GO Transit: Construction Projects (Metrolinx, various)

[EnviroTO]

You're actually incorrect here, here's a TGV:

Wow, that is surprising to me. Most of my international train travel has been in the Northeast Corridor, Japan, the UK, and Brussels. Only on VIA and a train in Vietnam can I recall trying to go up the stairs of a train with luggage. Well there was a train in Japan with stairs... but it had level boarding and stairs down or up from there if you weren't sitting on the ends of the train. Trains in France are not accessible... I did not know that. Although it seems that might be changing...

 

[drum118]

Wow, that is surprising to me. Most of my international train travel has been in the Northeast Corridor, Japan, the UK, and Brussels. Only on VIA and a train in Vietnam can I recall trying to go up the stairs of a train with luggage. Well there was a train in Japan with stairs... but it had level boarding and stairs down or up from there if you weren't sitting on the ends of the train. Trains in France are not accessible... I did not know that. Although it seems that might be changing...

View attachment 318618

Sorry, but a lot of intercity platforms are not high platform and you need to watch that last step that about 8" away from the platform. This also includes High Speed Rail that I rode in Europe as well UK.
Nice France

Paris France

Amsterdam Centraal Station

Venice Italy Central Station

 

[StealthyArrow]

A more thorough weekly update at Milliken GO...

A contrast with the old and abandoned, and the new..

 

[Allandale25]

Metrolinx Press Room

Find the latest Metrolinx news, project updates and more.

blog.metrolinx.com

 

[Northern Light]

Metrolinx Press Room

Find the latest Metrolinx news, project updates and more.

blog.metrolinx.com

Those support piers and abutments have character:

 

[robmausser]

A more thorough weekly update at Milliken GO...
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A contrast with the old and abandoned, and the new..
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One step closer to the Stouffville Subway Line! haha. (Completely grade separated electric multiple unit trains operating every 5-15 minutes all day)

 

[reaperexpress]

Those support piers and abutments have character:

The article says "Metrolinx’s contractor will be replacing spans and support beams, repairing masonry, and upgrading the structural capacity of the aging Speed River Bridge", so it sounds like the the piers and abutments are being retained.

The bridge structure is already future-proofed for double-track:

But it doesn't sound like this particular work will be installing the structure for the second track. At most the spans that are getting outright replaced might get a double-track span instead.

 

[drum118]

The article says "Metrolinx’s contractor will be replacing spans and support beams, repairing masonry, and upgrading the structural capacity of the aging Speed River Bridge", so it sounds like the the piers and abutments are being retained.

The bridge structure is already future-proofed for double-track:
View attachment 319278

But it doesn't sound like this particular work will be installing the structure for the second track. At most the spans that are getting outright replaced might get a double-track span instead.

When I shot the area last year, they cut in a switch on the west side of the bridge for the south track.

The piers will be retrain

Metrolinx is moving to bridges that does not allow material to fall from them and expect they will replace the existing track bridge with the new style a section at a time. Corten is being use these days for environment reasons especially over water as paint is not allow on new bridges over water or wet lands.

 

[KevinT]

The bridge structure is already future-proofed for double-track

In theory, but I would be surprised if those cross beams are up to modern railway structural codes. While grandfathered in to hold the existing track, they'd likely need replacement to support a second track. Ideally the piers could remain as is.

 

[reaperexpress]

In theory, but I would be surprised if those cross beams are up to modern railway structural codes. While grandfathered in to hold the existing track, they'd likely need replacement to support a second track. Ideally the piers could remain as is.

Yeah, hence: "Metrolinx’s contractor will be replacing spans and support beams [...]". My point is that the design of the bridge (i.e. the placement and presumably strength of the pillars) is designed for there to be two spans.

 

[smallspy]

In theory, but I would be surprised if those cross beams are up to modern railway structural codes. While grandfathered in to hold the existing track, they'd likely need replacement to support a second track. Ideally the piers could remain as is.

While trains are longer and heavier today than they were 80 years ago, some of the forces that they apply to the rail and structures are significantly less so. The forces - and especially impacts - applied to track and structures by steam locos was vastly greater than that applied even by modern 430,000 pound freight locos.

This is why a lot of railroads have been able to increase their weight loading standards from 268k to 286k to 315k (all measured per 4-axle car) without changing any structures.

Dan

 

[awaterwell]

The Wilson Street bridge, built in 1902, requires a complete replacement. The Norfolk Street Bridge, built 1967, requires steel repairs, waterproofing, sandblasting and painting.

I know this is a pretty minor concern, but I hope they keep the CN paint scheme on these bridges.

 

[Garuda]

When the reconstruction for the Guelph bridges was announced, I contacted Metrolinx to enquire about installing a 2nd track over the Speed River Bridge. This was their response:

Dear Garuda,


Thank you for your inquiry regarding planned construction on the Speed River Bridge in the City of Guelph.



Current operational modelling indicates the proposed service levels can be accommodated through double tracking the corridor west of and through Guelph Central GO station, and does not require a second track across the Speed River.



The masonry piers on the Speed River Bridge have the capacity to support two tracks. However the transverse beams connecting the piers and supporting the spans do not have the structural capacity to support two tracks. Metrolinx is replacing the beams that support the spans in order to protect for a future south track. At this time, double tracking is not being undertaken as part of this contract.



Please let our office know if you have any further questions.



Kindly,



JESSICA

Community Relations and Issues Specialist

Communications | Metrolinx

Needless to say I’m disappointed they aren’t taking advantage of the situation to install a 2nd south track to the bridge.

 

[crs1026]

When the reconstruction for the Guelph bridges was announced, I contacted Metrolinx to enquire about installing a 2nd track over the Speed River Bridge. This was their response:

Needless to say I’m disappointed they aren’t taking advantage of the situation to install a 2nd south track to the bridge.

I’m with ML on this one.

They are replacing the crossbeams, which means they have enabled a second span when it’s needed. That’s sound futureproofing.

But why procure and install spans that their analysis says they won’t need for years yet.

We know they are not doubletracking the line at this time. The service plan doesn’t require that.

We are a long ways (and a lot of money) from headways that demand full double tracking.

I will be a whole lot happier when they get sidings and other things done, so that there is useful counterflow service. There’s too much delay just to get that done. We don’t need scope creep - first things first.

- Paul

 

[tsm1072]

I’m with ML on this one.

They are replacing the crossbeams, which means they have enabled a second span when it’s needed. That’s sound futureproofing.

But why procure and install spans that their analysis says they won’t need for years yet.

We know they are not doubletracking the line at this time. The service plan doesn’t require that.

We are a long ways (and a lot of money) from headways that demand full double tracking.

I will be a whole lot happier when they get sidings and other things done, so that there is useful counterflow service. There’s too much delay just to get that done. We don’t need scope creep - first things first.

- Paul

It also looks like double-tracking through Guelph east of the river will involve quite a few bridge upgrades/replacements. I agree that there is no point in spending the money to complete the double-tracking until the service pattern requires it, at least they are doing the prep-work now to make it easier to complete in the future.