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Maps of Toronto's old rail lines?

Northern Light said:
There is no active rail line, there has been a train on this piece of track since 2018.

Additionally, Mx is set to remove the Harbour Lead's connection to the USRC (mainline), which it is within its authority to do, and there is particularly logical alternative connection point.
Click to expand...
What alternative connection point?

So much for caring about the environment.
 
DSC said:
EX31.13
ACTION​
​
​
Ward: 14​
Removal of Harbour Lead Line and Keating Rail Yard​
Origin​
(March 16, 2022) Report from the Deputy City Manager, Infrastructure and Development Services​
Recommendations​
The Deputy City Manager, Infrastructure and Development Services recommends that City Council:

1. City Council authorize the Deputy City Manager, Infrastructure and Development Services to negotiate and enter into any necessary agreements and to seek the necessary approvals to remove the Harbour Lead Line and Keating Rail Yard on terms and conditions satisfactory to the Deputy City Manager and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

2. City Council request the Deputy City Manager, Infrastructure and Development Services to, in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO, and other relevant stakeholders, develop an implementation plan for removing the Harbour Lead Line and Keating Rail Yard.

3. Request that the Board of Directors of CreateTO request the CEO CreateTO working in partnership with City staff, to report to the CreateTO Board with a summary of the implications and opportunities resulting from the removal of the Harbour Lead Line and Keating Rail Yard.​
SEE: http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2022.EX31.13
Click to expand...

https://twitter.com/x/status/1524464042567471104

Agenda Item History 2022.EX32.3

Agenda Item History 2022.EX32.3
app.toronto.ca
 
Bordercollie said:
Why would they want to remove it? How does replacing it with trucks help our environment?
Click to expand...
You should read the Report on it. https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2022/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-224481.pdf and https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2022/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-225283.pdf

There are several very good reasons:

1. It has barely been used for over a decade and not at all for 3+ years and

2. Metrolinx is removing the connection to the main line rail @ the Don Yard because they are expanding it and building the Ontario Line. It is useless without this.

3. Even if it could be reconnected to the main line, it would cost ca $50 million to reopen it at modern standards and able to serve modern rail cars.

I like rail too but this is really 'dead' - the City seems to be intending to maintain the right of way as a pathway and wildlife corridor which is great.
 
DSC said:
You should read the Report on it. https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2022/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-224481.pdf and https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2022/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-225283.pdf

There are several very good reasons:

1. It has barely been used for over a decade and not at all for 3+ years and

2. Metrolinx is removing the connection to the main line rail @ the Don Yard because they are expanding it and building the Ontario Line. It is useless without this.

3. Even if it could be reconnected to the main line, it would cost ca $50 million to reopen it at modern standards and able to serve modern rail cars.

I like rail too but this is really 'dead' - the City seems to be intending to maintain the right of way as a pathway and wildlife corridor which is great.
Click to expand...
Strange that I've seen videos on YouTube that show trains using it recently past 2018.

It is a shame that we have direct rail access to the Portlands and we don't make use of it.
 
Bordercollie said:
Strange that I've seen videos on YouTube that show trains using it recently past 2018.

It is a shame that we have direct rail access to the Portlands and we don't make use of it.
Click to expand...
The Canada Post building was started in mid-2018 and they had to tear up the rails to build it. See: https://urbantoronto.ca/forum/threa...rs-canada-post-1s-kingsland-architects.28597/

The Report notes: "Following the Harbour Lead Line's operational suspension in March 2018, Toronto Water eliminated rail deliveries to the Ashbridges Bay Treatment Plant and instituted deliveries by truck. As a result, operations at the Ashbridges Bay Treatment Plant no longer rely on deliveries by rail."

Until then there were one or two very short trains per week going to the Ashbridges Bay water treatment plant - nothing went on the section that heads along Unwin for over a decade. "The last shipment to PortsToronto's 8 Unwin Avenue facility was in 2010"
 
It will be back @ Council again in July:

Motions (City Council)​
1 - Motion to Refer Item moved by Deputy Mayor Denzil Minnan-Wong (Final)
That City Council refer the Item to the Director, Waterfront Secretariat for consultation with the Port Working Group and report back to the City Council meeting of July 19, 2022.​
 
DSC said:
You should read the Report on it. https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2022/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-224481.pdf and https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2022/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-225283.pdf

There are several very good reasons:

1. It has barely been used for over a decade and not at all for 3+ years and

2. Metrolinx is removing the connection to the main line rail @ the Don Yard because they are expanding it and building the Ontario Line. It is useless without this.

3. Even if it could be reconnected to the main line, it would cost ca $50 million to reopen it at modern standards and able to serve modern rail cars.

I like rail too but this is really 'dead' - the City seems to be intending to maintain the right of way as a pathway and wildlife corridor which is great.
Click to expand...

Is there a map/document showing that Metrolinx needs to remove the connection for the OL? Isn't the connection to the Harbour Lead on the south side of the Don Yard and the OL is on the north side?
 
Allandale25 said:
Is there a map/document showing that Metrolinx needs to remove the connection for the OL? Isn't the connection to the Harbour Lead on the south side of the Don Yard and the OL is on the north side?
Click to expand...
I think it is their expansion of the Wilson Yard (adjacent to the Don Yard) that is the problem.
 
DSC said:
I think it is their expansion of the Wilson Yard (adjacent to the Don Yard) that is the problem.
Click to expand...

Got it. Thanks. I think I read somewhere but I can't remember where that Metrolinx has paused plans to expand Wilson Yard.
 
Why would they defer the decision on removing the Harbour Lead Line? Perhaps they should have reworded with two options:
  1. to invest money in fixing and maintaining a freight railway to the portlands that currently has no customers
  2. remove the rail line so projects along the line aren't burdened with trying to figure out how to manage it (e.g. river widening project, park projects, road paving etc)
Right now it doesn't exist as usable trackage due to Canada Post, construction in the GO yards, and soon the park at the end of the ship channel so keeping it as functioning isn't an option because it is already non-functional. The decision was made when the line was broken.
 
There is a lot of talk about how the traffic levels have been recently and historically, but not much talk about potential. If the area it serves is to remain industrial in nature and specifically geared to shipping activities, then retaining this service does deserve a close look. Having said that, their are other 'ports' or 'docks' that have rail access now and the potential to be further developed, all within the GTA. Hamilton would be the prime example, but there are others scattered along the Lake Ontario shoreline.
 
just east of the creek said:
There is a lot of talk about how the traffic levels have been recently and historically, but not much talk about potential. If the area it serves is to remain industrial in nature and specifically geared to shipping activities, then retaining this service does deserve a close look. Having said that, their are other 'ports' or 'docks' that have rail access now and the potential to be further developed, all within the GTA. Hamilton would be the prime example, but there are others scattered along the Lake Ontario shoreline.
Click to expand...
The amount of space devoted to industry has declined and will decline more. Media/Movies etc. will be the largest employer moving forward; concrete plants will remain to serve downtown for the foreseeable future but aren't currently and haven't historically been rail customers.

The best cases for rail retention were Toronto Water along the bulk of this route and the former connection to Redpath.

The latter is long since gone and replaced by trucks, the former, a public entity has managed w/o rail for several years, and that would seem a challenging justification for any investment.

Shipping that requires, or at least greatly benefits from rail will more likely go to Hamilton, or Oshawa.
 
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