GO Transit: Construction Projects (Metrolinx, various)

[SkylineHorizons]

I wonder if the deal struck with CN to deal with Brampton and Silver Junction will provide a template for addressing Niagara service. From a capital perspective, clearly Metrolinx is struggling to find current projects, so it is likely waiting a few years. But the big things to address would be:
-A third track and upgrading crossings through Hamilton to increase speeds. Grade separations would be nice, but crossing upgrades should allow speeds up to 60mph I believe.
-Double tracking and speed upgrades on the Grimsby sub out to St. Catherine's. The corridor is wide enough and straight enough for 90mph track and either double track or passing sidings to allow for up to 30 minute bi-directional service while still dealing with some freight operations.

Bayview junction will need upgrades to prove service beyond 30min, and at some point the Welland canal bridge will need to be addressed, but those should wait until speed upgrades are done.

I cannot tell you how many people I've nearly hit while operating through that section in Hamilton in the past, including one harrowing close call with a women carrying a baby. They're not going to up the speed to what you are suggesting, if they did fatalities would be weekly occurrence.

 

[innsertnamehere]

I cannot tell you how many people I've nearly hit while operating through that section in Hamilton in the past, including one harrowing close call with a women carrying a baby. They're not going to up the speed to what you are suggesting, if they did fatalities would be weekly occurrence.

Hasn’t stopped Brightline!

Killer Train: Brightline death toll surpasses 180, but safeguards are still lacking

Brightline trains have killed 182 people, significantly more than publicly known, an investigation by WLRN and the Miami Herald has found.

www.wlrn.org

 

[lastcommodore]

I cannot tell you how many people I've nearly hit while operating through that section in Hamilton in the past, including one harrowing close call with a women carrying a baby. They're not going to up the speed to what you are suggesting, if they did fatalities would be weekly occurrence.

Would have to agree, I also can't see Metrolinx doing so either given their focus on safety and the amount of grade separations they are performing. The whole rail corridor along Hamilton pretty much needs to be grade separated, which given MX would be lots of $$$ and lots of time... But it needs to be done eventually, and i'd rather see it done now than in 30 years. I think a frequent Hamilton-Toronto direct connection is severely overlooked.

A common response to grade separation talk are things like, "But places like Japan have this railroad crossing with trains every 5 minutes!" however I think this discounts the fact that Japan has a significantly stricter culture wrt obeying infrastructure rules. Brightline was mentioned, and although i technically have no data to prove this, i suspect if it was built in Japan you'd see at minimum a third the collisions that are seen when you put Floridians behind the wheel.

 

[crs1026]

There's nothing in the Hamilton streetscape that prevents ML/CN from erecting secure fencing and anti-trespass mats as has been done elsewhere.

It would definitely change the pedestrian patterns in the area - residents clearly treat the right of way as a park through that stretch. But it can be enforced.

Brightline is not that good a comparator because the street layout in its most hazardous area has a busy street/highway that parallels the tracks with numerous turnoffs and intersections with odd sightlines and traffic signal ambiguities. And, Floridians are a different breed of drivers. The hazard in Hamilton is mostly from commercial vehicles which may be slow to clear the crossings. Those crossings mostly have good sightlines and approaches.

- Paul

 

[reaperexpress]

There's nothing in the Hamilton streetscape that prevents ML/CN from erecting secure fencing and anti-trespass mats as has been done elsewhere.

It would definitely change the pedestrian patterns in the area - residents clearly treat the right of way as a park through that stretch. But it can be enforced.

Brightline is not that good a comparator because the street layout in its most hazardous area has a busy street/highway that parallels the tracks with numerous turnoffs and intersections with odd sightlines and traffic signal ambiguities. And, Floridians are a different breed of drivers. The hazard in Hamilton is mostly from commercial vehicles which may be slow to clear the crossings. Those crossings mostly have good sightlines and approaches.

- Paul

Furthermore the pedestrian permeability in Hamilton is relatively decent via legal crossing routes. There are a few stretches where a pedestrian bridge/underpass may be warranted but for the most part it seems reasonable to construct more serious trespasser deterrents.

Currently CN doesn't seem to be making any serious attempt to discourage trespassing. There are many spots with well-trodden paths across the railway, not because people are cutting fences, but because there was never a fence to begin with:

Cheever St:

Avondale St:

 

[Sauga89]

Metrolinx says it will soon remove an abandoned section of track at Burlington GO station. I think it used to be a platform track.

(EDIT: I initially forgot to add a link to the notice. The link is there now.)

 

[ScreamingViking]

I think it used to be a platform track.

It was. West of the platform accesses to the north lot a stretch of track is already gone, though there are still lengths of rusted rail along much of one side of that platform (and to the west of the station too, but I think the switches at both ends have been taken out).

 

[legoswmonkey]

Based on the "Corridor Missions" chart MX showed at the board meeting, a fourth Burlington platform and the Burloak grade separation are the only things holding up 15-min off-peak service to Burlington (I'm assuing the Grimsby station is not actually a blocker for this). I can see Burloak finishing this year, does anyone know if there's an RFP/Q out for turning the north platform back to an island?

 

[lastcommodore]

Based on the "Corridor Missions" chart MX showed at the board meeting, a fourth Burlington platform and the Burloak grade separation are the only things holding up 15-min off-peak service to Burlington (I'm assuing the Grimsby station is not actually a blocker for this). I can see Burloak finishing this year, does anyone know if there's an RFP/Q out for turning the north platform back to an island?

Perhaps this is part of it? I don't see why MX would remove the 4th track instead of letting it rot as it has for years and elsewhere, unless they are planning a total rail replacement there.

 

[WB62]

This is a couple years old so I’m sure the design has changed since, but their plans are to reinstate a track where the abandoned one currently is, and connect it to the existing tracks on both sides.

 

[crs1026]

I was out by Caledonia station today - the most obvious point being a general lack of construction labour or activity. Just one work vehicle shifting material around way back in the laydown yard, at a very relaxed pace.

South of Eglinton there were plenty of new wood ties laid out - this looked more like a tie project on the existing track than laying new track. The only major stockpile of concrete ties I have seen lately is around Midland just north of Scarborough Jct.

I would love to know how much ML pays for flagging (either directly or as a sub contract passed through contractors' billings). Those guys in the white pickup trucks are there even if there is no work going on at the site on any given day. Next time you ride GO, count the white pickup trucks at job sites. An expense that could be controlled that clearly isn't being controlled.

- Paul

.

 

[crs1026]

This is a couple years old so I’m sure the design has changed since, but their plans are to reinstate a track where the abandoned one currently is, and connect it to the existing tracks on both sides.

View attachment 720933

Interesting how the design allows trains on the outside tracks to run through at full speed, but trains on the middle track must take a speed restriction to pass through.

- Paul

 

[Jonny5]

It was. West of the platform accesses to the north lot a stretch of track is already gone, though there are still lengths of rusted rail along much of one side of that platform (and to the west of the station too, but I think the switches at both ends have been taken out).

Did VIA use that platform before moving to Aldershot when it opened in 1992? That's too far back for my recollection.

 

[smallspy]

Did VIA use that platform before moving to Aldershot when it opened in 1992? That's too far back for my recollection.

Yes, but only for a couple of years. They had been using the old station at Burlington West - just west of the current station, at the junction with the Halton Sub - until 1988 or so.

Dan

 

[kotsy]

LSE Corridor update.
East Harbour Station/Eastern bridge:

Dundas bridge reconstruction:

Logan bridge reconstruction: