The Great Canadian Transit Thread

[Nouvellecosse]

This is one development I'm exceptionally excited about! With the ridership these routes are already seeing despite their poor frequency, I can wait to see the ridership figures in a year or two.

[caltrane74]

To get frequency better than this, the Lakeshore Line will have to be electrified.

[TownGuy]

I'm excited for the 30 min frequency as a casual user of Lakeshore East. No more rushing to the station with the threat of a 1 hour wait looming over your head. Especially true at Union where you can usually board a bit early. If you just miss one train you're only looking at 20ish minutes before you can board another.

[Doady]

Originally Posted by TownGuy

I'm excited for the 30 min frequency as a casual user of Lakeshore East. No more rushing to the station with the threat of a 1 hour wait looming over your head. Especially true at Union where you can usually board a bit early. If you just miss one train you're only looking at 20ish minutes before you can board another.

30 minute service allows people to use GO more spontaneously, including transferring from local buses. Unfortunately, most of the stations on the Lakeshore line are in crappy, isolated locations, hard to access except by car, so the spontaneity will still be limited. It's hard to just walk into a GO station on the Lakeshore line when they are not in walking distance to anything to begin with.

30 minute frequency for Milton or Stouffeville would be a huge deal. But for Lakeshore? I am skeptical. The way the stations are located now, I think Lakeshore will be too inconvenient no matter how many trains they add.

And then of course, there's the fact that GO fare system punishes people who walk to the station (they pay the same fare as people who park-and-ride). I don't think this new service will have a huge impact on ridership, except maybe in Mississauga, where the stations have decent pedestrian and local transit connections (and the GO fares for Mississauga are reasonably priced, unlike within Toronto).

[Beedok]

That's not 30 minutes the whole way on Lakeshore West is it? (Probably ending at Aldershot or something.)

[Ontario1]

http://www.therecord.com/news-story/3881...ntract-for-bombardier-light-rail-trains/

[333609543]

what's the status on the spadina expansion, I haven't seen any news on that project lately.

[niwell]

Originally Posted by Doady

And then of course, there's the fact that GO fare system punishes people who walk to the station (they pay the same fare as people who park-and-ride). I don't think this new service will have a huge impact on ridership, except maybe in Mississauga, where the stations have decent pedestrian and local transit connections (and the GO fares for Mississauga are reasonably priced, unlike within Toronto).

I'd imagine it could make a difference in the Long Branch / Mimico area as well. Even at a higher price being able to take GO downtown is much preferable to waiting it out on the 501. A ticket to Long Branch is $4.52 with presto which isn't terrible.

Maybe some of the areas in Scarborough too. Danforth station is too close to the subway but for the others GO a viable option to get downtown without having to take a TTC bus. Pickering station isn't too bad either, although that may be my bias having family a 5 minute walk from the station.

[whiteford]

Originally Posted by MexiQuebecois

Mehh, that looks mild compared to the insanity I've experienced in Mexico City.

• Video Link


I hope it never gets like this in Toronto/Montréal.

that is just f**king retarded and a fine example of failure city planning at its worst. disgusting to say the least.

[MexiQuebecois]

Originally Posted by whiteford

that is just f**king retarded and a fine example of failure city planning at its worst. disgusting to say the least.

It's called centralization (think Tokyo, but disorganized). When your infrastructure can't keep up with your population growth this is what happens.

[Chadillaccc]

Originally Posted by ssiguy

Hey Ched.........

About the Calgary CTrain platforms............what is their current lebgth and how long will they become? Also, what are the demensions of one individual LRT carriage as a comparison to a standard 20 meter subway car? Thanks.

Most of the stations have already been converted to 4-car platforms but there are still ones currently with 3-car platforms, all of which will be renovated and expanded over the next 10 months.

Each train car is articulated and is 25 meters long. The original platforms were about 80 meters long. The new ones are about 105 meters long. The original rolling stock (most of which are still in service) are 24 meters long per car.




On another note... it's amazing to think that 2 of our major cities (Vancouver and Ottawa) have just begun construction on entirely brand new rapid rail-based transit lines, while Calgary just opened their new one only 8 months ago, and Edmonton's new line to open in only 10 months! With everything going on in Toronto too, and the possibility of the Downtown Relief Line (now called the Relief Line) starting in the forseeable future... this may be a new golden age for transit in Canada

[Beedok]

Don't forget Hamilton and Kitchener working on LRT lines too.

[Chadillaccc]

Neither have started yet though. But don't worry, I certainly didn't forget. There's also Mississauga!

Construction on Kitchener's seems more and more certain by the day. They are delivering the request for proposals for the station designs this month, and on Wednesday (I believe) they are finalizing the choice of LRV!

[Innsertnamehere]

kitcheners is a 100% go. it has funding and everything, and constructions starts soon from what I remember.

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by Innsertnamehere

kitcheners is a 100% go. it has funding and everything, and constructions starts soon from what I remember.

Early prep work is already underway in Kitchener (e.g. temporary hydro lines have gone up Downtown pending necessary underground utility work), as are expropriations. The Region's decision on the initial 14 Bombardier Flexity trains is expected this Wednesday - they have cleverly piggybacked on the Metrolinx LRT train contract to keep costs down.

Actual LRT construction work is expected to get underway about one year from now, with the trains running in K-W in 2017, along with the aBRT line to service Cambridge.

I understand that a Flexity train will be on display this Friday at Regional HQ in Downtown Kitchener, assuming the purchase is approved, which it will be.

[Taeolas]

It's amazing to hear what KW is putting through. Looking over their proposal makes me wish I lived there still (Ditto Ottawa's proposal). I know back when I went to UW at the end of the 90's (damn that makes me feel old) the Universities were woefully underserviced in terms of transit, and getting around in general was OK but not so great. The developments I've heard since I left is just mindboggling how far they're coming.

[Dwils01]

Union to Pearson rail link.


Parking garage under construction at GO Clarkson in Mississauga.


Pedestrian Bridge going over Highway 401 connecting Pickering Town Centre with Go Pickering.




Hwy 7 busway in Markham.




Spadina Subway extension in Vaughan.




There are more cranes like this for the project on Steeles Avenue, Keele Street, and around York Univeristy.


Pictures by me.

[Chadillaccc]

Excellent Toronto updates! I tried to get a progress pic for Calgary's new Tuscany opening next year, but the windshield was too dirty However, the structure is basically complete and it looks great. I love how all of our stations are unique. Tuscany will be a relatively lare and elaborate station, similar to Crowfoot. Other large stations include: Dalhousie, Brentwood, University, Rundle, Marlborough, McKnight/Westwinds, Zoo, Bridgeland/Memorial, Chinook, Anderson, Heritage, Victoria Park/Stampede, Erlton/Stampede, Southland, Canyon Meadows, Fish Creek, Whitehorn, Barlow/Max Bell, Franklin, SAIT/ACAD/Jubilee, Sunalta, Westbrook, and 69th Street.

In all, well over half of our stations (25 out of 45) would be considered "large" or "elaborate," especially when considering it is merely an LRT. Most of the stations on both the Northwest and Northeast lines, and about half the stations on the West and South lines.

[Metro-One]

Really nice progress in Toronto, lots of good rail infrastructure being built. Nice to see some heavy rail grade separation as well in Canada.

Vicotria's 1 billion dollar LRT proposal is still humming along I believe as well and some actual portal / column work has began on the Evergreen Line in Vancouver now.

[Innsertnamehere]

any word on the UBC line? I hope they bite the bullet and build a subway.