dowlingm
Senior Member
The HST fleet isn’t retiring, it’s just going somewhere warmer like many old timers do
The HST fleet isn’t retiring, it’s just going somewhere warmer like many old timers do
Thank you! I deeply appreciate any efforts to bring and keep the discussions here on track…So....back to VIA Rail.
According to discussions on the “Railfan Canada” Discord, the trainset was swapped in Ottawa at the last minute before its round-trip to Toronto, presumably due to equipment issues.I took Train 48 on Monday but it wasn't the new trainset. Any idea what happened?
This is unfortunately the only practical way to move VIA passengers bidirectionally between platform level and the VIA concourse and it shows why the platform layout is so inferior to anything you might have got used to in Europe…The entire boarding process was weird, as well. Train 48 boarded far earlier than usual, to the point where they directed me up the elevator to the platform. I was told this was because another train had just arrived and was deboarding, so all of those passengers were coming down the escalator. I have to admit that that platform actually felt busy and European for once as people went in all different directions from multiple trains, but it really showed the issues inherent to Union's platforms and design.
I meant to ask the staff onboard but decided against it. Assumed this was the issue but wasn't entirely certain. I've had this train in Toronto delayed many, many times before due to equipment issues (waiting on other trains to arrive) but i'm not sure what that specifically means. Are they taking items from one train and using them on another?According to discussions on the “Railfan Canada” Discord, the trainset was swapped in Ottawa at the last minute before its round-trip to Toronto, presumably due to equipment issues.
Unfortunately that's the case. I don't recall any formal discussions on it but I imagine expanding the VIA platforms at Union would be tricky.This is unfortunately the only practical way to move VIA passengers bidirectionally between platform level and the VIA concourse and it shows why the platform layout is so inferior to anything you might have got used to in Europe…
Equipment issues can be mechanical or electric issues. This is not the same as “late equipment”, where the problem is that a train can’t start boarding before it has arrived at the station, previous passengers (if any) are unloaded and supplies are loaded. At a station like Toronto Union, supplies are stocked at the station or (for trains originating there) at the Toronto Maintenance Centre (TMC)…I meant to ask the staff onboard but decided against it. Assumed this was the issue but wasn't entirely certain. I've had this train in Toronto delayed many, many times before due to equipment issues (waiting on other trains to arrive) but i'm not sure what that specifically means. Are they taking items from one train and using them on another?
“Wider platform” also means “less platform”, so this is a real trade-off. Apart from that, the positioning of the columns supporting the roof and of the facilities at concourse level severely limit the scope at which you can move tracks…Unfortunately that's the case. I don't recall any formal discussions on it but I imagine expanding the VIA platforms at Union would be tricky.
What about just installing a bunch of Displays and Cameras? I can't imagine this would be that expensive, although it wouldn't be particularly sightly.One of the issues with the underground corral at Union is that unlike at an airport where you can mostly look out the window at the jetway, it’s hard to know if your equipment is even upstairs.
I assume there is no way to construct a “penthouse concourse” where the shed roof is now* - even if the supports were figured out, there would be difficulty with elevator bases below platform level given the complexity beneath? One gets such wild ideas when looking at the CIBC deck park beside.
* deploying my usual heritage Philistinism
Given that there are two tracks at every platform and often two trains on the same track, how can the average non-train-nerd traveller determine that his train has already arrived? And even if he would be able to determine that it has: what would that knowledge change?What about just installing a bunch of Displays and Cameras? I can't imagine this would be that expensive, although it wouldn't be particularly sightly.
It doesn't sound like a realistic idea, but you could just use a split screen, labelling each quadrant of the screen as Track 5A / 5B / 6A / 6BGiven that there are two tracks at every platform and often two trains on the same track, how can the average non-train-nerd traveller determine that his train has already arrived. And even if he would be able to determine that it has: what would that knowledge change?
That's a lot of press conferences!LOL The Brits have held more HST "last run" events than Del Duca has held press conferences. The darn things keep on popping up on different lines.
- Paul
On the displays in the great Hall, a star shows up next to the platform number to indicate that the train is in the stationWhat about just installing a bunch of Displays and Cameras? I can't imagine this would be that expensive, although it wouldn't be particularly sightly.
I’m still trying to figure out what the information need is here: whether the train is already standing at the platform or when boarding is expected to start? For what it’s worth, the departure board in Montreal shows the boarding time in addition to departure time…On the displays in the great Hall, a star shows up next to the platform number to indicate that the train is in the station
I don't know, I was just responding directly to Frank_Lee's questions. The displays and cameras are already installed. The displays in the Great Hall in Toronto have already indicated that a train was in the station for at least 8 years already.I’m still trying to figure out what the information need is here: whether the train is already standing at the platform or when boarding is expected to start? For what it’s worth, the departure board in Montreal shows the boarding time in addition to departure time…