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GO Transit: Construction Projects (Metrolinx, various)
- Thread starter drum118
- Start date
Sauga89
Active Member
Metrolinx has also given an update on the Etobicoke Creek bridge on the Lakeshore West Line.
It sounds like they're scrambling to make up for lost time.
It sounds like they're scrambling to make up for lost time.
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crs1026
Superstar
Infrastructure Ontario released its October Market Update. It contains no mention of any upcoming GO projects.
Only items of significance for this audience
Or perhaps it indicates that money is being held back or moved elsewhere.
I have a theory that as various transit projects have dragged on and proved impossible to influence from the political level, politicians are losing interest in transit infrastructure - transit is just too risky and takes too long for their political benefit. Too much risk and too little credit. I sure hope I am wrong, as we still need lots more things launched.
- Paul
Only items of significance for this audience
- Eglinton West Extension - tunnelling contract declared substantially complete
- Major projects reaching co-development or contract execution:
- Eglinton West Extension - Stations, Rail and Systems
- Line 1 Extension - Advance Tunnel
- Major projects moved to active procurement:
- Line 1 Extension - Stations Rail, and Systems
Or perhaps it indicates that money is being held back or moved elsewhere.
I have a theory that as various transit projects have dragged on and proved impossible to influence from the political level, politicians are losing interest in transit infrastructure - transit is just too risky and takes too long for their political benefit. Too much risk and too little credit. I sure hope I am wrong, as we still need lots more things launched.
- Paul
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innsertnamehere
Superstar
It's because ONExpress's contract has already been signed and executed. It disappears off the market update after execution.
The list of transit projects is shrinking because the province is in execution phases right now instead of planning - most major contracts have been awarded and the ball is now figuratively in the winning bidders court to complete the work.
I imagine we will start hearing more about the next generation of projects in the next few years - these things go in cycles and we are due for a fresh cycle soon enough. The Sheppard Subway appears to be first up, along likely with a Pearson Airport connection for Eglinton once Pearson figures out where they want the line to actually go.
The list of transit projects is shrinking because the province is in execution phases right now instead of planning - most major contracts have been awarded and the ball is now figuratively in the winning bidders court to complete the work.
I imagine we will start hearing more about the next generation of projects in the next few years - these things go in cycles and we are due for a fresh cycle soon enough. The Sheppard Subway appears to be first up, along likely with a Pearson Airport connection for Eglinton once Pearson figures out where they want the line to actually go.
reaperexpress
Senior Member
And it's not just because of the bridge either! The lack of Highland Creek bridge is what's preventing the second tracks/platforms from being used at Milliken and Agincourt stations. But at Kennedy there's a completely different reason we can't use the second platform that already exists.
Phil Verster cancelled the Scarborough Grade Separation project that would have completed the Stouffville Line double-track from Unionville to Union, but Metrolinx they didn't replace that project with a smaller project to at least build the Danforth Road grade separation portion of the project and its associated double-track. They didn't even create a much smaller project install a switch south of Kennedy station so trains can use both platforms.
PShells
Active Member
I’ve been keeping my eye out for Metrolinx’s 2025 update to Toronto’s city council.
This is from November 2024
Stouffville Rail Corridor Expansion (Second Track and Signals, Part 2)
In-corridor upgrades including grading, double-tracking, and new signals are underway. This project is divided into phases. Phase 1 is between north of Kennedy GO station to Highland Creek. Phase 2 is between Highland Creek and Agincourt GO station.
Upon its completion, this project will provide greater corridor capacity to gradually increase
GO train service resiliency and frequency. Phase 1 of signal work was completed in 2024, allowing for a newly built track to enter into service, and the removal of the existing diversion track. Phase 2 Substantial Completion is tracking for mid-2026.
….given Phase 1 didn’t actually enter service until July 2025 (not the end of 2024 as stated above), should we assume the earliest date the West Highland Creek bridge comes online is January 2027? What’s the difference between “substantial completion” and being in service?
This is from November 2024
Stouffville Rail Corridor Expansion (Second Track and Signals, Part 2)
In-corridor upgrades including grading, double-tracking, and new signals are underway. This project is divided into phases. Phase 1 is between north of Kennedy GO station to Highland Creek. Phase 2 is between Highland Creek and Agincourt GO station.
