vegeta_skyline
Senior Member
System updates;
- GO is very close to acquiring the remaining portion of the Newmarket sub/Barrie line (that they do not already own - mile 3.0 to mile 12.9) as was done with the Weston. Negotiations are ongoing in the acquisition of the Kingston sub (to Durham Jct - Pickering) and a portion of the Oakville sub.
GO is very keen on owning the tracks that they frequently operate on.
I’ve detailed what lines they can and can’t purchase in this post: http://www.urbantoronto.ca/showpost.php?p=279079&postcount=104
No word on the Bala sub/Richmond Hill Line. Then again service increases on that line won’t be possible until a grade separation is complete at Doncaster (where the line crosses CN’s double track East-West mainline). It will be several years before the whole process for that upgrade is completed.
- All day service on the Barrie & Stouffville lines is to begin next year. Passing tracks are being constructed on both lines.
The passing track on the Stouffville line is located at approximately the half-way point(time wise) between Stouffville & Union. Possibly meaning that the all-day service will extend to Stouffville. In any case with only a single passing track and having it at this location, the line will not be able to operate at hourly frequencies. I’d have to assume that this is only the first step in the eventually double tracking of most of the line.
It appears that the line in the area of the track will be upgraded to CTC (signaled track) which would eliminate some major deficiencies in regards to the all-day service (http://www.urbantoronto.ca/showpost.php?p=263175&postcount=24). The installation of fiber optic cables and electric switches is evidence of this.
- Because of the success of the weekend Niagara train, weekday service to St. Catherines is likely to start sooner than expected. City officials are very pleased with the service. GO expected the Niagara service to do very well but the number of passengers from St. Catherine’s itself has well exceeded their expectations. Bus connections would be in place to Niagara. The reason why the weekday train service wouldn’t extend to Niagara is probably due to delays caused by the Welland cannel crossing and bus connections would be a way to avoid these delays which can easily be 20-30 minutes long at times. On the bus you’d be in Niagara by then.
I’m not sure exactly how the cannel crossing system works. I’m assuming it works in a more first come first serve kind of basis and unlike trains ships don’t run on a concrete schedule. I’d say that because GO isn’t aware of when a ship may interfere with its scheduled trains until right before the meet happens.
Lakeshore line, East to West.
Oshawa - only current improvement is the creation more of accessible parking spots
Whitby - south lot parking garage is well under construction and appears to be on schedule for the intended completion date in December
- construction hasn’t begin yet on a new bridge structure from the new parking garage to the platforms
- henry street layover station, track work underway, upon completion will add a 3rd train to the storage yard, unknown if this will effect any future train scheduling
Ajax - pre-construction work on the 2nd pedestrian tunnel has begun
Scarborough - station upgrades nearing completion (finally!)
Union station corridor - removal of slower speed (15mph) track crossovers in progress
- new higher speed crossovers in use (30mph current, up to 45mph the in future)
Exhibition - current work being undertaken near the station is to rectify a drainage problem. This problem has for years been responsible for frozen switches and has prevent the use of the Dufferin signal plant (west of the Ex) equipped with 45mph crossovers. Trains crossing tracks are forced to use the Fort York signal plant to cross over (East of the Ex), which is only equipped with 15mph crossovers.
Mimico East signal plant (east of Mimico GO station) - will to relocated east of current location in the near future, 15 mph crossovers will be replaced with 45mph crossovers at this location.
Willowbrook yard - GO is aggressively pursing property acquisition along Judson st. for yard expansion. Several properties have already been acquired, on both sides of Islington Ave.
Port Credit to Kerr st.
- grading work continues for the future 3rd track
- Port Credit signal plant relocation in progress to a position west of its current location
- Clarkson, 2nd tunnel to be installed shortly
- 9th line signal plant, new 45mph crossovers in place, 15mph crossovers to be removed shortly
- Oakville yard signal plant, new 45mph crossover in place for the current 3rd track(will be re-designated as the 4th track in the future). Trains can't take advantage of this increased speed until the new 3rd track is in place
- Kerr st. signal plant reconstruction now in progress
Appleby - station work continues, 2nd tunnel is already in place
Burlington - work has yet to start on new pedestrian bridge from the parking structure
- GO is very close to acquiring the remaining portion of the Newmarket sub/Barrie line (that they do not already own - mile 3.0 to mile 12.9) as was done with the Weston. Negotiations are ongoing in the acquisition of the Kingston sub (to Durham Jct - Pickering) and a portion of the Oakville sub.
