Toronto Crosstown LRT | ?m | ?s | Metrolinx | Arcadis

[nfitz]

Engineers work out why fallen leaves on train tracks are so slippery

A team of engineers at the University of Sheffield has found an explanation for the extreme slipperiness of train tracks when leaves have fallen on them. In their paper published in Proceedings of the Royal Society A, the group describes testing the interaction of leaves with iron in their lab...

phys.org

Wow! Fascinating! Thanks for the link.

A surprisingly complex process! I wonder if changing the formulation of the steel could eliminate this problem.

 

[bono47]

After further thought; Jamaal Myers "June at earliest comment" feels like carries less weight and sounds similar to Mike Colle's uninformed speculation last month. More importantly; less than a week ago Verster spoke of RSD early in the New Year, in line with the timeline @Northern Light was quoted.

Anyone else have strong views either way?

 

[Richard White]

After further thought; Jamaal Myers "June at earliest comment" feels like carries less weight and sounds similar to Mike Colle's uninformed speculation last month. More importantly; less than a week ago Verster spoke of RSD early in the New Year, in line with the timeline @Northern Light was quoted.

Anyone else have strong views either way?

As I said on Steve Munro's blog, I feel like the comment by Jamaal Myers and the decision undertaken by the TTC Board were a cop out. I feel as though they claim "June at the earliest" to give them some breathing room with legacy fares.

My beef with Jamaal Myers is that he is somewhat beholden to Olivia Chow and her agenda. I am an NDP'r through and through but I do feel like whoever is giving Olivia Chow advice is missing the mark.

Truthfully, I would not trust much of what comes out of the TTC Board's mouth at this point. It is misinformed, maligned garbage designed to suit their narrative.

 

[crs1026]

Truthfully, I would not trust much of what comes out of the TTC Board's mouth at this point. It is misinformed, maligned garbage designed to suit their narrative.

But more accountable, forthcoming and definitive than anything ML or the Province have said in what, several years ?

- Paul

 

[Richard White]

But more accountable, forthcoming and definitive than anything ML or the Province have said in what, several years ?

- Paul

Fair enough.

 

[Metroscapes]

After further thought; Jamaal Myers "June at earliest comment" feels like carries less weight and sounds similar to Mike Colle's uninformed speculation last month. More importantly; less than a week ago Verster spoke of RSD early in the New Year, in line with the timeline @Northern Light was quoted.

Anyone else have strong views either way?

It came across as a statement that accounts for administration and operation process. The province can cut a ribbon on this, but there's the logistics of changing the bus system, getting the staffing sorted out, accounting integration, outstanding legal loose ends, etc. that we, let alone the public, don't have a full view of.

 

[unrealestate]

It came across as a statement that accounts for administration and operation process. The province can cut a ribbon on this, but there's the logistics of changing the bus system, getting the staffing sorted out, accounting integration, outstanding legal loose ends, etc. that we, let alone the public, don't have a full view of.

if only they had had time to prepare for all of these administrative items

 

[asher__jo]

As I said on Steve Munro's blog, I feel like the comment by Jamaal Myers and the decision undertaken by the TTC Board were a cop out. I feel as though they claim "June at the earliest" to give them some breathing room with legacy fares.

My beef with Jamaal Myers is that he is somewhat beholden to Olivia Chow and her agenda. I am an NDP'r through and through but I do feel like whoever is giving Olivia Chow advice is missing the mark.

Truthfully, I would not trust much of what comes out of the TTC Board's mouth at this point. It is misinformed, maligned garbage designed to suit their narrative.

It’s purely political, but does hold some weight as TTC willing be operating the line and would be involved in testing I expect.

 

[Bordercollie]

It’s purely political, but does hold some weight as TTC willing be operating the line and would be involved in testing I expect.

So as an operator on the line you could have been hired in 2022, only worked 2 months here and there but still collect a salary?

 

[crs1026]

So as an operator on the line you could have been hired in 2022, only worked 2 months here and there but still collect a salary?

Not quite. Some people may have been hired in 2022 on the premise that when the line opened, they would be needed, and they may even have spent some of the last two years getting trained up. But otherwise they will have been working as an operator in various other TTC divisions - streetcar, subway, or bus. They are simply part of the TTC's labour pool.

- Paul

 

[nfitz]

As I said on Steve Munro's blog, I feel like the comment by Jamaal Myers and the decision undertaken by the TTC Board were a cop out. I feel as though they claim "June at the earliest" to give them some breathing room with legacy fares.

My beef with Jamaal Myers is that he is somewhat beholden to Olivia Chow and her agenda. I am an NDP'r through and through but I do feel like whoever is giving Olivia Chow advice is missing the mark.

Truthfully, I would not trust much of what comes out of the TTC Board's mouth at this point. It is misinformed, maligned garbage designed to suit their narrative.

I'm not sure what leads you to suggest it might open earlier than June 1. Have you heard anything different? (I'd assume not before June 24 if the board periods next year are the same as this year).

 

[stevedean]

It came across as a statement that accounts for administration and operation process. The province can cut a ribbon on this, but there's the logistics of changing the bus system, getting the staffing sorted out, accounting integration, outstanding legal loose ends, etc. that we, let alone the public, don't have a full view of.

they should be planning that stuff right NOW (OR THE LAST 14 YEARS!!!)

 

[Steve Munro]

they should be planning that stuff right NOW (OR THE LAST 14 YEARS!!!)

The planning for the new routes is in place, and they have probably designed most of the schedules, subject to tweaks from service changes that may have happened in the interim. (For example a service improvement on a route affected by Line 5 that was implemented after the new, post-line-5 version was already written.) First problem is that the process of posting the new work arrangements for operators and signing up the crews has about a two month lead time. There is also the issue of whether there will be a "big bang" with both lines opening at once, or two smaller upheavals. Obviously Eglinton is the bigger of the two. Maps of planned routes for both the Line 5 and 6 openings have been around for ages and have been through rounds of public consultation. Changes in routes may also trigger route allocations and staffing changes at divisions. This is not a trivial process. It would not matter whether the TTC was the operator for Line 5 or not, there would still be a big upheaval on the bus network. At least as the line's operator and with the associated training, the TTC has some view into what is happening. For budget planning purposes the TTC has to pick a "go live" date whether it actually happens or not. They had extra money for service at the end of 2024 as they had planned on a September startup.

 

[Bordercollie]

So as an operator on the line you could have been hired in 2022, only worked 2 months here and there but still collect a salary?

Are some cross trained on line 5 and 6? But surely there isn't demand for them now so would they be spare board operators?

 

[Metroscapes]

The planning for the new routes is in place, and they have probably designed most of the schedules, subject to tweaks from service changes that may have happened in the interim. (For example a service improvement on a route affected by Line 5 that was implemented after the new, post-line-5 version was already written.) First problem is that the process of posting the new work arrangements for operators and signing up the crews has about a two month lead time. There is also the issue of whether there will be a "big bang" with both lines opening at once, or two smaller upheavals. Obviously Eglinton is the bigger of the two. Maps of planned routes for both the Line 5 and 6 openings have been around for ages and have been through rounds of public consultation. Changes in routes may also trigger route allocations and staffing changes at divisions. This is not a trivial process. It would not matter whether the TTC was the operator for Line 5 or not, there would still be a big upheaval on the bus network. At least as the line's operator and with the associated training, the TTC has some view into what is happening. For budget planning purposes the TTC has to pick a "go live" date whether it actually happens or not. They had extra money for service at the end of 2024 as they had planned on a September startup.

Thanks Steve, this is the kind of stuff I was referring to.