smallspy
Senior Member
It shares tracks with other "mainline rail" trains, so yes, it comes under the same regulatory regime.
Dan
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GO Transit: Construction Projects (Metrolinx, various)
- Thread starter drum118
- Start date
Dan
crs1026
Superstar
My recollection is that the troubles that emerged with the UP spur causing speed restrictions relate to the style of plinths and fasteners used as much as the absolute curvature. I don’t know if that concern has been resolved since.
- Paul
- Paul
DVtoClear
New Member
That curve closest to Wice is still under a "Temporary" Slow Order of 15mph, where the Permanent Slow Order was supposed to be 25mph. On the curve closest to Pearson, there is still a "Temporary" Slow Order of 10mph where the Permanent Slow Order was supposed to be 20mph.
Allandale25
Senior Member
First off, welcome to UT and great username. Secondly, I had a feeling the last time I rode it that it felt slower than the early years. So thanks for confirming.
Allandale25
Senior Member
Heritage Road layover progress via the Metrolinx socials today.
SaugeenJunction
Senior Member
Great to see. Is it too optimistic to think a late 2026 opening is reasonable?
Northern Light
Superstar
As I mull over the detailed docs for the City's 2026 budget, I'll plunk this here from the Transit Expansion Office; the cost of the 'Smart Track' stations.
What are we down to now? 3...
Say what?
How much per above ground station on land already in public ownership? Surely you jest?
From: https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2026/bu/bgrd/backgroundfile-261345.pdf
Separately (from budget notes)
What are we down to now? 3...
Say what?
How much per above ground station on land already in public ownership? Surely you jest?
From: https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2026/bu/bgrd/backgroundfile-261345.pdf
Separately (from budget notes)
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crs1026
Superstar
Only ML knows the timing, but those shots look like they were taken back in the fall.... not a speck of snow visible. So likely even more progrss since then. It certainly seems reasonable that the job could be completed by year end.
- Paul
crs1026
Superstar
We really ought to hear this amount broken down by specific station. I'd sure like to know whether St Clair will remain a full length station platform project given that only UP's shorter trains will ever stop there.
ML's generic station design criteria seem to translate into more cubic feet of concrete, more conduit and cable, more steel per linear foot of platform than any transit property I can think of. Supposedly the current budget represents deliberate restraint. Let's see that translate into more basic station footprints.
- Paul
Amare
Senior Member
This really is getting to be a comical joke.
Not only regarding the amount that's being spent for bare-minimum boned stations, but the amount of time it takes to construct a simple GO stations is laughably pathetic as well.
I'm starting to get more serious in my previous light-hearted assertions of outsourcing the construction of stations to Europeans, because we in Ontario truly dont know what we're doing with transit infrastructure construction if this what keeps going on.
Not only regarding the amount that's being spent for bare-minimum boned stations, but the amount of time it takes to construct a simple GO stations is laughably pathetic as well.
I'm starting to get more serious in my previous light-hearted assertions of outsourcing the construction of stations to Europeans, because we in Ontario truly dont know what we're doing with transit infrastructure construction if this what keeps going on.
smallspy
Senior Member
They're already here. And in several cases, have been kicked out for not following the rules - and in at least one other, botched the job so badly that they needed to get one of the "domestic" companies to come back and fix what they did.
Dan
crs1026
Superstar
The elephant in the room - which applies to both GO and local transit, and will likely apply to Alto - is that Ontario has never built a labour force with the knowledge and skills to work in a transit or railway environment. Building LRT tracks is not the same as pouring concrete curbs for roadways. The lack of a continuous base of projects over past decades has done nothing to equip the province with a supply of qualified expertise and skilled trades to execute the work.
The known and notorious railway construction firms that have set up in Ontario are stlll largely in startup and growth mode. A lot of the managerial talent represents people who have been fired by the operating railways (often more than once) - it's a questionnable pool that just recycles through projects and subcontractors. This is changing, but as much as the construction industry has lobbied for the work, their core strengths lie in other things, and other sectors (residential/commercial buildings, highways, etc).
I'm not confident that ML is managing well against this constraint, but one has to sympathise with the challenge they face especially where they need to operate trains alongside construction work.
- Paul
Bojaxs
Senior Member
The thing is those "bare bones" stations that are so prevalent across Europe don't work here in Canada. Look how everyone is complaining about the Finch West LRT stations (and rightfully so). Yet they're not much different than the stations built for the West Midlands Metro in Birmingham, England. Of course England doesn't experience the winters that we get here in Canada.
Got to spend more on stations in Canada. Got to build shelters, heaters, ice melting systems for the platforms, etc. Want to save money and cut back on the ice melting system? Well, look at Ottawa that couldn't be bothered to build ice melting systems for their platforms. Riders are complaining about the ungodly amounts of salt they dump on their platforms. People have taken pictures of the salt already damaging the stations. Pay now or pay later.
It's not just railroads, but infrastructure in general. We probably spend more money on our roads/ highways compared to Europe. Repairing potholes, damage caused by plows, etc.
I believe constructions costs are always going to be cheaper in countries that experience more temperate temperatures.
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urbancog
Active Member
Frustratingly, this yard is only needed once construction of the 3rd/4th track through Brampton is complete - to support Mt Pleasant 30-min services. Construction of the grade separation, west of this location, is the real priority project for the next incremental service upgrade - AD2W hourly service to Kitchener.
Maybe they can add some peak direction services, stabled here, and starting at Mt Pleasant, then operate a 15-min service to Bramalea with the trains during business hours?
reaperexpress
Senior Member
Completing the Heritage Rd yard would allow the Georgetown yard to be completely decommissioned, allowing them to redesign the Metrolinx tracks there as two mainline tracks (one main and one siding). This would eliminate the current 10 mph slow zone through Georgetown, saving several minutes on every trip.