The Great Canadian Transit Thread

[matt602]

It was only that one time that I had to wait that long and I like to use it as an extreme-case example but it's still bad enough that I avoid taking transit downtown unless I can't walk or don't have time to. I'm sure it's nothing compared to what New Yorkers have to deal with but on a hot summer day but it makes me very claustrophobic and nervous and I just prefer to avoid the experience entirely.

[WhipperSnapper]

I take the good with the bad. There are worse things than being crammed into a subway car with hot women. The stations are ovens but, the subways have air too. It's not like that everywhere. I view subways a bit like highways. Adding more capacity quickly increases demand and you're back to grinding your way under Yonge in no time.

there is an alternative, University. It's empty by comparison.

[caltrane74]

Yup, I remember my days when the highlight of my day was jumping on the Yonge Line in North York and having a fine Milf resting her backside in my lap for the ride down to bloor.

Life could be a whole lot worst than that. (Fat Guys, Smelly armpit dudes, etc, etc)

Back on topic:

Metrolinx says it will begin electrifying the GO Lines with the rail lines it owns first. So I would expect the Lakeshore Lines and Airport Line first. Kitchener, Milton, Stoufville, Barrie, Richmond Hill, and Hamilton will be last because the track is shared with CN-CP and some sections require grade seperation and twinning of the track.

Metrolinx Estimate:

300 Kilometres of new track required
500 Kilometres of wire catenary wire

[Innsertnamehere]

That mostly includes double tracking, and seems like an underestimate to me personally.

The Yonge line in Toronto is at about 105% capacity right now, with the Bloor line at around 90%.

Most of london is probably closer to 120% given by the insane amount of people that use it. Mind you London's urban population is far and away larger than Torontos.

[caltrane74]

Yes, the new track is mainly twinning of the existing lines to run two way service. Some sections of the GO Lines are single track and not even owned by Metrolinx.

[DizzyEdge]

I always thought commuter diesel rail was diesel due to the infrequency of stops making electric too expensive, but does it actually just have to do with frequency of trains? Has the Go reached some magic frequency where electric is a cost savings?

[caltrane74]

Service will be mixed, with diesel for express runs, and electric service for frequent local routes. Metrolinx is aiming for 15 minute-2 way all day service on most routes when the project is complete 10 years from now, I assume this is where the cost savings of the switch to electric will be gained. The province released the full report last week, I'm actually on the subway right now, when I get above ground I will find and post the link to the report here.

http://www.metrolinx.com/en/docs/pdf/boa...05_BoardMtg_Regional_Express_Rail_EN.pdf

[Innsertnamehere]

I have a feeling we will see dual mode locos hauling 10-12 car trains like the current setup for express and outer line services (the difference being that they run electrically on the inner network), and then 6 car EMUS running on the inner sections providing 15 minute off peak service and 7.5-10 minute peak service during rush hour. GO will probably keep the existing dual level cars and sell off their locos, if they don't do an end of life phase out of the locomotives (all new locomotives purchased will be Diesel - Electric, with the existing locos retired when they reach the end of their useful life).

The most interesting thing about the new report on it is that they are considering splitting the lakeshore and kitchener lines into 2 portions, with the outer portions running express in the inner city part.

As for electrification, Electrification starts to make sense as frequencies increase as suddenly your diesel costs are very high. Metrolinx already spends a ton on fuel for their existing peak and 30 minute service on lakeshore, imagine it for 15 minute service on every line. Plus, GO plans to add additional stations with electrification making the acceleration a bit more important.

[RyLucky]

Originally Posted by francely57

How does your city move? (other than freeways and highways)

- feet?
- horse?
- segway?
- wheelchair?
- bicycle?
- motorcycle?
- tractor?
- taxi?
- carpool?
- bus?
- tramway?
- metro?
- light rail?
- train?
- boat?
- helicopter?

