GO Transit: Construction Projects (Metrolinx, various)

[crs1026]

Considering that flagpersons have to be CROR qualified, they can't be ordered quite as fast as a pizza. The workforce is managed close to demand.

Some of that lag time may be ML's internal processes. Flagpeople don't just turn up on the day of.... instructions have to be drafted and input to the operating system and issued to crews, who receive written instructions on where each flagperson is and what exact territory they control. That in turn demands some pre-checking to spot overlaps, incorrect specifications, etc. With so much going on, there may be multiple jobs vying for control over the same section of track, and they may each not know what the other hand is planning for that time period.

I don't know why ML has extended the prep time to 20 weeks, but I do know this is an area where there have been contractor screwups in the past. Flagging is a safety-critical and error-possible activity, so an abundance of caution is understandable.... maybe not 20 weeks' worth, but certainly there is more to this than some may think. Flagging on a railway is more complicated than protecting a construction site and (maybe) keeping traffic from snagging a dump truck.

- Paul

 

[Allandale25]

There are going to be new "emergency exits" east of Union Station as part of USEP:
View attachment 731687

Very cool to see. I hadn't realized the platform would extend that far east. Annotated below. It looks like one of the tracks will become a stub? cc @WB62

 

[crs1026]

I chuckle at the "status" of some of these projects being labelled "under construction". For example, a few dozen small trees (5-10cm diameter) have been removed for the second platform and passing track at Mount Joy. This qualifies as "under construction".

I'm equally puzzled by projects described as "In Design" where the field forces are already out there - eg St Clair-Rogers on the Kitchener line, 2nd track and platform at Caledonia,

And, um, where is that infamous bridge?

- Paul

 

[reinventingthewheel]

Considering that flagpersons have to be CROR qualified, they can't be ordered quite as fast as a pizza. The workforce is managed close to demand.

Some of that lag time may be ML's internal processes. Flagpeople don't just turn up on the day of.... instructions have to be drafted and input to the operating system and issued to crews, who receive written instructions on where each flagperson is and what exact territory they control. That in turn demands some pre-checking to spot overlaps, incorrect specifications, etc. With so much going on, there may be multiple jobs vying for control over the same section of track, and they may each not know what the other hand is planning for that time period.

I don't know why ML has extended the prep time to 20 weeks, but I do know this is an area where there have been contractor screwups in the past. Flagging is a safety-critical and error-possible activity, so an abundance of caution is understandable.... maybe not 20 weeks' worth, but certainly there is more to this than some may think. Flagging on a railway is more complicated than protecting a construction site and (maybe) keeping traffic from snagging a dump truck.

- Paul

Fair enough, I was thinking strictly of road flagging.

 

[brilliantskip]

Am I crazy, or does this map not make a lick of sense?

 

[WB62]

Very cool to see. I hadn't realized the platform would extend that far east. Annotated below. It looks like one of the tracks will become a stub? cc @WB62

View attachment 731769

The island platform apart of USEP was always intended to have 2 stub platforms. Earlier this year the design was modified to remove the west facing stub platform, leaving only the east facing platform.

This modification increases the width of the island platform significantly, but sacrifices capacity by removing a location trains can stop at.

Very cool to see. I hadn't realized the platform would extend that far east.

Older plans suggested lengthening the existing platforms eastward as they get upgraded and widened post-USEP, but with the current state of Metrolinx and how their projects are undertaken, I don’t think long-term plans will be realised how they’re currently envisioned:

 

[nfitz]

From the April 14 USRCE CLC Presentation Deck:
View attachment 731683

I'm surprised there isn't a plan to expand hourly LW service from West Harbour to Centennial.

Am I crazy, or does this map not make a lick of sense?

View attachment 731785

It's not you that's crazy here ... I guess they outsourced map-making to overseas as well.