Upon its completion, this project will provide greater corridor capacity to gradually increase
GO train service resiliency and frequency. Phase 1 of signal work was completed in 2024, allowing for a newly built track to enter into service, and the removal of the existing diversion track. Phase 2 Substantial Completion is tracking for mid-2026.
….given Phase 1 didn’t actually enter service until July 2025 (not the end of 2024 as stated above), should we assume the earliest date the West Highland Creek bridge comes online is January 2027? What’s the difference between “substantial completion” and being in service?
smallspy
Senior Member
That's exactly what they're doing.
They're even considering having a mid-week closure of the Lakeshore West line - that's how bad things are. All options are on the table.
Dan
Northern Light
Superstar
You want service, you got service!
Here ya go, its on next week's Executive Ctte agenda:
There are quite a few tidbits in there of interest, though a lot of non-information too.
I think the most interesting updates are probably on the LSE corridor. But I will let all of you dissect.
From the above:
crs1026
Superstar
I’m old enough to recall Artie Johnson saying “Verrrrry Interrrresting”……
The first nugget to hit me was ML’s proposal that UPE and not GO service the St Clair Smarrtrack station. That sure muddies the water on the supposedly “express” character of UPE.
Still reading the rest
- Paul
The first nugget to hit me was ML’s proposal that UPE and not GO service the St Clair Smarrtrack station. That sure muddies the water on the supposedly “express” character of UPE.
Still reading the rest
- Paul
Northern Light
Superstar
I have included the details on that in the Station Project thread.
cplchanb
Senior Member
uhhhh...how can ph 1 be complete when milliken is still single tracked? shouldnt they have double tracked from unionville all the way to agincourt? theres still large sections missing especially at the stations themselves...
urbancog
Active Member
There’s definitely some work happening on the Halton sub. This rail-mounted backhoe, and a dump truck, zipped past Georgetown GO on the CN line just before the 05:30 service to Union this morning.
PShells
Active Member
Phase 1 is Kennedy to Highland Creek bridge, not the entire double tracking of this segment of the line.
While we think of the Kennedy to Unionville double track, grade separation, station renovations etc. as one big upgrade I'm sure it's actually a dozen individual contracts.
Once the final bridge is operational all of the missing track between Agincourt and Unionville can be installed and brought into service with 1-2 back-to-back weekend closures because there's no signal/switching/utilities to relocate to do between the culvert and the switch north of Milliken station. This was pointed out a few times to me on this message board over the years and it makes sense to me. Lay some track, throw down some ballast and use those yellow machines to line everything up.
smallspy
Senior Member
This is not quite true, at least not yet.
The current active track meanders from being the future east and west tracks at several points south of the interlocking plant at Underwood, which is located immediately north-west of the Kennedy Rd. level crossing north of Steeles. Because of that, it also switches around both the signal and the level crossing circuits as well. Those all need to be untangled before the final track configuration is completed. A couple of weekend closures would be required just to take care of the signalling changes, nevermind the track cutovers.
That said, those things could be done basically at any time now, and well in advance, in order to prepare the line for its final configuration once the construction of the bridge is completed.
Dan
reaperexpress
Senior Member
Thanks for bringing this forward!
It's very funny that the first item proclaims that they are building 17.2 kilometres of double track on the Barrie line from Strachan to Steeles, and yet the fourth item in the same document is for Caledonia station, which is within that segment and yet the current work only includes a platform on one track.
It's great to hear that work is proceeding on bridge electrical protection barriers and traction power substations. I also like that their description of GO Expansion explicitly includes electrification of railways.
Metrolinx's response to MPP Cerjanec about the lack of express trains on Lakeshore East (despite the fact that the third track is still in service between Danforth and Guildwood), was that they plan to take the entire third track out of service to facilitate construction on the Birchmount Road grade separation. But in this document it says that construction on that project won't start until at least Fall 2026, so there's no clear reason that they couldn't have re-introduced express trains for 2024-2025 until that happens. I also wonder how necessary it is to take the third track out of service. GO doesn't care, since the express track is only used by Via trains, but the speed of Via service will be absolutely decimated if they no longer have any way to overtake GO local trains.