GO Transit: Construction Projects (Metrolinx, various)

[generalcanada]

re 4th track on LSE. I saw it too recently. Couldn't get a good pic. Maybe @kotsy can

View attachment 717166​

View attachment 717167​

isnt that 4th track a storage track for construction or something?
remember reading a notice awhile back

 

[crs1026]

isnt that 4th track a storage track for construction or something?
remember reading a notice awhile back

It is being used on a short term basis as a siding for storing construction equipment, as ML is still building its logistics bases, but as things progress it will become a main line track. It is being built to main line standards.

- Paul

 

[nfitz]

It is being used on a short term basis as a siding for storing construction equipment, as ML is still building its logistics bases, but as things progress it will become a main line track. It is being built to main line standards.

It is odd though that the local communication we get is about a 4th siding and not main line track. Yes, it is main line track ... temporarily used as a siding; but once again Metrolinx's communication sucks ass.

 

[Allandale25]

It is being used on a short term basis as a siding for storing construction equipment, as ML is still building its logistics bases, but as things progress it will become a main line track. It is being built to main line standards.

- Paul

I did indeed see concrete ties. A UT member fav.

 

[paraone]

re 4th track on LSE. I saw it too recently. Couldn't get a good pic. Maybe @kotsy can

View attachment 717166​

View attachment 717167​

I live right against the tracks just to the east of smalls creek on the northside. I've watched the construction for a long time and have been wondering when they'd actually lay down track. Right now the signal tower footing east of Woodbine is smack dab in the middle the path for the 4th track, I haven't seen anyone behind our row of houses since July. Also guessing the noise wall ML promised us is not happening now.

 

[PShells]

It is being used on a short term basis as a siding for storing construction equipment, as ML is still building its logistics bases, but as things progress it will become a main line track. It is being built to main line standards.

- Paul

Will the process of bringing this track into service make the rails level with the three tracks in the corridor? To the uninformed (me) it looks awkward sitting below the existing ballast in the corridor.

 

[crs1026]

Will the process of bringing this track into service make the rails level with the three tracks in the corridor? To the uninformed (me) it looks awkward sitting below the existing ballast in the corridor.

Mostly Yes and possibly only maybe in places.

Once the new track is ballasted, the railhead will rise as a certain amount of the ballast is tamped forming a layer underneath the crossties. Certainly on overpasses where the track rests on the same structure as existing tracks, the vertical elevation will be identical. That will also be the case at interlockings where there are crossovers between new and existing tracks,.

I don't know whether the new roadbed is at the same grade throughout. There may be places where it hasn't been built at the same level. In some locations it may be a whole new roadbed rather than a widening of what was there. In those locations there is no real need for identical elevation.

- Paul

 

[Bojaxs]

Shot this today while riding the Barrie train up to Downsview. Is this the double tracking for the Barrie Line, or the fourth track for the Kitchener line?

Barrie Double tracking

drive.google.com

 

[crs1026]

Shot this today while riding the Barrie train up to Downsview. Is this the double tracking for the Barrie Line, or the fourth track for the Kitchener line?

Barrie Double tracking

drive.google.com

Both. ML hasn't divulged its immediate plan, but full build would add two tracks to Barrie and one to Bloor, removing the turnout at Parkdale.

Looking at the bridge spans and unused signal masts, I am guessing only two tracks for the moment. Possibly the turnout at Parkdale will be reconfigured to allow a further track from there northwards.

- Paul

 

[drum118]

Feb 23
Had my first look at Confederation Station since it open and a few surprise where to be seen. Parking lot was about 35-40% full considering the few trains it see a weekday.

A few GO bus riders where waiting inside the station as well drivers waiting to be pickup or to pickup up someone since there is no real protection at the bus terminal.

A crew was working on the station as you could hear drilling taking place.

During the construction of the station, it did not look like there were going be any shelters on the platform that turn out to be correct having riders stand in the stairwell area and the 2 elevators areas for protection. The first GO Station with 2 elevators I have seen to date and a great thing that is long over due. You see the main elevator as you walk toward the platform area only to see another to your right when you get to the platform access area.

Another surprise was to see the 4th track in place on the bridge for future expansion for CN.

Looking south of the platform, you have a huge area where construction material was store for the station as as well construction trailers. I am assuming ML has this land for future expansion of the parking lot with access to the station tunnel under the future GO 2nd track. The track area is ready for the future track.

Looking west from the platform, there is a lot of landscaping to be done for that 2nd track. Based on the current GO tracks to the stations, if a switch was use from the current south track, for the 2nd track, it could happen just east of the road crossing or it would take place west of the road crossing. It would be better to extend the current track where it connect to that station from the West Harbour station that would allow for two way service.

The east end is ready for the future 2nd track to connect to track 2 to the east.

Why are station announcements taking place when there is no one on the platform and hours before the next train shows up??

