The future of Hamilton's public transit

[RePinion]

Nope. Look at their website. They sell freight cars, like Hamretrofit said.

[hamtransithistory]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

National Steel Car built.....


Wouldn't be surprised if Dalton awarded the contract to National Steel Car for the rail lines for the LRT under MoveOntario 2020. That will help our economy. Funny thing was those streetcars were built during around the 1930's, a government created program to provide jobs.

As far as I know, these 48 cars (HSR 500-547) built in 1927-1929 were the only streetcars ever built by National Steel Car. Why NSC did this I have no idea. Either this was an attempt to enter the streetcar market that died out due to the great depression, or it was some sort of attempt to 'Buy Hamiltonian,' with other companies providing motors and electrical gear, and NSC responsible for building the frame, body and trucks, as well as final assembly of the streetcars.

Still, it would be great if the LRT could be built entirely by Hamilton companies; Rail, overhead wiring, vehicles, and the actual construction. A lot of money would be pumped into the local economy.

[HAMRetrofit]

Seimens, who has a Hamilton outfit, manufacture passenger cars. I am not certain what that actually do in Hamilton. Perhaps they could be convinced to expand their plant in Hamilton to manufacture rail cars if they receive the contract. I still think Bombardier is more likely since the province could buy in bulk with the TTC's LRT cars.

[SteelTown]

What do you guys think GO Transit should name the new station?

I would like Jamesville GO Station.

[HAMRetrofit]

I would name it Bayfront GO station. Bayfront will make the surrounding neighborhoods more marketable.

The hunter station I would name Downtown GO station.

[raisethehammer]

I agree, although I'd try to get the name 'North End' in the station...Bayfront-North End perhaps?

[hamiltonguy]

Originally Posted by hamtransithistory

As far as I know, these 48 cars (HSR 500-547) built in 1927-1929 were the only streetcars ever built by National Steel Car. Why NSC did this I have no idea. Either this was an attempt to enter the streetcar market that died out due to the great depression, or it was some sort of attempt to 'Buy Hamiltonian,' with other companies providing motors and electrical gear, and NSC responsible for building the frame, body and trucks, as well as final assembly of the streetcars.

Still, it would be great if the LRT could be built entirely by Hamilton companies; Rail, overhead wiring, vehicles, and the actual construction. A lot of money would be pumped into the local economy.

Really? I could've sworn they did some Interurbans for a few cities...

Edit: I was thinking of Ottawa Car and Foundry, my apologies...

[hamiltonguy]

Originally Posted by HAMRetrofit

I would name it Bayfront GO station. Bayfront will make the surrounding neighborhoods more marketable.

The hunter station I would name Downtown GO station.

Bayfront-James for the James Street Station

and Hamilton (Hunter Street) for the Downtown Station.

[SteelTown]

I think GO Transit will name them:

James GO Station

Hamilton Central GO Station

[matt602]

Hamilton-North or Hamilton Bay station seems fitting to me. It can't be something like "Jamesville" because that's completely unrecognizable to people from outside of Hamilton.

[hamiltonguy]

Originally Posted by matt602

Hamilton-North station seems fitting to me. It can't be something like "Jamesville" because that's completely unrecognizable to people from outside of Hamilton.

But so's Cooksville and a whole other load of station names.

Hamilton- Harbourfront or Hamilton-Jamesville both seem like better names than the generic "Hamilton North"

[SteelTown]

Lisgar, Erindale, Rouge Hill, Guildwood, Chesswood, King City, Rutherford, Landstaff, Old Cummer (hehe), etc are all GO Stations.

[matt602]

Point taken.

[flar]

We need to get the word out on LRT. In a recent transportation survey of over 5000 McMaster students, LRT or light rail was only mentioned four times in the comments/suggestions.

[HAMRetrofit]

I like Bayfront as the station name because it relates to Bayfront Park, the major feature for the area.

[markbarbera]

I think Barton would be more fitting, as a nice 'tip of the hat' to the hsitory of the area.

[HAMRetrofit]

To be honest, references to Barton could be avoided for the time being. It is not that I think the neighborhood has no potential, it does. It just brings up connotations of the Hamilton stereotype, a problem for outsiders. Just mention it to someone who knows Hamilton from the outside and images of bombed out working class neighborhoods prevail. People may want to avoid 'Barton Station' like the street.

LIUNA station could be avoided as well.

[DC83]

Originally Posted by flar

We need to get the word out on LRT. In a recent transportation survey of over 5000 McMaster students, LRT or light rail was only mentioned four times in the comments/suggestions.

I agree like 500%! Most people don't even know what LRT means, even WHEN talking about Transit. Some ppl I mention it to think it's a subway, some (most) think Toronto Streetcar and are instantly turned off... until I give them my lil presentation. haha

What can we do? I thought about printing off posters w/ the header from HamiltonLightRail.com & advertising the website... but then I thought about all those trees they'd cut down to supply me with the paper. haha

Has The Spec even done a story on it? The recomendation date is approaching QUICKLY, maybe it's high time The Spec does a report on this. Let's all email them !

Maybe we shouldn't inform CHCH... I wouldn't even want to THINK about what kind of story they would come up with;
"Do you want trains roaring down Main Street, taking away traffic lanes and running over your children? Well SOME residents think Rail Transit is the way to go in Hamilton... we at CHCH say, 'get a car you bum!" ... and now, Lindsay Lohan..." hehehe

ps: I like Hamilton-Bayfront & Hamilton-Downtown for GO Stn names.

[matt602]

LRT needs advertising through the city. You can't just hope people are going to attend meetings for something they don't know anything about. CHCH and the Hamilton Spec couldn't care less about covering anything to do with LRT unless it becomes a reality. Postering downtown about it would be good, particularly slapping them up on bus shelters and other bus areas where transit users would see. Including a link to a informational website on LRT in Hamilton would be beneficial. It's still not going to reach out to the older audience, since they're turned off of anything that involves using a computer but the student and young people audience should have their attention grabbed.

[SteelTown]

I was thinking since Mayor Fred and Bratina would like to use the extra transit money (around $8 million) towards the downtown transit terminal why not use that money building a glass roof over the entire stretch of MacNab from Main to King. That way the middle island can be used strictly for benches and seating instead of wasting room for shelters. Plus with the roof you don't have to worry about snow removal and it'll protect passengers from snow and rain. It would be attractive to new riders to increase HSR ridership.

Something like this but smaller for MacNab