GO Transit: Construction Projects (Metrolinx, various)

[Bordercollie]

I've long thought that Allandale station would be a great spot for a gateway to cottage country. While more bus connections is always a positive I don't think it would work for most cottage goers/campers due to the inherent nature that they are spread out across Muskoka/Kawarthas and beyond. My dream is that a car rental company sets up at the station with opening hours that coincide with train times. (This would also be useful at Oshawa GO as well).

It would make more sense to extend trains on the Bala Sub. The stations are already in place, Washago, Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Huntsville, North Bay. All you need is to have a he train run at time people want to travel. Something the Northlander didn't do.

 

[Richard White]

It would make more sense to extend trains on the Bala Sub. The stations are already in place, Washago, Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Huntsville, North Bay. All you need is to have a he train run at time people want to travel. Something the Northlander didn't do.

Yes but this would not be a practical service for GO hence why ONR ran it.

 

[lenaitch]

It would make more sense to extend trains on the Bala Sub. The stations are already in place, Washago, Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Huntsville, North Bay. All you need is to have a he train run at time people want to travel. Something the Northlander didn't do.

Wrong subdivision - that's the Newmarket sub.

 

[smallspy]

Any sense on why they would be doing this? Is this confirmed? @smallspy

View attachment 275346

In typical Metrolinx fashion, they are redoing something that they had previously and recently undone.

The original connections at Canpa (the railway point where the lines connect) allowed for two paralleling movements. When Metrolinx purchased the Canpa Sub from CP, they "rationalized" it to a single connection, in order to save on maintenance and to make the resignalling of the interlocking easier when it came time to exend the fourth mainline track from Mimico.

Of course, this "rationalization" caused many delays to the trains during the Lakeshore West detours of 2 years ago (it was that long ago?!?). And so in the post-work wrap-ups, they identified a need for a second connection. I guess they've finally found the time to do it now.

Dan

 

[SaugeenJunction]

In typical Metrolinx fashion, they are redoing something that they had previously and recently undone.

The original connections at Canpa (the railway point where the lines connect) allowed for two paralleling movements. When Metrolinx purchased the Canpa Sub from CP, they "rationalized" it to a single connection, in order to save on maintenance and to make the resignalling of the interlocking easier when it came time to exend the fourth mainline track from Mimico.

Of course, this "rationalization" caused many delays to the trains during the Lakeshore West detours of 2 years ago (it was that long ago?!?). And so in the post-work wrap-ups, they identified a need for a second connection. I guess they've finally found the time to do it now.

Dan

Well it’s great to see the Canpa interlocking restored to its “former glory”.

 

[ack]

In typical Metrolinx fashion, they are redoing something that they had previously and recently undone.

Are they adding just one of these back or both?

 

[crs1026]

Are they adding just one of these back or both?

I went down there this morning to see if I could figure out what’s being done. Canpa is a hard place to get close to (legally) but from what I could see, the activity was all west of the Canpa interlocking where concrete ties are going in on T3. I saw no signs of any changes on the north side. Rails at Horner were in their usual rusty state. Trains have been using T1 all weekend which would not be the case if your (A) was being built. Nor did I see any sign of signals work. Makes no sense to upgrade the Canpa plant without doing something about Approach signalling on the Canpa.

AFAIK the bridge replacement at Dufferin is a future project with no procurement done or approved start date. Doesn’t seem logical that ML would release funds for related workjust yet. But....Metrolinx. Others may know more.

- Paul

 

[smallspy]

Are they adding just one of these back or both?
View attachment 276006

Your item labeled "A" is the second connection to the Canpa Sub - and is the one that they apparently would like to replace.

"B" has never existed, but frankly would make a huge amount of sense to do as it would allow for paralleling movements involving tracks 2-to-3 and 3-to-4.

Dan

 

[ack]

"B" has never existed, but frankly would make a huge amount of sense to do as it would allow for paralleling movements involving tracks 2-to-3 and 3-to-4.

Google Maps air photo from 2005 shows a service track branching off track 3 between the two crossovers to tracks 2, going through where the signal bungalow is now, with another right-hand crossover from track 3 east of those, east of which it followed today's track 4. The 2007 air photo shows the part west of that crossover removed already. Though it wouldn't have been useful for GO anyway as non-main track.

Anyway I'd love to see more layouts like this across the network. Especially through Brampton so that the three-track sections could actually be used as such.

 

[Allandale25]

 

[drum118]

That track 1 is on both side of the exiting Weston station and has been in place almost a year. Once they built the new platform 4 or will it become 1 after the track, track will be place between the 2 ends in 2021.

Track 1 is in place to the crossover plant east of Islington.

 

[drum118]

Oct 04
Metrolinx Stouffville Line 2nd Track Expansion At Huntingwood Drive Grade Crossing. Easy to do a grade separation here.

Agincourt GO Station and lot more up on site.

They have started grade work north of the station with the existing platform gone to bring track 2 down to the new platform and station. At the rate they going, it will be summer 2021 before platform 2 is ready and no elevator in place for the platform and the new station. The new station platform is too narrow for my taste. If they plan on opening platform 2, accessibility riders will have to walk to the crossing to get to the platform.

 

[Bordercollie]

View attachment 276111
View attachment 276112

Doesn't look like there is much space even for an island platform.

 

[Allandale25]

That track 1 is on both side of the exiting Weston station and has been in place almost a year. Once they built the new platform 4 or will it become 1 after the track, track will be place between the 2 ends in 2021.

Track 1 is in place to the crossover plant east of Islington.

I think the person was saying a 4th track, not track 4. So not sure what the point of the comment was.

 

[drum118]

Oct 04
Lot more up on site. They finally have the maintenance building almost built at the south end of the parking lot near the platform. Most of the east platform is built and working on the east stair to the new underpass.

With the bridge in place over Steeles, track work is underway for track 1 with track to to be place on the bridge after the bridge is seal and ballast. Could be a weekend end in Nov or Dec that will see no service on the line and Steeles close to traffic so the existing line can be place across Steeles and connecting to the tracks on that side. Also shifting of track 2 back in place will take place as well. Once done, then the excavation can start to remove the earth under the bridge for the new underpass.

Once track 2 is shifted back into place, work can get underway for building the stair to the underpass as well the new platform.