Is it possible to add track to allow trains from the east to connect to the Canpa subdivision?
The reason for adding another connection track is to allow easier movements for trains being stored in the Obico yard? Would that make sense?
Retaining the Canpa Sub is useful as a backup, only because a) there is upcoming road bridgework closer to Union that could require shut down GO completely on LSW and b) it provides a theoretical backup path between Willowbrook and Union, which protects other routes’ service ie equipment stored at Willowbrook would not be landlocked if the Oakville line were blocked.
While there have been events that disrupted service on this stretch, there’s really no reason for GO to treat a service disruption on this stretch any differently than at say Danforth or Dixie or Downsview. Redundancy is expensive - and for much of the GO network there will never be any.
The Canpa connection, while currently functional, is painful in terms of capacity and operability. That can be fixed with money, but the question is - why bother. Creating a dual tracked gateway to the Canpa Sub is only minimally useful given that a) the Canpa line is unsignalled “Rule 105“ territory which must be navigated at a very slow speed and b) the portion of the Galt Sub detour from Strachan to Dupont is single track also, meaning that even with a better junction at Canpa, very little two-way service can be operated.
When GO operated over the Canpa during the past round of bridgework, a “utility worker” was stationed at the junction to operate the manual switch where the two Canpa Sub tracks join together. That labour cost was far cheaper than installing a power switch that might have only operated once in a while since, and would have demanded regular maintenance attention.
For an unplanned service delay, it generally takes longer to orchestrate a detour than it takes to clear the original problem. I know of at least one case (a few years ago now) where the wheels were set in motion to detour but the Oakville line reopened before any trains detoured. The only viable use I can think of for the Canpa Sub is to feed empty trains to the Milton line as an alternative to enlarging the Milton layover yard, but that’s a very farfetched idea that CP might never agree to.
To my mind the use of the Canpa comes up more often in fan fantasy than in actual operating necessity. The line will be conserved until the bridgework in the Dufferin area gets done, but after that I predict it may be left as an industrial spur and rarely thought of except maybe as a back route for GO equipment moves in cases of dire emergency.
The suggestion by
@smallspy that GO has plans and funding really makes me wonder about their money management. Sounds like somebody’s pet project and a place to burn unspent funds - bureaucracy hates to admit it has too much cash available. “Spend it or lose it” is often the middle manager’s mindset.
- Paul
