ShonTron,
Sep 21, 2007
Do you know if anything's happening with Georgetown (like the promised hourly Union Station buses when the trains aren't running?).
A lot of the trackwork is well underway or done (in one case) for triple-tracking up to Mount Pleasant. A lot of work to go, but that should be useful, and even more so once they figure out the Weston Sub.
Weekend service to Burlington has been such a no-brainer, and Aldershot makes it almost useful for Hamiltonians. Almost.
Opening the forum strings, one is always presented with the earliest posts, I got a glance of this and immediately thought: 'this quote has to be re-posted'...from *nine years ago!*
if we're going to refurbish more coaches than what's needed on still-diesel lines, are we really expecting to get enough of the refurbishment value back through a sale when the time comes?
Since those coachers are already up for refurbishment, how can there possibly be a loss to utilize them now? The way they're refurbished is open to discussion, as per my suggestion of combining an extant drive coach w/ disability access, as that's to move the project along as well as maximize flexibility of stock, but there's no way that even these four 'oddities' can't be used on other peripheral feeder lines later, no matter whether electric or diesel hauled.
The other risk not being managed here is the chance a different government is elected, and when Metrolinx asks for the funds to buy EMUs they get told no...
That's exactly my point made! That's a risk hedged. I estimate it will take somewhere in the region of six months to get four trainsets up and running, one being spare. And we're talking a total (until the service is extended if it proves to be a success, which it inevitably will) about 12 coaches.
This is so do-able it's obscene not to. I invite other readers to point out what could possibly complicate this, besides a "can't do" attitude. For the missing trackwork and signals, they're already on the drawing board. Track alignment into Bramalea is already planned, the second platform and structures almost finished.
This is an *absolute* vote getter for the present sad QP Libs too. For once, they can announce something that's an actual slice of the cake they've been promising for over a decade, as ShonTron's post proves. And let me repeat..."Cheap, cheap, cheap!". They already have all of the rolling stock. (tweaks besides)
There's even the possibility, CN permitting, of every other one extending up to Bramalea running through to Mt Pleasant. CN wouldn't allow that with EMU, no electric will run on CN's lines until sold to Metrolinx, and that won't happen until the Missing Link does: Translation: In the never-ending future.
In the case of limited peak hour platform access at Union, this 'PreRER' would be superseded by the longer trains. If there is space, then the peak trains can run express to Bramalea and then regular stops thereafter. The 'PreRER' can be the local service to Bramalea. Remember, being just three coaches on an even detuned F59 for reduced emissions can/will *still* accelerate faster than any other regular service on GO. This means it will not slow down express service on the same tracks.
A small point of interest, and some of the posters in this string are meticulous at figuring this out: Would there even need to be a second dedicated track into Bramalea to allow half-hourly service terminating there, or would a single from Etobicoke North be suffice if there are the two track bays functioning at Bramalea? An analog can be had by UPX running 15 min service into the single bay at Union.
Comments?
Re-reading some others' posts, missed this:
IIRC, about five 12-coach trainsets, or about a whopping ten six-coach transets -- I cannot remember exact number of old coaches now being replaced by 67 new cab cars.
Wow! There's a huge amount there to work with, even with them 'as is'. That leaves just one requirement to satisfy for complete trainsets: 4 handicap access w/ washroom sliding door lower floor cars.
Any thoughts on that? Are four 'as is' available?
heh... minor changes again.