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TTC: Streetcar Network

Northern Light said:
What a unique placement for protective fencing! Sure, a bit more of a trip hazard than usual, but no longer impairs photography. Innovation at work!
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Oh the fencing has been in a different "configuration" pretty much every day of construction. Sometimes there's a path through the site, sometimes you walk 5 minutes around everything, and sometimes its all lying on the ground!
 
It is quite likely that the TTC will restore streetcar service between Parliament and Bay via Carlton (the originally planned diversion) before the Dec 31 date shown on the current posters. There is no date set yet pending confirmation that the road *really* will be available. Also no word on a revised bus routing.
 
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turbanplanner said:
Took a walk down Adelaide, a few blocks of track are partially laid! New poles for the lines up as well. I'm wondering what stretch of street is for the watermain replacement?
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The water main is from York east to Victoria. That's why they are doing the streetcar track west from York to Charlotte now. The eastern part and the York Street connection to Queen will be done under a separate contract in 2023. That one will be a Metrolinx contract, so who knows how badly they will cock it up. See https://www.toronto.ca/community-pe...ucture-projects/adelaide-street-construction/
 
We have had the go slow order for streetcar track switches for decades now. When will they "fix" the "problem", if any? If the "excuse" is the operating budget, then get the needed funds from the city, province, and/or federal governments to actually "fix" finally. No more budget cuts for operations on the TTC.

The excuse that the Flexity Outlooks are too long does not work for me. One Flexity Outlook is the same length as TWO PCC streetcars that were used during the rush hours on Bloor & Danforth, and later Queen.

 
W. K. Lis said:
We have had the go slow order for streetcar track switches for decades now. When will they "fix" the "problem", if any? If the "excuse" is the operating budget, then get the needed funds from the city, province, and/or federal governments to actually "fix" finally. No more budget cuts for operations on the TTC.

The excuse that the Flexity Outlooks are too long does not work for me. One Flexity Outlook is the same length as TWO PCC streetcars that were used during the rush hours on Bloor & Danforth, and later Queen.

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Could the lower profile trucks be causing an issue? It is pathetic to see drivers get out of the vehicle and manually switch tracks in 2022!
 
W. K. Lis said:
Are the current streetcar trucks different than the European tram trucks? They go through their track switches fine.
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Steve Munro has a comment on this in his blog today (in answer to a comment).

"Steve: Streetcars used to run through special work (and still do so in other cities) at close to traffic speed. It is sad to see movies of PCC cars operating at speed through intersections rather than tip-toeing through each switch.

The TTC institute a system wide slow order on special work in response to derailments caused by a variety of factors including malfunctioning electric switches and open switches not spotted by approaching operators. There is even a rule, followed only rarely, that two streetcars should not pass on special work. This ludicrous situation, combined with slapping slow orders on track on a moment’s notice, is done in the name of “safety”, but without addressing the underlying issue of track maintenance. The system has still not completely caught up with intersection renewals using more robust construction techniques and welded track panels, but problems with select locations (King and Church comes to mind) are extended everywhere. There is a big problem that the situation has been in place for so long that nobody remembers it does not have to be like this."
"
 
DSC said:
Steve Munro has a comment on this in his blog today (in answer to a comment).

"Steve: Streetcars used to run through special work (and still do so in other cities) at close to traffic speed. It is sad to see movies of PCC cars operating at speed through intersections rather than tip-toeing through each switch.

The TTC institute a system wide slow order on special work in response to derailments caused by a variety of factors including malfunctioning electric switches and open switches not spotted by approaching operators. There is even a rule, followed only rarely, that two streetcars should not pass on special work. This ludicrous situation, combined with slapping slow orders on track on a moment’s notice, is done in the name of “safety”, but without addressing the underlying issue of track maintenance. The system has still not completely caught up with intersection renewals using more robust construction techniques and welded track panels, but problems with select locations (King and Church comes to mind) are extended everywhere. There is a big problem that the situation has been in place for so long that nobody remembers it does not have to be like this."
"
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TTC is behind the world when it comes to switches. No issues in Europe on this year trip nor NA systems. No idea why TTC not installing the correct switches for the new fleet unless money, but at what cost?

Trams/Metro/Streetcars that run on the surface, run at road speed as well through switches that I have been on outside Toronto.
 
DSC said:
Steve Munro has a comment on this in his blog today (in answer to a comment).

"Steve: Streetcars used to run through special work (and still do so in other cities) at close to traffic speed. It is sad to see movies of PCC cars operating at speed through intersections rather than tip-toeing through each switch.

The TTC institute a system wide slow order on special work in response to derailments caused by a variety of factors including malfunctioning electric switches and open switches not spotted by approaching operators. There is even a rule, followed only rarely, that two streetcars should not pass on special work. This ludicrous situation, combined with slapping slow orders on track on a moment’s notice, is done in the name of “safety”, but without addressing the underlying issue of track maintenance. The system has still not completely caught up with intersection renewals using more robust construction techniques and welded track panels, but problems with select locations (King and Church comes to mind) are extended everywhere. There is a big problem that the situation has been in place for so long that nobody remembers it does not have to be like this."
"
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Queen’s Park needs to invest several billion dollars into modernizing the streetcar network. The TTC and City and broke. Drawing blood from a stone will bare no fruit.

The streetcar network is as important as any subway line, and critical for the vitality of our regional and national, so I don’t see why this should be an issue for QP. Just drop several billion dollars into the network and get the job done.
 
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TheTigerMaster said:
Queen’s Park needs to invest several billion dollars into modernizing the streetcar network. The TTC and City and broke. Drawing blood from a stone will bare no fruit.

The streetcar network is as important as any subway line, and critical for the vitality of our regional and national, so I don’t see why this should be an issue for QP. Just drop several billion dollars into the network and get the job done.
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Unfortunately, we have people at city hall who would empty the purse strings for the Gardiner Expressway, and we have people at Queen's Park whow would empty the treasure chest for Highway 413.
 
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