GO is very keen on owning the tracks that they frequently operate on.
I’ve detailed what lines they can and can’t purchase in this post: http://www.urbantoronto.ca/showpost.php?p=279079&postcount=104
No word on the Bala sub/Richmond Hill Line. Then again service increases on that line won’t be possible until a grade separation is complete at Doncaster (where the line crosses CN’s double track East-West mainline). It will be several years before the whole process for that upgrade is completed.
- All day service on the Barrie & Stouffville lines is to begin next year. Passing tracks are being constructed on both lines.
The passing track on the Stouffville line is located at approximately the half-way point(time wise) between Stouffville & Union. Possibly meaning that the all-day service will extend to Stouffville. In any case with only a single passing track and having it at this location, the line will not be able to operate at hourly frequencies. I’d have to assume that this is only the first step in the eventually double tracking of most of the line.
It appears that the line in the area of the track will be upgraded to CTC (signaled track) which would eliminate some major deficiencies in regards to the all-day service (http://www.urbantoronto.ca/showpost.php?p=263175&postcount=24). The installation of fiber optic cables and electric switches is evidence of this.
- Because of the success of the weekend Niagara train, weekday service to St. Catherines is likely to start sooner than expected. City officials are very pleased with the service. GO expected the Niagara service to do very well but the number of passengers from St. Catherine’s itself has well exceeded their expectations. Bus connections would be in place to Niagara. The reason why the weekday train service wouldn’t extend to Niagara is probably due to delays caused by the Welland cannel crossing and bus connections would be a way to avoid these delays which can easily be 20-30 minutes long at times. On the bus you’d be in Niagara by then.
I’m not sure exactly how the cannel crossing system works. I’m assuming it works in a more first come first serve kind of basis and unlike trains ships don’t run on a concrete schedule. I’d say that because GO isn’t aware of when a ship may interfere with its scheduled trains until right before the meet happens.
Lakeshore line, East to West.
Oshawa - only current improvement is the creation more of accessible parking spots
Whitby - south lot parking garage is well under construction and appears to be on schedule for the intended completion date in December
- construction hasn’t begin yet on a new bridge structure from the new parking garage to the platforms
- henry street layover station, track work underway, upon completion will add a 3rd train to the storage yard, unknown if this will effect any future train scheduling
Ajax - pre-construction work on the 2nd pedestrian tunnel has begun
Scarborough - station upgrades nearing completion (finally!)
Union station corridor - removal of slower speed (15mph) track crossovers in progress
- new higher speed crossovers in use (30mph current, up to 45mph the in future)
Exhibition - current work being undertaken near the station is to rectify a drainage problem. This problem has for years been responsible for frozen switches and has prevent the use of the Dufferin signal plant (west of the Ex) equipped with 45mph crossovers. Trains crossing tracks are forced to use the Fort York signal plant to cross over (East of the Ex), which is only equipped with 15mph crossovers.
Mimico East signal plant (east of Mimico GO station) - will to relocated east of current location in the near future, 15 mph crossovers will be replaced with 45mph crossovers at this location.
Willowbrook yard - GO is aggressively pursing property acquisition along Judson st. for yard expansion. Several properties have already been acquired, on both sides of Islington Ave.
Port Credit to Kerr st.
- grading work continues for the future 3rd track
- Port Credit signal plant relocation in progress to a position west of its current location
- Clarkson, 2nd tunnel to be installed shortly
- 9th line signal plant, new 45mph crossovers in place, 15mph crossovers to be removed shortly
- Oakville yard signal plant, new 45mph crossover in place for the current 3rd track(will be re-designated as the 4th track in the future). Trains can't take advantage of this increased speed until the new 3rd track is in place
- Kerr st. signal plant reconstruction now in progress
Appleby - station work continues, 2nd tunnel is already in place
Burlington - work has yet to start on new pedestrian bridge from the parking structure
