Is there any restriction preventing the 504 from running additional streetcars on the line if the vehicles were made available? Does it present a problem at terminal stations/stops?
One of the persistent limitations is the ends of the route, Roncesvalles in the west, Broadview in the east. For the west, a solution could be had by directing Queen cars north on Roncy to Dundas West, and the 504A west along the Queensway to the Humber Loop via the Roncy/King/Queen intersection at Sunnyside. As it is now, that RoW in the middle of the Queensway is an almost complete waste in terms of efficient utilization. Bus connections along that route can be made up to the subway. I've detailed those in the past. This would not only eliminate the bottleneck of Roncy for the 504A, but also the loop limitations and traffic jams at Dundas West Station. Others have suggested re-routing the 504B in the east, they'd know more as to how than I would. I'm at Roncy/Dundas and Bloor, and see the constant traffic jams and streetcars waiting on the street to get space in the station, not to mention that the 504A crawls up Roncy.
For example, picking up passengers in the financial district in the evening rush hour and dropping them off in the centre of Liberty Village.
And since they (added buses) would run express, they could use Richmond and Adelaide for the distance usable, further alleviating King. Even express buses will be held back by streetcars stopping on King, passing them will be difficult in many cases. I think the future replacement of track on King should include 'stopping loops' where possible, which would be virtually a four track system on some blocks, which would merge to two for crossing rail intersections. This would then dramatically decrease transit time on the express streetcars which would only stop at major intersections. The locals could then have more stops than what is now provided, serving both those challenged by the distance between stops and still serving those that must travel distance in good time.
