dowlingm
Senior Member
Hard for me to see what use this new station will be to “important trip generator” Toronto Premium Outlets given GO’s peak only service model.
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GO Transit: Service thread (including extensions)
- Thread starter drum118
- Start date
afransen
Senior Member
I imagine Metrolinx will eventually work out a deal to add additional track to Milton to enable all-day service.
anb
Active Member
This is the best thing to come out of the GO service changes in the last 12 months. One can now head from Oshawa to Brampton or Oakville to Unionville at ease. Although in my mind it would’ve been better to combine 46-51 and 47-52 instead
More transfer-free rides – Other changes coming to some GO Transit bus routes
More transfer-free rides - Other changes coming to some GO Transit bus routesblog.metrolinx.com
crs1026
Senior Member
A bridge and a deal: Metrolinx’s plan to get GO trains across Hwy. 401
Some very interesting details in this one..... a new bridge alongside the CP bridge, "lighter shorter passenger trains" outfitted for both diesel and electric......
The kind of details that hint at this taking a long time to get off the ground!
- Paul
innsertnamehere
Superstar
I mean Metrolinx is planning for smaller trains as a part of GO expansion already, so it's not too much of a stretch. It basically means that the peak 12 car haulers we have today that will continue to get used won't be able to take the route though.
Northern Light
Superstar
Of note here: (from the article)
In November, when GM announced it was reopening the Oshawa truck plant — which could make train traffic crowded on the spur bridge — it threw another engineering challenge at Metrolinx.
The GM bridge reopening means Metrolinx will build a second bridge right next to the spur bridge, which may be a better way forward, according to Verster
So the intent was to use the existing bridge, until the plant re-opening was announced.
crs1026
Senior Member
^It sounds like the vision for the service plan is for new, light, dual mode trains that run express after some point (Pickering?). Am I reading too much in to believe that ML anticipates a new equipment type, as opposed to simply buying dual mode locos for use with existing bilevel fleet? I'm wondering about the prospect of single level DMU/EMU with shorter wheelbase cars, to get around that tight curve. A four- or six-car bilevel train with a dual-mode loco is no lighter (in weight on axles) or curve friendlier than a 12-car diesel powered train.
My fear is (as with the Ontario Line train size problem) one person's creative solution is another person's Rube Goldberg machine. Okay, we have a path forward to Bowmanville, but it's contingent on a) electrification b) a new equipment type and c) sufficient track capacity west of Oshawa to handle both local and express trains on a 2WAD service plan. Plus, the construction along the CP line. How long will all that take? Are all those components in the committed plan, or are they when-we-can-get-to-them items?
Is the new equipment type something ML was forced into, just to solve the Oshawa curve problem? Or are they merely using this to roll out an equipment type (and service model) that was already in the works for the network generally?
It sure feels like the decision to build the new Oshawa station has painted ML (and VIA) into a corner, and this is the result.
- Paul
My fear is (as with the Ontario Line train size problem) one person's creative solution is another person's Rube Goldberg machine. Okay, we have a path forward to Bowmanville, but it's contingent on a) electrification b) a new equipment type and c) sufficient track capacity west of Oshawa to handle both local and express trains on a 2WAD service plan. Plus, the construction along the CP line. How long will all that take? Are all those components in the committed plan, or are they when-we-can-get-to-them items?
Is the new equipment type something ML was forced into, just to solve the Oshawa curve problem? Or are they merely using this to roll out an equipment type (and service model) that was already in the works for the network generally?
It sure feels like the decision to build the new Oshawa station has painted ML (and VIA) into a corner, and this is the result.
- Paul
Allandale25
Senior Member
crs1026
Senior Member
Can't say never, but that fleet is just too small, and that product isn't immediately re-orderable. One hopes that ML sticks to a generic fleet rather than buying smaller numbers tied to specific routes or services.
- Paul
robmausser
Senior Member
My only concern is if this small addendum causes them to abandon using EMU's on the entire Lakeshore line.
Because there are few EMU/DMU hybrids out there.
So the conclusion might be to use dual mode loco hauled trains on the entire corridor, to keep consistency.
Which would be a shame.
Perhaps EMU's with dual mode pantograph/batteries should be examined, for the Bowmanville portion. Recharge while on the electrified portion and run on battery to Bowmanville.
robmausser
Senior Member
I hope that sets a precedent moving forward, that will allow Metrolinx to build a 4th track on CP's property on the Milton Line.
generalcanada
Senior Member
wait what?
Wasnt the main reason to use that gm spur instead of the old plan of crossing the 401 and closing the go station because they didnt have to build a large bridge over the 401?
if they have to build a new bridge, What the hell was the point of redrawing the bowmanville business case over the last 2 years
I would like to point out how bad of a location the oshawa go station is in the first place
Wasnt the main reason to use that gm spur instead of the old plan of crossing the 401 and closing the go station because they didnt have to build a large bridge over the 401?
if they have to build a new bridge, What the hell was the point of redrawing the bowmanville business case over the last 2 years
I would like to point out how bad of a location the oshawa go station is in the first place
sixrings
Senior Member
Sorry I am new to GO travel. My in laws live near cookeville. Is cookeville not getting GO RER 15 minute service. If not, why not? And is it the next step after the other lines get theirs or will cookeville be forever only getting trains one direction during rush hour?
robmausser
Senior Member
The existing bridge plan was not only much larger and more expensive, but it created a spur situation rather than running through the existing Oshawa GO station.
There will still be a station in downtown Oshawa (Knotts Berry Farm location) with this plan, the previous plan of another station North on Thickson Road was simply because the tracks ran there, it would have been a bad idea imo.
The best plan was to use the existing bridge, but thats not on the table anymore. This is still a better plan than what was originally intended.
innsertnamehere
Superstar
Cookesville GO is on the Milton Line, which is not planned to have RER service, unfortunately.
While the Milton GO line is one of the highest ridership GO lines, Metrolinx does not own the corridor, which limits what it can do. GO RER as planned today is primarily on corridors Metrolinx owns.
The Milton Line is owned by CP Rail, which does not permit off peak service on the line in order to prevent it interfering with their freight movements. As it is today they only permit service during narrow peak periods, where Metrolinx runs as many trains as it possibly can to meet demand.
Metrolinx has potential long term plans to add new dedicated tracks along the corridor to allow for 15 minute service, but this is heavily dependant on CP agreeing to the plan. Which again, is totally up to CP. No funding for the plan has been identified at this time and it should be considered a longe range plan.