Aug 8
Britannia Intersection is schedule to open Aug 16, but should be open by the weekend. The northside is ready for the top coat of concrete to complete the work.
Topflight is schedule to open Aug 16, but due to the blunder there, more like late Sept. They are rebuilding the barriers on Hurontario on both side of Topflight along with other barriers. Have to do some rework of the base of the guideway before track work can start. Using a different style of ties based on the stacks of them for the switches.
Noticed a number of areas where tracks have been removed and need to have a close look as to why. The light was getting poor as I drove by..
The guideway between Matheson and Barondale is ready for trackwork and that is it for the section from Barondale to Eglinton. Nothing close yet from Eglinton to the 403 for the guideway
As for Cooksville station, the tracks will just clear the footing of the bridge. There was a plan for a bridge across Hurontario with stairs to the planform that has been removed from the plan to date. This was to be a city project with the bridge on the northside with no room to the platform.
Kind of concerning how no trackwork (aside from the flying junction) has started south of the 403. I can’t see this project opening in late 2024 as currently scheduled.
Inside Info
18 months ago, contract called for completion and testing by the end of 2024 with the hope of service starting late Dec or Jan 2025. Phase 1 of testing was to start by the end of 2023 from OMSF to Matheson. This would allow the 600 km burn in as well training operators. Phase 2 would be expanded as more trackwork was ready for testing.
As we have seen so far, a lot of miss dates from weeks to almost a year so far and on record saying we may see operation Q2-Q3 2025 at this time. One thing will that will be the late, is the delivery of the first car schedule Q4 this year based on Ottawa issues since they will be the same car with the same issues at this time.
So far, there are only 2 substations for Phase 1 testing with no poles for the OS and this rule out any testing this year. Even the OMSF has no OS, other a bunch of poles with some brackets on it.
Supply chain, lack of manpower and screw up has delay this project by at least 6-9 months if not more so far.