Date: 201908
Local time of day: 0001-0600
Location: LAX.Airport, CA
Flight conditions: VMC
Light: Night
Aircraft: B737 Next Generation Undifferentiated
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Taxi
Airspace: Class B LAX
ATC / advisory: Ground LAX
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Captain
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Human factors: Confusion; Communication Breakdown; Distraction; Other / Unknown; Situational Awareness; Time Pressure; Workload
Anomaly: Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: Taxi
Result: Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Contributing factors: Aircraft; Airport; Human Factors
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: We were flying XXX-LAX and were delayed due to the baggage system being partially inop. We did a terrific job of making up as much time as possible for the late night connections to the east coast. We arrived in LAX right at midnight and had 3 runway changes coming in as they were changing the configuration to landing to the east. I was also conducting a Qualification Line Check to finish the new First Officer on his OE. We landed on Runway 6L; rolled to the end to exit at Taxiway V. We were cleared across [Runway] 6R and then to take E; R south route to our gate. Some of our B737 have nice bright taxi lights; unfortunately this plane's taxi light was very dim. We were taxiing west on Taxiway E to make the turn on R. There are no green taxiway centerline lights on E except for some turn offs; I think either onto E or they were for turning off E. I noticed as we passed S that it looked like I had taxiway centerline lights again. However; I quickly realized that those were not green centerline; it was the blue taxiway edge lights. The Taxiway E shifts just enough to make the edge lights perfectly lined up with where centerline lights should be. I abruptly made [a] left turn to remain on the taxiway but I thought this was worthy of mentioning as it could easily be confused with centerline lights briefly. The errors I made are being overly familiar with an airport that I have been flying out of for 25 years can allow complacency with me assuming I know it well. I do not land to the east often and have not done this taxi route in a very long time. I was taxiing around 20 kts approaching the intersection; which is within SOP; however; if I had seen that a turn was coming I would have slowed down earlier. As always; when trying to make up time that is when risks increase exponentially.  Also expecting a long straight taxi allows you to think you can talk to the First Officer about upcoming items; such as switching to south ground at checkpoint 2 and contacting Ramp to inquire about gate and alley status. I did not noticed on my Jepp Airport moving map that the taxiway shifted as we were approaching it even though I had it open and displayed right next to me in its bracket.  I would suggest making this a hot spot and/or preferably adding green centerline lights through this intersection. Also; airports like ORD change their taxiway routing when landing in different directions and maybe LAX should consider this to have Taxiway T be the southbound taxiway and R northbound.




Synopsis: B737 Captain reported confusion over taxiway position and lighting during night taxi at LAX airport.