GO Transit: Construction Projects (Metrolinx, various)

[Chris R.]

Moving the VIA station from Aldershot to West Harbour makes enormous sense now. Let's hope that happens @Chris R.

I would be a big fan of this. I've never actually used VIA, but as service has changed, and my interest in driving to Montreal has waned, I've started debating it more and stopping at West Harbour could likely push us over the edge to doing it.

 

[drum118]

Considering the old CN Station is next door that once service Hamilton, having a VIA Station at WH would open the door for more riders regardless there is only an Amtrak train once a day going both direction. Still need Aldershot for the Windsor/London/Sarnia train as it will still service a different market than WH. There is a lot of parking spots at WH with a fair amount block off due to lack of need.

It would have been nice to see the old CN station brought back in place as a GO/VIA station than the current WH one.

 

[Fritter]

I was working in Maple on Sunday and noticed the new second track appears ready for use, however I have no idea if either end is connected to the main or not.
Even if the track is useable, the new platform is not ready as of yet.
The last photo is where the track tunnel will connect with a tunnel under the parking lot over to the new building housing stairs and elevator to the bus loop.

 

[Bojaxs]

I was working in Maple on Sunday and noticed the new second track appears ready for use, however I have no idea if either end is connected to the main or not.
Even if the track is useable, the new platform is not ready as of yet.
The last photo is where the track tunnel will connect with a tunnel under the parking lot over to the new building housing stairs and elevator to the bus loop.
View attachment 604273View attachment 604274View attachment 604275

Am I correct in that it looks like there's room for a third track in the middle? Future express service?

 

[crs1026]

I was working in Maple on Sunday and noticed the new second track appears ready for use, however I have no idea if either end is connected to the main or not.

It's good to see this work progressing so quickly, but it's hard to see progress towards cutting in the trackage. Presumably the second track will be built from its current end at Concord (which is just south of Rutherford) all the way north to the existing end of double track at Teston (north of Maple). There doesn't seem to be much happening in that segment. Without that second track, the second platforms at Rutherford and Maple are white elephants.

There is a manual turnout connecting the Maple second platform track to the existing main line just south of Maple, but no sign that it is planned as a control point.... and that would be a far less satisfactory solution than just completing the whole second track. There is only about 1.7 miles of new double track needed.

- Paul

 

[Bojaxs]

Which line is closer to having it's double tracking completed? Barrie or Stouffville?

 

[smallspy]

Am I correct in that it looks like there's room for a third track in the middle? Future express service?

That's correct. Maple, Rutherford and Downsview Park all are configured to have a third track between both platform tracks.

It's good to see this work progressing so quickly, but it's hard to see progress towards cutting in the trackage. Presumably the second track will be built from its current end at Concord (which is just south of Rutherford) all the way north to the existing end of double track at Teston (north of Maple). There doesn't seem to be much happening in that segment. Without that second track, the second platforms at Rutherford and Maple are white elephants.

There is a manual turnout connecting the Maple second platform track to the existing main line just south of Maple, but no sign that it is planned as a control point.... and that would be a far less satisfactory solution than just completing the whole second track. There is only about 1.7 miles of new double track needed.

- Paul

It does appear that the second track will be completed between Teston and Concord, as they have built most of the track between Rutherford and Maple - they will just need to do a cut-and-throw in the middle once they've built the rest of the switches at the Teston and Concord plants.

Which line is closer to having it's double tracking completed? Barrie or Stouffville?

Stouffville.

Dan

 

[ProjectEnd]

Which line is closer to having it's double tracking completed? Barrie or Stouffville?

Without question Stouffville. Barrie is nowhere near that line's progress (it's also a lot longer).

 

[nfitz]

Without question Stouffville. Barrie is nowhere near that line's progress (it's also a lot longer).

They don't have to go all the way to Barrie to get full service. How far are they electrifying?

There's still no work on the grade seperation for Danforth Road. I can see Barrie being done first.

 

[crs1026]

All of the lines have major items which may be prerequisites before any real service upgrades happen

- Barrie has grading in good shape from Davenport northwards, but without the bottom section from Paton to Strachan I am doubtful they will advance the track laying and signal work very quickly.
- Barrie and Kitchener are showing some signs of progress west of Strachan, but work on Liberty is beginning and I fear it will have to be completed ahead of doubling the Barrie line through Parkdale
- Bloor station is plodding along, so the fourth track from Parkdale to Nickle is not likely any time soon
- Stouffville still needs the West Highland Creek bridge to be built
- Stouffville is probably limited by the status of LSE work. East Harbour and Ontario Line construction may limit LSE to two tracks for some time, even with the upcoming track shift (once all the bridges are complete) capacity will be constrained.