In Calgary, we surf.


http://mikesbloggityblog.com/surfs-up-surfing-comes-to-calgary/

[Allan83]

• Video Link

They do this in Montreal too, only on much bigger waves in the St. Lawrence.

Edit: This is the Bow River, btw, not the Elbow as it says at the end of the video.

[GreaterMontréal]

delete

[Allan83]

Originally Posted by GreaterMontréal

delete

It may have been off topic but that was a good video! Apparently there is a fairly strong river surfing community in Alberta. I’m told that they mostly surf rivers in the Kananaskis and places on the Red Deer River. This wave is new and was created by the flood last year. What’s different about it is that although it’s not all that big it’s right in downtown Calgary.

[OTSkyline]

So a long term transit "dream plan" from Rob Ford was leaked yesterday showing the potential Toronto subway system with 9B investments.

I like.. At the size and importance Toronto is, it needs to have a broad and extensive subway network. It's in the big leagues now, time to act like it.

[Innsertnamehere]

... Its Rob Ford, and has been rightly mocked for the joke that it is.

[caltrane74]

This is a complete joke!

[Aylmer]

Why isn't there a subway line to Sudbury?

[caltrane74]

Metrolinx 5 year plan 2015-2020

- includes UPX updates and planning
- RER (Regional Express Rail) Electrified Service
- UPX/ Kitchener / Lakeshore Line Electrification
- LRT proposals in Hamilton, York and Mississauga
- GO Transit
- Presto 5 Year Planning Program
- Funding
- Yonge Street Relief Line
- Yonge North Subway Extention to Vaughan / York Region

http://www.metrolinx.com/en/docs/pdf/boa...ive_Year_Strategic_Plan_2013-2018_EN.pdf

[matt602]

As confusingly as usual, the plan refers to both "Hamilton Rapid Transit" and "Hamilton LRT" in separate places. Upon his visit about a month ago, the Transport Minister Del Duca refused to clarify when asked several times which one they will be committing money to. Still leaves the door open for them to change it to BRT or even less.

[SteelTown]

City is building bike lanes along Cannon St, today they've installed rubber barriers, planter boxes coming next week


CityofHamilton
https://twitter.com/cityofhamilton


CityofHamilton
https://twitter.com/cityofhamilton


CityofHamilton
https://twitter.com/cityofhamilton

[Nelju]

Rapid-transit expansion led by Calgary, Vancouver, says Pembina
Calgary, Vancouver rail systems more cost effective than subways in Toronto, Montreal

Calgary and Vancouver have led big Canadian cities in the building of new rapid transit for the last decade, while Toronto and Montreal trail badly, according to a Pembina Institute report. "Fast Cities: A comparison of rapid transit in major Canadian cities" compares rapid transit expansion in Canada's five largest cities, with Ottawa also included in that mix.

It says the choice of technology is the most significant factor in the disparity among the cities. While Toronto and Montreal had a major head-start in terms of construction, the report says, they chose to build subways, while the other major cities chose more affordable and quicker-to-deploy technologies such as light rail transit and bus rapid transit.

As a result, the report says, cities such as Calgary and Vancouver were able to build more infrastructure more rapidly and at a lower cost.

According to the report, Toronto has the least cost-effective transit investment plan in the country.

“Toronto and Montreal created strong transit cultures by investing in subways a generation ago," institute spokeswoman Cherise Burda says in the release accompanying the report. "However, they’re now being surpassed by cities like Vancouver and Calgary, which have adopted more flexible transit solutions to serve their growing populations.”

The report offers snapshot of Canada's rapid transit expansion:

Calgary and Vancouver have built the most rapid transit over the last 10 years. During that time, the two cities have opened 20 and 22 kilometres of new lines, respectively.
Calgary leads Canadian cities in terms of most rapid transit infrastructure per capita with its LRT network, followed closely by Ottawa.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/ra...calgary-vancouver-says-pembina-1.2756613