Blip Noir
New Member
Yes to Breslau because it's called Wrocław (Poland) nowadays.
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Waterloo Region Transit Developments (ION LRT, new terminal, GRT buses)
nfitz
Superstar
Oops. I didn't take the ethnic cleansing into account.Yes to Breslau because it's called Wrocław (Poland) nowadays.
Garuda
Active Member
I wonder if they're finally get rid of that constant stale urine smell?
runTurtles
New Member
Ridership stats for April and May were released: www.grt.ca/en/about-grt/performance-measures.aspx
2023 up to May was 9.83 and 2024 is 12.58M, a 2.75M increase. If this pace keeps it would put 2024 at ~32 million.
ION seems to hover a bit above 0.4 million a month, I wonder is that is a capacity related. If ridership averages out as is it could hit 5 million this year.
2023 up to May was 9.83 and 2024 is 12.58M, a 2.75M increase. If this pace keeps it would put 2024 at ~32 million.
ION seems to hover a bit above 0.4 million a month, I wonder is that is a capacity related. If ridership averages out as is it could hit 5 million this year.
T3G
Senior Member
Today I went out to Waterloo and got a chance to ride ION end to end. A few questions:
1) In one of the cars I rode, I was standing right next to the driver's cab, and it seemed that at every intersection, the driver pointed at various corners of the intersection, and whenever we made a right turn, he pointed and said something out loud (though, obviously, I couldn't hear what). Is this some mandated type of safety procedure akin to point and acknowledge?
2) Though I was generally impressed by the speediness of the line in its north section (Toronto could take pointers), the journey time between Borden and Fairway was absolutely horrendous (it's as though they took pointers from Toronto), with the final straightaway from Fairway to Traynor Park was particularly heinous. What is the reason for this? A bike clipping along at a fair pace could outrace the tram!
3) Is it banked curves that allow the cars to tackle curves along the high speed sections at speed?
And some observations:
a) the stop announcements are horrendous. No blood in them at all! I don't understand why this is causing problems for so many transit agencies these days. MiWay is another example of a truly horrendous series of stop announcements.
b) the barrier gates seem like a good idea in theory, but in practice they seem kind of half assed. You can't access the corridor from outside, but if you've just disembarked from the tram, there is nothing at all stopping you from getting in its way.
c) I don't know if it's because the cars see less intensive service than the ones in Toronto do, or if it's cause they're younger, but they seem to be in far better shape than the ones in Toronto are. The ION cars seem almost new still, while most of Toronto's exude an aura of neglect and sadness.
1) In one of the cars I rode, I was standing right next to the driver's cab, and it seemed that at every intersection, the driver pointed at various corners of the intersection, and whenever we made a right turn, he pointed and said something out loud (though, obviously, I couldn't hear what). Is this some mandated type of safety procedure akin to point and acknowledge?
2) Though I was generally impressed by the speediness of the line in its north section (Toronto could take pointers), the journey time between Borden and Fairway was absolutely horrendous (it's as though they took pointers from Toronto), with the final straightaway from Fairway to Traynor Park was particularly heinous. What is the reason for this? A bike clipping along at a fair pace could outrace the tram!
3) Is it banked curves that allow the cars to tackle curves along the high speed sections at speed?
And some observations:
a) the stop announcements are horrendous. No blood in them at all! I don't understand why this is causing problems for so many transit agencies these days. MiWay is another example of a truly horrendous series of stop announcements.
b) the barrier gates seem like a good idea in theory, but in practice they seem kind of half assed. You can't access the corridor from outside, but if you've just disembarked from the tram, there is nothing at all stopping you from getting in its way.
c) I don't know if it's because the cars see less intensive service than the ones in Toronto do, or if it's cause they're younger, but they seem to be in far better shape than the ones in Toronto are. The ION cars seem almost new still, while most of Toronto's exude an aura of neglect and sadness.
Northern Light
Superstar
Currently tracking ~15% growth from last year, which was an all-time record.
nfitz
Superstar
The April 2024 numbers look odd. Every other year, it's fallen from March to April - including pre-Covid. This time, they set records in April, 20% higher than May. But then a huge drop down to May. (May seems consistent).
Did something odd happen in KW in April? If not, these numbers seem suspect. (that said, even without April's surge, they are on track for a record year).
Northern Light
Superstar
As the ridership is very correlated to post-secondary students (who generally reduce in numbers in the summer months, post-final exams).....I would imagine a correlation between the dates of finals/convocations and move-outs from residence. But that's just a hypothetical, not something I've looked into.....
nfitz
Superstar
That makes sense - but I can't see any scenario where it's HIGHER than every other month this year. Looking at the UW calendar (normally WLU is the same), the last day of classes this year was April 8 - and last year it was April 10.
I think they've made an error.
I think they've made an error.
drum118
Superstar
The pointing by the drivers and saying x is a common thing in Europe as it helps them to be more focus and aware of their surrounding and not glue to looking straight ahead and be bore.
Been too long since I last rode ION to reply to your questions and comments and let other reply to them. Been on my do list the last 18 months but haven't found the time to do it.
kalis0490
New Member
cant speak to 1)
but regarding 2) theres basically 3 reasons
a) Regarding the Traynor section, this was initially one of the faster sections but the region had to construct a temporary crossing (no boom gates) in this area after local groups felt they were cut off from the near by shopping areas. Ever since this, the lrt has to travel slower in this section (https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/traynor-vanier-residents-finally-getting-their-lrt-crossing-1.4643619?cache=yes?clipId=89619)
b) The sharp turn at Hayward stemmed from efforts to reduce expropriation and is easily the slowest point in the line.
c) The lrt's speed limits are lower than cars in this section (even in completely straight track (Courtland))
3) the high speed section was and still is freight track so the turning radii are more giving. This + the added grade separation are what allow the lrt to go fast.
a) I agree they should add bus route info in these announcements
b) This is fairly common worldwide with boom gates . Perhaps if they didn't go with the center platforms itd be easier to deboard.
c) I think you are correct
I'd like to also plug my diagram which explains these issues in detail:
nfitz
Superstar
Which part of the alignment are they operating at 80 km/hr now? It didn't feel that it ever hit that in the Waterloo segments, when I last rode it (pre-Covid).
kalis0490
New Member
Max operational speed is 10 km slower than the max vehicle speed (ex 70kmh)
We should be able to hit that speed on the waterloo+huron spurs and the hydro corridor near Fairway mall. but the operations are so conservative we only really hit like 60kmh on those corridors
Bojaxs
Active Member
And now we see Hamilton making the same mistake with their LRT by choosing to snake the line through Dundurn st. instead of constructing the 403 bridge. In fact it's probably going to be worst for Hamilton cause we're talking about two 90° turns, not just one.
If I we're in Doug Ford's shoes, I would revoke all funding for LRT projects that incorporated 90° turns in their design. Tell them to go back to the drawing board.
nfitz
Superstar
I'm puzzled how the 80 km/hr vehicle speed rather than 100 km/hr is a constraint.
I haven't read the rest of that figure. Hard to take is seriously now.