Expo Line

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa poses for the ribbon-cutting to open the Culver City station. (Patrick T. Fallon / Los Angeles Times)

April 26, 2012 7:09 PM PT

Transportation officials opened the Culver City station along the Expo Line light rail Wednesday, beginning with a symbolic downtown-meets-the-Westside handshake between the mayors of Los Angeles and Culver City. The station marks the furthest rail has reached into the Westside in more than 50 years. 360° virtual station tour | Expo line time-lapse video

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, left, speaks at a news conference with Culver City Mayor Andy Weissman underneath the Culver City station. (Patrick T. Fallon / Los Angeles Times)

Metro workers apply paint to staircases before the opening of the Culver City station. (Patrick T. Fallon / Los Angeles Times)

An Expo Line train arrives at the Exposition Park station for the official opening ceremony on Friday. (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)

Sheri Soldatke, left, and Bill Weisman take photos of their first ride on the Expo Line as the train nears the La Cienega station. (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)

Driver Carolyn Kelly prepares to make the trip to the La Cienega station as dignitaries board her train at the Exposition Park station during Friday’s opening ceremonies. (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)

The Expo Line enters the Exposition Boulevard station Thursday on a practice run. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

A worker cleans the signs and murals at the Jefferson/USC Station while trains make practice runs. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Train operator Mike Santillan takes a break in the doorway of his Expo Line car at the La Cienega station after making several practice runs. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)