GO Transit: Construction Projects (Metrolinx, various)

[ssiguy2]

It's kind of funny that there are so many transit construction projects under way but transit users have probably not noticed any difference in their commute times.

 

[drum118]

It's kind of funny that there are so many transit construction projects under way but transit users have probably not noticed any difference in their commute times.

Most transit riders don't look out the window during their travel to see the various projects that will improve their travel time in a few years today, as they are either sleeping, talking, on the phone, reading or on the laptop. Then others are standing in the first place due to lack of seats.

I made the recommendation to Metrolinx during the construction of the Toronto West Diamond to find a few weekends to offer free rides from Union to Bramalea and back, to do a show and tell for riders as what was going on that would improve travel time down the road. Like any PR with the public by Metrolinx, never saw the light of day.

Metrolinx could do this for various lines on the weekend today, even though there is a cost of doing this. It would show the public where all the billions are being spend to improve transit by 2024 and later and the media needs to be part of it.

I currently follow 2 dozen projects.

Until all the infrastructure is built, very few riders will see some improvement, but most will experience longer travel time. 5 minutes being added to numerous trains, starting in Sept 6.

 

[dowlingm]

It's kind of funny that there are so many transit construction projects under way but transit users have probably not noticed any difference in their commute times.

For GO users, that is mostly crap. Even if their vehicle doesn't go faster than before because it is a bus replaced by a train or express bus, the increase in services on almost every line probably improved the correlation between their preferred departure time and the nearest available one, most notably on LSE/W on weekends.

Compare to Yonge subway riders, who five years after a subway closure for College crossover in February 2011 (and other ones for St Clair and King crossovers) have seen zero benefit from it, and likely will not do so for two or more years to come.

 

[mdrejhon]

Hamilton
Sept or October will see the west end open for both parking and the station. Foundation place between the 2 stations platform for fencing, with grading taking place to get ready for installing the south track. A fair amount of track work relocation still has to be done to line the tracks up for the platforms.

Photos of West Harbour parking:
http://urbantoronto.ca/forum/threads/hamilton-general-service-discussion.21120/page-16#post-1141830

So we should expect a podium for a Steven Del Duca announcement of Hamilton incremental GO expansion.

 

[EastYorkTTCFan]

Compare to Yonge subway riders, who five years after a subway closure for College crossover in February 2011 (and other ones for St Clair and King crossovers) have seen zero benefit from it, and likely will not do so for two or more years to come.

that's only because the signals for them aren't active yet as they are going to be sealed with the completed new signaling system.

 

[EastYorkTTCFan]

SmartTrack is going to have a negative impact on the plans that Metrolinx had for GO RER - They should scrap SmartTrack and build a proper 3 or 4 stop extension to the Bloor-Danforth Subway Line

I think Metrolinx and Go transit are currently humoring Tory with his Smart track plan and slowly making it into their own plans figuring he will be out of office before they are even ready to begin working on it.

 

[dowlingm]

that's only because the signals for them aren't active yet as they are going to be sealed with the completed new signaling system.

that would be the new signals the TTC said at the time would be commissioned in 2014.

 

[rbt]

that would be the new signals the TTC said at the time would be commissioned in 2014.

That signal contract actually fell through. The work was redesigned/repackaged and started fresh sometime after that.

GO had similar problems with the USRC resignalling project. It seems signalling is much much harder than anyone (including transit agencies) would expect.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

That signal contract actually fell through. The work was redesigned/repackaged and started fresh sometime after that.

GO had similar problems with the USRC resignalling project. It seems signalling is much much harder than anyone (including transit agencies) would expect.

Or not - if they hired someone with a track record at it - Ansaldo seems like a perpetual underperformer involved in both cases:

http://urbantoronto.ca/forum/thread...new-signalling-system-metrolinx-funded.21002/

AoD

 

[dowlingm]

That signal contract actually fell through. The work was redesigned/repackaged and started fresh sometime after that.

GO had similar problems with the USRC resignalling project. It seems signalling is much much harder than anyone (including transit agencies) would expect.

I am merely pointing out that there is a delay. To the commuter the reasons are immaterial.

 

[smallspy]

Or not - if they hired someone with a track record at it - Ansaldo seems like a perpetual underperformer involved in both cases:

http://urbantoronto.ca/forum/thread...new-signalling-system-metrolinx-funded.21002/

AoD

AnsaldoSTS was quite well regarded in the world of signalling. And they had nothing to do with the first USRC resignalling fiasco - that was Siemens.

The bigger issue with the YUS resignalling project was that the TTC couldn't figure out what they wanted from the project and had multiple vendors involved (Lineside signals? ATC? Manual operation? Speed control? Let's do it all!1!). This is as opposed to Siemens who kept telling Metrolinx "Sure, we can do it!" and falling further and further behind schedule, until they finally told Metrolinx "You were right. We can't."

Dan
Toronto, Ont.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

Fair enough, thanks for the clarification.

AoD

 

[mdrejhon]

AnsaldoSTS was quite well regarded in the world of signalling. And they had nothing to do with the first USRC resignalling fiasco - that was Siemens.

The bigger issue with the YUS resignalling project was that the TTC couldn't figure out what they wanted from the project and had multiple vendors involved (Lineside signals? ATC? Manual operation? Speed control? Let's do it all!1!). This is as opposed to Siemens who kept telling Metrolinx "Sure, we can do it!" and falling further and further behind schedule, until they finally told Metrolinx "You were right. We can't."

Dan
Toronto, Ont.

Looks like USRC resignalling is due 2019 (ish) in the Metrolinx Project Map.

smallspy, does this seem realistic with the right vendor?

 

[SaugeenJunction]

Not sure if these have been posted, but here are some renderings of what Aurora station on the Barrie Line could look like. Not sure how current these are but I know a similar design popped during the Stouffville line expansion consultations. Source.

Also not sure if it has been posted are the new Agincourt GO station renderings. Changes are to accommodate a second track. Source.

 

[crs1026]

Funny how they use diesel artwork and don't show catenary on those.

Can't wait for the reaction when someone does artwork for the Sunnyside-Roncy stretch of LSW showing the catenary.

- Paul