Remember all that publicity about the reopening of Angels Flight last week in downtown Los Angeles?
Well, forget about it.
Angels Flight, the 116-year-old funicular billed as the world’s shortest railway, remained shut down Tuesday, just days after a grand re-opening ceremony presided over by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.
The Angels Flight website — www.angelsflight.org — says the railway was closed “for maintenance on Labor Day and for several days thereafter. Check back here for notice of resumption of regular service.”
Attempts to reach the company that runs the railway were not immediately successful.
There was no word of exactly how long the suspension of service would last. Nor was there any explanation for the “maintenance” need so soon after resumption of service.
Angels Flight, which runs on Bunker Hill from 351 S. Hill St., reopened to the public with great publicity just this past Thursday. Mayor Eric Garcetti and other officials attended and took “the first ride.”
“When public service recommences (still subject to any maintenance required), the Railway will resume its customary operating hours of 6:45 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., seven days a week, 365 days a year, including all holidays,” according to the website.
The railway’s upper station is located at California Plaza, 350 S. Grand Ave., and the lower station is located at 351 S. Hill St., across from Grand Central Market.
The one-way fare is $1. “Holders of valid Metro passes may ride for 50 cents. Five-ride and 40-ride discount commuter books, good for one person only and for thirty days, are available for purchase.”
The website author’s optimism about the reopening is clear in the words obviously written before the famed railway shut down after only a couple days.
“The world-renowned, 116-year-old funicular takes passengers on a scenic ride between Hill and Olive Streets on Bunker Hill. It reopened after a three-year closure for a full-scale modernization with state-of-the-art safety upgrades made possible through a unique public-private partnership.
“Mayor Garcetti unveiled the modernization plans alongside Councilmember Jose Huizar, the Angels Flight Railway Foundation, and a group of community leaders in March of 2017.”
The mayor himself was also happy about the reopening.
“Angels Flight is a cultural gem that tells an unforgettable story about the history of Los Angeles,” said Mayor Garcetti. “Today, we celebrate the rebirth of this iconic attraction — and once the modernization is complete, we will welcome millions of visitors from around the world to experience it with us.”
According to the website, Angels Flight was opened for the first time n 1901, and it “has given more than 100 million rides along its hillside track. It closed temporarily in 2013, but earlier in 2017, the California Public Utilities Commission certified a plan to upgrade Angels Flight to meet the highest safety standards.”
— Staff and wire reports