More up on my site

2nd elevator

 

[lastcommodore]

Feb 23
Had my first look at Confederation Station since it open and a few surprise where to be seen. Parking lot was about 35-40% full considering the few trains it see a weekday.

A few GO bus riders where waiting inside the station as well drivers waiting to be pickup or to pickup up someone since there is no real protection at the bus terminal.

A crew was working on the station as you could hear drilling taking place.

During the construction of the station, it did not look like there were going be any shelters on the platform that turn out to be correct having riders stand in the stairwell area and the 2 elevators areas for protection. The first GO Station with 2 elevators I have seen to date and a great thing that is long over due. You see the main elevator as you walk toward the platform area only to see another to your right when you get to the platform access area.

Another surprise was to see the 4th track in place on the bridge for future expansion for CN.

Looking south of the platform, you have a huge area where construction material was store for the station as as well construction trailers. I am assuming ML has this land for future expansion of the parking lot with access to the station tunnel under the future GO 2nd track. The track area is ready for the future track.

Looking west from the platform, there is a lot of landscaping to be done for that 2nd track. Based on the current GO tracks to the stations, if a switch was use from the current south track, for the 2nd track, it could happen just east of the road crossing or it would take place west of the road crossing. It would be better to extend the current track where it connect to that station from the West Harbour station that would allow for two way service.

The east end is ready for the future 2nd track to connect to track 2 to the east.

Why are station announcements taking place when there is no one on the platform and hours before the next train shows up??

More up on my site

2nd elevator

I was the very second person to tap on at Confederation GO... Its a very nice station and there was much celebration on site on opening day, but its a little sad how little trains it gets, and the painfully slow stretch btwn Confed. and WH. Metrolinx really should prioritize better all-day direct link between Hamilton and Toronto

All else I can add... there is a comedically large number of poles on the platform, not really sure why

 

[smallspy]

I was the very second person to tap on at Confederation GO... Its a very nice station and there was much celebration on site on opening day, but its a little sad how little trains it gets, and the painfully slow stretch btwn Confed. and WH. Metrolinx really should prioritize better all-day direct link between Hamilton and Toronto

Until more track is built through there, there will be no improvement of service to Confederation. CN has forbidden from having any more trains stop there.

As well, because of how the signals are arranged, it is awkward to have trains turn back there. That's why all of the trains that do stop there are running into service from or running out of service to Lewis Rd.

As for the slow stretch - there are things that can be done to improve it, but simply no impetus.

All else I can add... there is a comedically large number of poles on the platform, not really sure why

It's a bit of a joke within Metrolinx as well. There is no logical reason for it, unless there was a sale on single-sided lighting poles.

Dan

 

[drum118]

I was the very second person to tap on at Confederation GO... Its a very nice station and there was much celebration on site on opening day, but its a little sad how little trains it gets, and the painfully slow stretch btwn Confed. and WH. Metrolinx really should prioritize better all-day direct link between Hamilton and Toronto

All else I can add... there is a comedically large number of poles on the platform, not really sure why

Those poles are ridicules as I have never seen that many on any platforms I have seen and this was when they started to place them. Other than been a well lite platform, no clue why they did it this way.

 

[reaperexpress]

Its a very nice station and there was much celebration on site on opening day, but its a little sad how little trains it gets, and the painfully slow stretch btwn Confed. and WH. Metrolinx really should prioritize better all-day direct link between Hamilton and Toronto

Given that the existing hourly bus service is so much faster than the train between Burlington and Confederation, I'm not sure how much transportation benefit there would be to extend more trains there. The bus takes 16 minutes and the train takes 34 minutes so even with a 10-minute transfer at Burlington the bus is faster.

For the Niagara trains I suspect stopping in Confederation is actually a net negative benefit for some of the trips (e.g. the Weekend AM trip to Niagara). The extra 2 minutes for 1500 people aboard the train outweigh the benefit for people boarding/alighting in Confederation, for whom the train saves literally no time at all compared to the bus.

Until more track is built through there, there will be no improvement of service to Confederation. CN has forbidden from having any more trains stop there.

Are they actually forbidding stopping there even for trains that are already passing by? There seem to be some deadhead movements from West Harbour to Lewis Yard that currently pass by the station out-of-service toward Hamilton in the early morning and toward the yard in the late night.

As for the slow stretch - there are things that can be done to improve it, but simply no impetus.

Remarkable that Metrolinx would consider that there's no impetus to resolve the enormous slow zone on (arguably) their flagship service considering all the advocacy and planning coming from Niagara Region

 

[smallspy]

Are they actually forbidding stopping there even for trains that are already passing by?

Yes.

Remarkable that Metrolinx would consider that there's no impetus to resolve the enormous slow zone on (arguably) their flagship service considering all the advocacy and planning coming from Niagara Region

You've seen the public releases, too - where do they talk about improving train speeds and decreasing travel times on that stretch? They simply don't.

From people inside Metrolinx, it just isn't on their radar. If it is going to be improved, then people need to start making noise about it before Metrolinx will lift a finger.

Dan