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GO Transit: Construction Projects (Metrolinx, various)

Allandale’s post reminded me of the potential turn back signal to be installed at Stouffville GO station that would allow every second off peak train to terminate at Stouffville vs. Mount Joy.

Given off peak service only reaches Mount Joy station is it possible to begin construction on the turn back signal without weekend closures? There would be no trains in the area between 9:15am and 3:45pm each day.

Second, is there an existing turn back signal at Scarborough GO that the Stouffville line will be using during the below weekend construction period?

Saturday and Sunday, Mar. 28-29
  • GO trains will run between Old Elm and Scarborough GO.
 
PShells said:
Allandale’s post reminded me of the potential turn back signal to be installed at Stouffville GO station that would allow every second off peak train to terminate at Stouffville vs. Mount Joy.

Given off peak service only reaches Mount Joy station is it possible to begin construction on the turn back signal without weekend closures? There would be no trains in the area between 9:15am and 3:45pm each day.

Second, is there an existing turn back signal at Scarborough GO that the Stouffville line will be using during the below weekend construction period?

Saturday and Sunday, Mar. 28-29
  • GO trains will run between Old Elm and Scarborough GO.
Click to expand...

Many elements of signals work get done during operating times, but some may need a work block depending on where signals are to be placed, what access work equipment have to that location, etc. I suspect ML would be very cautious about running fairly tight work blocks that might run late and delay afternoon trains.
A Stouffville turnback signal is a bit complicated because the spacing of the approach blocks might require moving other block signals or installing approach signals in different locations. It may not be a "one and done" installation.
Just speculating, but trains might run through the signals at Scarborough Jct and then reverse back to the platform. Or, since it's a one weekend situation they might just contct the RTC to do the necessary paperwork to reverse from the platform.

- Paul
 
Posted by Metrolinx to X.

Grade A news 🎉 The construction contract for the Finch Avenue East Underpass has been awarded! This new grade separation—located between Milliken Boulevard and Midland Avenue—will separate tracks from the road. The end result? A safer commute for everyone, improved traffic flow, and future service increases on the GO Stouffville Line.
Click to expand...

Pictures are not recent it appears.

20260122_141701.jpg


20260122_141654.jpg


20260122_141651.jpg
 
Allandale25 said:
Posted by Metrolinx to X.



Pictures are not recent it appears.

View attachment 710437

View attachment 710438

View attachment 710439
Click to expand...
So they're not building the smart track station? Hopefully as more of the line gets grade separated, it'll make the tracks more difficult to access for taggers and overtime we'll see a reduction in graffiti and spray paint on the noise walls. Or is that wishful thinking?

EDIT: Are there any renderings of the grade separation? I can't seem to find any online.

After the recent snow storm, a lot of folks are complaining about the snow built up on the platforms. Something I never considered until I read one of the comments under this reddit post was the difficulty GO/ Metrolinx have in removing snow off the platforms. They have a limited window to remove the snow (at night when trains aren't operating), and they can't dump the snow onto the tracks. So their only option is to pile it up in the middle of the platforms. Hopefully this recent storm will serve to reinforce to MX that as they update/renovate older GO stations, they'll need to have canopies stretching over the entire platforms, and add snow melting systems under the platforms.

https://www.reddit.com/r/gotransit/comments/1qoeuke/mimico_platform
 
Last edited:
Bojaxs said:
So they're not building the smart track station? Hopefully as more of the line gets grade separated, it'll make the tracks more difficult to access for taggers and overtime we'll see a reduction in graffiti and spray paint on the noise walls. Or is that wishful thinking?

EDIT: Are there any renderings of the grade separation? I can't seem to find any online.

After the recent snow storm, a lot of folks are complaining about the snow built up on the platforms. Something I never considered until I read one of the comments under this reddit post was the difficulty GO/ Metrolinx have in removing snow off the platforms. They have a limited window to remove the snow (at night when trains aren't operating), and they can't dump the snow onto the tracks. So their only option is to pile it up in the middle of the platforms. Hopefully this recent storm will serve to reinforce to MX that as they update/renovate older GO stations, they'll need to have canopies stretching over the entire platforms, and add snow melting systems under the platforms.

https://www.reddit.com/r/gotransit/comments/1qoeuke/mimico_platform
Click to expand...
Complaining. People will find a reason to complain about anything without grasping the context.
 
Bojaxs said:
So they're not building the smart track station? Hopefully as more of the line gets grade separated, it'll make the tracks more difficult to access for taggers and overtime we'll see a reduction in graffiti and spray paint on the noise walls. Or is that wishful thinking?

EDIT: Are there any renderings of the grade separation? I can't seem to find any online.

After the recent snow storm, a lot of folks are complaining about the snow built up on the platforms. Something I never considered until I read one of the comments under this reddit post was the difficulty GO/ Metrolinx have in removing snow off the platforms. They have a limited window to remove the snow (at night when trains aren't operating), and they can't dump the snow onto the tracks. So their only option is to pile it up in the middle of the platforms. Hopefully this recent storm will serve to reinforce to MX that as they update/renovate older GO stations, they'll need to have canopies stretching over the entire platforms, and add snow melting systems under the platforms.

https://www.reddit.com/r/gotransit/comments/1qoeuke/mimico_platform
Click to expand...
Re: Smart Track I don't reckon this has any bearing on if the station will be delivered. If anything, this is good- i think it's very hard to build a station next to an at-grade crossing while allowing room for grade separation to occur in the future (easily). If anything, grade separation should be happening before the station is delivered.

