GO Transit: Construction Projects (Metrolinx, various)

[Allandale25]

^ technically reopen?

 

[Krypto98]

^ technically reopen?

The platform is opening February 13th

 

[smallspy]

Here is a shot of (kinda) Bayview Junction. No progress on installing the 3rd track yet. Could CN be waiting for the spring/summer to put it in?

That's exactly the case. The weather is too cold (maybe not specifically this year, but as a general rule in the winter), and the ground too frozen, to effectively do the earthworks required to prep the subgrade for the third track.

Dan

 

[SaugeenJunction]

That's exactly the case. The weather is too cold (maybe not specifically this year, but as a general rule in the winter), and the ground too frozen, to effectively do the earthworks required to prep the subgrade for the third track.

Dan

Would it be fair to say/guess that work should be completed by the summer, meaning that increased West Harbour service could follow in the early fall?

 

[drum118]

Feb 08
Had our first look at Oriole GO Station today and nice 401 off ramp going over it. That walkway will be history.

 

[Allandale25]

^ the steel one definitely looks old.

 

[drum118]

Feb 08
More up on my site

Kennedy GO Station

Milliken GO Station

Agincourt GO Station

 

[smallspy]

Would it be fair to say/guess that work should be completed by the summer, meaning that increased West Harbour service could follow in the early fall?

Unfortunately, I don't know if it is fair to suggest that at all.

CN has been suffering from a serious manpower shortage when it comes to their MOW staff. It's been so bad that they've had to ship site flagmen across the country.

That's why this project had languished for so long, and then had a sudden major spurt of work towards the end of last year. They were finally able to allocate their crews to the job.

If they're able to follow up in the spring and get the crews back out with the thaw, there's a reasonably good chance that all of the trackwork and signalling will be in place for the summer. But if they need the crews elsewhere - and keep in mind, they have a huge, multi-year project to twin their mainline between Edmonton and Winnipeg - than the project could languish for some time still.

Dan

 

[Allandale25]

^ just out of curiosity couldn't Metrolinx ask or pay for the work to be contracted out to a company like PNR Railworks? Or are there certain internal CN requirements (like union rules) that require CN employees to do the work?

 

[smallspy]

^ just out of curiosity couldn't Metrolinx ask or pay for the work to be contracted out to a company like PNR Railworks? Or are there certain internal CN requirements (like union rules) that require CN employees to do the work?

PNR and the other companies that have been doing this kind of work for Metrolinx have also been in the same boat as CN of late. This is why several of the projects (Stouffville being the most glaring) have fallen behind schedule.

As for this specific project, I don't know. PNR has certainly done some of this kind of work for CN in the past.

Dan

 

[Allandale25]

^ Thanks, Dan. Certainly sounds like a skill-trade shortage.

 

[urbanyimby]

Metrolinx Press Room

Find the latest Metrolinx news, project updates and more.

blog.metrolinx.com

 

[crs1026]

Metrolinx Press Room

Find the latest Metrolinx news, project updates and more.

blog.metrolinx.com

It’s definitely encouraging to see these projects acknowledged with a little more specificity. They are all welcome.

I’m still wondering about “Ready, aim, aim, aim”.... completing TPAPs is a necessary step down the road, but not a guarantee. How do we know that they will lead to action? Some of these items are stepping ahead of other things that were studied/announced in the past. Are those items not proceeding ? Has Ml cooled its interest in those other things?

One example is the 401/409 tunnel....has all the diligence been assembled to complete the whole fourth track from Strachan to Bramalea? Has all the procurement been completed for that work? Or will we see the tunnel completed only to find that some other study or consultation is still needed a couple miles down the line, and track wont’t be added until more studies are undertaken?

Why are things like the work to add sidings west of Georgetown not included in the description of what’s going on? What about Georgetown to Bramalea - do we have a design agreed to? Will there be new TPAPs before this work can begin?

I’m hopeful that the public meetings will speak to these questions. I’m encouraged by the things that have reached active construction, but one can’t always trust ML to remember all the work they previously said was about to begin.

- Paul

 

[drum118]

It’s definitely encouraging to see these projects acknowledged with a little more specificity. They are all welcome.

I’m still wondering about “Ready, aim, aim, aim”.... completing TPAPs is a necessary step down the road, but not a guarantee. How do we know that they will lead to action? Some of these items are stepping ahead of other things that were studied/announced in the past. Are those items not proceeding ? Has Ml cooled its interest in those other things?

One example is the 401/409 tunnel....has all the diligence been assembled to complete the whole fourth track from Strachan to Bramalea? Has all the procurement been completed for that work? Or will we see the tunnel completed only to find that some other study or consultation is still needed a couple miles down the line, and track wont’t be added until more studies are undertaken?

Why are things like the work to add sidings west of Georgetown not included in the description of what’s going on? What about Georgetown to Bramalea - do we have a design agreed to? Will there be new TPAPs before this work can begin?

I’m hopeful that the public meetings will speak to these questions. I’m encouraged by the things that have reached active construction, but one can’t always trust ML to remember all the work they previously said was about to begin.

- Paul

The new number 1 track for Weston Sub will be in place once the tunnel is done along with the new Eglinton GO/UPX station, Weston Station and at Bloor St as most of it is in place. One other area that may need tracks is north of King St to Dundas. There are 3 tracks to Bramalea today as before. Then you got the Woodbine station EA to be done before it will require track work as well building the station.

Desjardin Canal Bridge is done except the 3rd track from it to Bayview Junction along with new switches and hooking up the new signals for all 3 tracks as well CP junction.

Stouffville double track has been done in many location, but other areas still needs to be done. Agincourt, Milliken and Kennedy are being worked on and it will be 2021 before these stations are double track. How to double track from Kennedy to the Lakeshore line is unknown at this time.

Got to add tracks for the Barrie line from King St to Steeles. Until the grade separation is done, that 2nd track is not require as well build the Caledonia Station.

As for what to happening between Bramalea and KW, that is a big question to be asked.

There are 2 grade separation to take place in Oakville.

When is Confederation Station going to be built as well the 2nd 2 track bridge for it as well doubling tracking the line from it to West Harbour including the station??

What is Going on for Exhibition Station??

 

[Allandale25]

Stouffville double track has been done in many location, but other areas still needs to be done. Agincourt, Milliken and Kennedy are being worked on and it will be 2021 before these stations are double track. How to double track from Kennedy to the Lakeshore line is unknown at this time.

I would assume the other big piece is the Scarboro Junction Grade separation(s). It now has its own page here.