My deepest conspiracy theory is that money is actually tight, and work may be quietly getting slowed or deferred in the interest of cash flow. It's one thing to promise the network, but QP is running close enough to a balanced budget that it would be politically tempting to choke off spending until the eventual election. Let the coffers flow as planned, and that very important bragging point would be forfeited. Ford has done enough dumb things (like spend money on beer in corner stores) that may have taken a bite out of available cash. Just me being gloomy, but not necessarily illogical.

- Paul

 

[cplchanb]

All of the lines have major items which may be prerequisites before any real service upgrades happen

- Barrie has grading in good shape from Davenport northwards, but without the bottom section from Paton to Strachan I am doubtful they will advance the track laying and signal work very quickly.
- Barrie and Kitchener are showing some signs of progress west of Strachan, but work on Liberty is beginning and I fear it will have to be completed ahead of doubling the Barrie line through Parkdale
- Bloor station is plodding along, so the fourth track from Parkdale to Nickle is not likely any time soon
- Stouffville still needs the West Highland Creek bridge to be built
- Stouffville is probably limited by the status of LSE work. East Harbour and Ontario Line construction may limit LSE to two tracks for some time, even with the upcoming track shift (once all the bridges are complete) capacity will be constrained.

My deepest conspiracy theory is that money is actually tight, and work may be quietly getting slowed or deferred in the interest of cash flow. It's one thing to promise the network, but QP is running close enough to a balanced budget that it would be politically tempting to choke off spending until the eventual election. Let the coffers flow as planned, and that very important bragging point would be forfeited. Ford has done enough dumb things (like spend money on beer in corner stores) that may have taken a bite out of available cash. Just me being gloomy, but not necessarily illogical.

- Paul

its always going to be money. if they had the cash they would already theoretically be done by now (minus the typical in-competencies and red tape)

 

[nfitz]

My deepest conspiracy theory is that money is actually tight, and work may be quietly getting slowed or deferred in the interest of cash flow. It's one thing to promise the network, but QP is running close enough to a balanced budget that it would be politically tempting to choke off spending until the eventual election. Let the coffers flow as planned, and that very important bragging point would be forfeited. Ford has done enough dumb things (like spend money on beer in corner stores) that may have taken a bite out of available cash. Just me being gloomy, but not necessarily illogical.

I doubt very much the PPP-like contract would be impacted much by government cash flows. Not without severe and expensive penalties.

Perhaps the sole advantage of a PPP, given that they all seem to run to the courts to make up for their underbidding.

 

[PShells]

The tree growing on the unused second track at Agincourt station has been cut down.

I've seen A&B Rail workers near West Highland Creek for weeks now but there’s no noticeable work being done.

New track continues to be laid at East Harbour. I’m looking forward to what this section of LSE corridor will look like following the Nov 9-10 weekend closure for a track shift.

 

[rbt]

My deepest conspiracy theory is that money is actually tight, and work may be quietly getting slowed or deferred in the interest of cash flow. It's one thing to promise the network, but QP is running close enough to a balanced budget that it would be politically tempting to choke off spending until the eventual election. Let the coffers flow as planned, and that very important bragging point would be forfeited. Ford has done enough dumb things (like spend money on beer in corner stores) that may have taken a bite out of available cash. Just me being gloomy, but not necessarily illogical.

Balancing the budget is independent of capital spend. Interest on the debt shows up in future years, but not the capital spend; selling capital items (like highways or the hydro system) doesn't work as a tool to balance the budget for a single year anymore either.

If Metrolinx has cash-flow issues for capital projects then it's because Ontario is holding back on issuing debt; with rapidly falling interest rates that's not a terrible idea for a year.

EDIT: Worth mentioning, if Ontario's credit rating is considered borderline then that would be a reason the province might hold back on issuing debt for capital projects. Doesn't show as a deficit in the budget but a credit rating drop would hit the news cycle hard.

 

[chrisw]

My deepest conspiracy theory is that money is actually tight, and work may be quietly getting slowed or deferred in the interest of cash flow. It's one thing to promise the network, but QP is running close enough to a balanced budget that it would be politically tempting to choke off spending until the eventual election. Let the coffers flow as planned, and that very important bragging point would be forfeited. Ford has done enough dumb things (like spend money on beer in corner stores) that may have taken a bite out of available cash. Just me being gloomy, but not necessarily illogical.

All the infrastructure spending don't show up in the Budgetary Balance/Deficit quite interesting.