011 and closed again in 2013, after both cars went off the rails.
"Two Cars, Olivet and Sinai, are ready to take passengers on the world's shortest railway," said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti at the reopening ceremony.
City Councilman Jose Huizar called Angels Flight Railway a "treasure" of Los Angeles.
"This is certainly a historic day for a historic rail line," he said.
AFP photo
AFP photo
Dozens of people lined in the sun to be first group of passengers although record breaking excessive heat wave continued to roast Los Angeles on the last day of August.
"I am so excited, it's my first time to ride this funicular," said a five year old girl waiting with her mother.
The one way fare for Angels Flight will be one dollar. Holders of valid Metro passes may ride for fifty cents.
10073km
Source(s): Xinhua News Agency