Re: the snow buildup, yeah all new GO stations have heated platforms for this reason- though I couldn't tell you how far this goes back or which stations exactly have them. Mimico is one of, if not the oldest station in the network and the most out of date- being one of two (soon the only) inaccessible station across the network. I believe the redevelopment of Mimico GO is still tied to whoever will eventually build that hole in the ground next to the station, so MX is twiddling their thumbs unlike Long Branch.

I recall there being some complaints because MX dealt with snow on Mimco by dumping ungodly amounts of salt on it. I don't recall if that was this winter or last winter. Either MX isn't salting because it's too cold (Although there should be some salts that can work at these temperatures, if I recall) or they aren't salting anymore due to complaints. I suspect it's the latter, and I guess it's a damned if you do, damned if you don't. Salt it, complaints, shovel it, complaints, rebuild it, complaints.

Edit: I find the "It can't be that hard" comment to be a bit funny- no offence to the OP. Yesterday was a headache to clean up the driveway with my father, and we had a snowblower, no worries about trains, and we certainly did not a 340m by 20m driveway.
 
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Announcement today about the Bowmanville Extension. Press release here.

Relevant extract:

The first phase of construction includes rebuilding and modifying bridges along the corridor, relocating utilities and making improvements at the Durham College Oshawa GO Station and the adjacent VIA Rail building. Early works began in spring 2025 and included tree clearing, geotechnical investigations along the corridor and the installation of a new watermain in Oshawa.
Click to expand...

In the Q and A with the media, there were some specific questions about the project. Michael Lindsay said it could open in the early 2030s.

Time-marked link to a question from a local reporter about the timeline and the response:

 
Allandale25 said:
Announcement today about the Bowmanville Extension. Press release here.

Relevant extract:



In the Q and A with the media, there were some specific questions about the project. Michael Lindsay said it could open in the early 2030s.

Time-marked link to a question from a local reporter about the timeline and the response:

Click to expand...

I took the following away:

1) The project is moving along at a speed that makes pouring molasses look speedy.

2) The government is somewhat confident of the the opening date, plus or minus 3 years, for a project they first announced years ago; sounds they have a good handle on it!

3) The people who write the pressers might wish to better understand what they are talking about..... see this:

1769533981991.png


Errr..... extension?
 
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They do clear the snow during the day with shovels or snow blowers, and push it onto the tracks too, I saw both happening at multiple stations last Sunday.
 
Northern Light said:
I took the following away:

1) The project is moving along at a speed that makes pouring molasses look speedy.

2) The government is somewhat confident of the the opening date, plus or minus 3 years, for a project the first announced years ago; sounds they have a good handle on it!

3) The people who right the pressers might wish to better understand what they are talking about..... see this:

View attachment 711318

Errr..... extension?
Click to expand...

They've been using the term Kitchener Extension for years going back to the Wynne government. It shows up in Capital Group board reports. What they mean is "off-corridor" (they own; part of RER/Expansion/On-Corr). So more service/capital for the Kitchener Line between Bramalea-Kitchener is what they mean. It's the same as the Niagara and Bowmanville Extensions. Did I get that about right @crs1026 ?

Unless they do in fact something new up their sleeve.
 
Northern Light said:
I took the following away:

1) The project is moving along at a speed that makes pouring molasses look speedy.

2) The government is somewhat confident of the the opening date, plus or minus 3 years, for a project they first announced years ago; sounds they have a good handle on it!

3) The people who write the pressers might wish to better understand what they are talking about..... see this:

View attachment 711318

Errr..... extension?
Click to expand...
Disappointing that there was no discussion or questions asked regarding concerns of the choice of alignment of the track east of Oshawa GO, parallel to the GM plant spur and it's negative impact on the speed of the GO trains.
 
Allandale25 said:
They've been using the term Kitchener Extension for years going back to the Wynne government. It shows up in Capital Group board reports. What they mean is "off-corridor" (they own; part of RER/Expansion/On-Corr). So more service/capital for the Kitchener Line between Bramalea-Kitchener is what they mean. It's the same as the Niagara and Bowmanville Extensions. Did I get that about right @crs1026 ?
Click to expand...

LOL As usual, the most concise explanation of on-corridor vs off-corridor comes not from ML but from others interpreting their work


At this point, ML has used and abused the terms so loosely that I would not attach any accuracy to these definitions. I doubt many ML staffers know exactly what the demarcations are.

- Paul

1769540626497.png
 
crs1026 said:
PS While looking for the On/Off Corridor explanation, I did stumble across this image from the ML Board Meeting of May 19 2019, which indicates a 2020 tcd for completion of 18 km double track on the Stouffville line. As of today, almost seven years later, just under 5km of double track is in operation.

Not that I'm impatient for that missing bridge, or anything.


- Paul

View attachment 711359
Click to expand...
Damn! Look how clean those noise walls are!!!😲😲😲
 
crs1026 said:
PS While looking for the On/Off Corridor explanation, I did stumble across this image from the ML Board Meeting of May 19 2019, which indicates a 2020 tcd for completion of 18 km double track on the Stouffville line. As of today, almost seven years later, just under 5km of double track is in operation.

Not that I'm impatient for that missing bridge, or anything.


- Paul

View attachment 711359
Click to expand...
Impressive for Metrolinx to construct 5km of double tracking in 7 years. With these speeds, if we put Metrolinx in charge of Alto construction in Ontario, we could even see HSR from Toronto to Ottawa in just 935 years!
 
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