GO Transit: Construction Projects (Metrolinx, various)

[ShonTron]

Serious question, how much money is this guy wasting by holding all of these photo ops? Are there any estimates lying around of the costs of holding an average photo op?

I wonder how many park staircases could be built for the money spent on Del Duca photo ops!

 

[nfitz]

Have you been past Kipling/Eg since the town homes went in? Yeah, it will fit, but the degrees of freedom for anything other than right in the middle of the road are gone.

That's what's in the plan. Why the Ford's approved the sell-off though surprised me.

I always figured the reverse - since they narrowed the road, the likelihood of choosing subway over LRT had gone up.

Though the province/city are looking at it now as part of SmartTrack, and centre-of-the-road LRT appears to be the conclusion. Though who knows what the future holds.

 

[dowlingm]

"Once completed, the second rail tunnel will allow for all-day two-way GO Train service between Toronto and Waterloo Region."

 

[salsa]

I really tire of these Ministerial photo ops for what really are minor announcements.

Classic Del Duca, its not the start of construction, nor the finish, its not even the awarding of the tender, its a presser for the receiving of proposals..........

It's all part of the process.



Announcing the announcement

Actual announcement

EA begins​

EA notice of completion

Funding announcement

RFP issued​

Proposals received

Contract awarded

Start of construction

End of construction

The ribbon cutting

Did I miss any steps?

 

[jje1000]

Serious question, how much money is this guy wasting by holding all of these photo ops? Are there any estimates lying around of the costs of holding an average photo op?

They should just have some stock cutouts of Del Duca and photoshop the photo ops instead.

Saves time and money- and if the press isn't impressed, they can always photoshop in a bear or something for people to talk about.

 

[nfitz]

Did I miss any steps?

A few. Before the RFP is the RFQ, then there's the selection of bidders, and then the RFP. After the proposal are received there is the announcement of the winning bid (preferred proponent. And then financial close/Contracted awarded. Probably some more too ...

Here's the IO page, BTW http://www.infrastructureontario.ca/RER-Highway-401-Rail-Tunnel/

 

[TransitBart]

Good grief, Charlie Brown!

 

[drum118]

July 21
This is one of many projects that fly under the radar with next to no info on them.

Metrolinx I assume has bought part of CN Minico yard as part of buying the mainline and has built a mini yard since it is running out of room for the Willowbrook yard.

The last time I saw it, it was still being built at a slow pace, but in full operation today with 4 12 car sets in the yard on 2 of the 4 tracks there. These are the longest of the 4 track to the point the last one will hold one train.

All the tracks at Willowbrook were full with the coach area been the fullest I have seen so far. There are cars in various sections of VIA Rail Yard including an UPX AC train.

Until there is more all day service on all lines, space will be an issue until Oshawa comes on line.

 

[Dan416]

What's with that last car?

 

[drum118]

What's with that last car?

Been sandblast so it can painted. Its either a 2000's or 2100's series car, more 2000 since 2079 was outside at the other end from being painted.

 

[steveintoronto]

Great paint job! I've grown to like the split green soup. That's a much thicker paint they're using too, probably a binary epoxy, as the rivets almost disappear to the eye. Great shots. They've installed new sills on the doors too, probably some other finer details all over.

I'd like a trainset like that for Christmas when I grow up...

 

[smallspy]

Great paint job! I've grown to like the split green soup. That's a much thicker paint they're using too, probably a binary epoxy, as the rivets almost disappear to the eye. Great shots. They've installed new sills on the doors too, probably some other finer details all over.

Axalta Imron, 60% gloss. Same paint and formula that they've always spec'd.

Dan
Toronto, Ont.

 

[steveintoronto]

Axalta Imron, 60% gloss. Same paint and formula that they've always spec'd.

Dan
Toronto, Ont.

It's binary polyurethane, how about the primer? And how many coats compared to the original from Thunder Bay? It actually looks better than the original in terms of skin, although buffing the rivets may have allowed the skin to go on smoother.

Edit to Add: The black on the lowest quadrant and underside is a very effective way of making the coach look new, rather than just refurbished. Visually, it also changes the length to height perspective. It's done very well, took me a third glance to realize why the visual proportions had changed.

Are those new sills extendable, or adaptable at a later date?

 

[smallspy]

It's binary polyurethane, how about the primer? And how many coats compared to the original from Thunder Bay? It actually looks better than the original in terms of skin, although buffing the rivets may have allowed the skin to go on smoother.

Imron is a single-coat product. They claim that it doesn't need a primer, although I've seen cases - especially on fresh aluminum sheet - where a primer or additional prep of the base material would have been beneficial.

When spec'ing a brand new car, in the past they have spec'd "equivalent to Imron". In some cases it's worked out okay, in others, well.....

Dan
Toronto, Ont.

 

[steveintoronto]

Imron is a single-coat product. They claim that it doesn't need a primer, although I've seen cases - especially on fresh aluminum sheet - where a primer or additional prep of the base material would have been beneficial.

When spec'ing a brand new car, in the past they have spec'd "equivalent to Imron". In some cases it's worked out okay, in others, well.....

Dan
Toronto, Ont.

There's an irony in polyurethane being considered superior (in many cases, there always seems to be exceptions) for longevity on objects that flex and exposed to UV and heat extremes, but many of the older GO rail stock display severe 'chalking', whether that's unavoidable even with poly-u is a good question. The refurbished finish looks incredibly good. How long it stays that way remains to be seen, but UV blocking additives and poly chain improvement might have been included in some of the newer finish products.

The more I look at the pic above, the more I think that black along the bottom quadrant was brilliant. What happens when it gets tatty might be another thing. The visual is of a longer, sleeker and *faster* looking train. But looks aren't everything...lol. The older scheme now looks chunky and awkward. Someone got this right...even before ML sees the need for more moola for re-branding.

Btw: By "binary" I mean what they refer to as "two package":