The Great Canadian Transit Thread - Page 341

Chadillaccc · #**6801** Posted **Jul 25, 2015, 12:42 AM**

J.OT13 · #**6802** Posted **Jul 25, 2015, 1:03 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoTrans

I think we are splitting hairs regarding whether any LRT system is rapid transit. Rapid transit has nothing to do with capacity, grade separations, type of vehicle, source of power or distance between stations. Rapid transit is about frequency and speed. Even on that there is no agree definition of when a system is rapid or not. I would say that the Confederation line qualifies as rapid transit.

With respect to the Trillium line it is not the technology that has made the line unreliable, slow and inefficient. The problem is with the elected politicians not having unrealistic expectations for the small amount of money spent and transit staff not having any real experience with rail construction and costs. This is a prime example of getting what you pay for.

More than anything, it's the single track system with way too many passing tracks to "increase " frequency. Not only does the passing tracks make the trip slower, it's also that many more fail points, which is why they have to close the line a few times a month.

They have plans to extend the single track diesel line further south as part of Stage 2, along with a possible spur to the airport (I foresee a major issues with yet another signaling point, not to mention trains would drop people 3 stations outside downtown). IMO, they should either build double track electric transit with direct to downtown service or keep it as is until we .get the funds to do it right.

Innsertnamehere · #**6803** Posted **Jul 25, 2015, 1:41 AM**

as I said in the Ottawa thread, you guys are making way too big of a deal out of the transfer at Bayview. Its really not that big of a deal, and is pretty standard globally.

Beedok · #**6804** Posted **Jul 25, 2015, 2:18 AM**

So AMT is that bad?

SkahHigh · #**6805** Posted **Jul 25, 2015, 2:45 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beedok

So AMT is that bad?

Huh? Are you asking what the AMT does?

Wooster · #**6806** Posted **Jul 25, 2015, 4:42 AM**

I don't know why this graphic says 50km, it is most definitely 40km. Nevertheless, a major, major project and a huge thing for the Calgary - the system will be quite extensive when this is complete. Ridership should approach 500,000 weekday trips - massively impressive for a metro of Calgary's size.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

Black Star · #**6807** Posted **Jul 25, 2015, 5:19 AM**

Actually really impressive announcement for Calgary. Your LRT system is going to be a beast.

Up north we are awaiting a similar announcement for our west line.

caltrane74 · #**6808** Posted **Jul 25, 2015, 10:27 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Innsertnamehere

Toronto will hit over 100km once Hurontario is finished in the early 2020's. Eglinton + finch + spadina + Scarborough + Hurontario will result in around 120km of in service rail.

Now going by the definition of rail transit, Toronto has long surpassed 100km of rail transit with its streetcar network..

In addition to Streetcar-LRT-Subway, Toronto also has 100's of km's of commuter rail transit, which is in the early stages of electrification. Environmental assesments have been completed and the RFP's for contractors to begin building the substations along the Kitchener Line has already gone out. Even without electrification, the commuter lines carry 60 million passangers per year.

Toronto also has an airport rail link which is 25km, might not qualify as rapid transit, but it is surely defined as rail transit.

When it comes to rail-transit and total passengers, there is no chance of another city building a larger network than Toronto when the category is so broadly defined.

Beedok · #**6809** Posted **Jul 25, 2015, 1:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkahHigh

Huh? Are you asking what the AMT does?

How well it works. Is it fairly reliable and quick, or rather slow? I know the GO Train basically crawls along with all the stops (at least on Lakeshore West).

SkahHigh · #**6810** Posted **Jul 25, 2015, 2:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beedok

How well it works. Is it fairly reliable and quick, or rather slow? I know the GO Train basically crawls along with all the stops (at least on Lakeshore West).

The commuter rail system works well but the frequency depends on the line, for example Deux-Montagnes has 50 trains per day while Candiac has only 18. Of course there are delays sometimes as usual with commuter rail but it's fine. As for speed, depending on the lines it can go pretty fast, especially in long stretches between stations.

If you were asking about the Metro, it's operated by the STM so that's another story.

SkahHigh · #**6811** Posted **Jul 25, 2015, 3:09 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by caltrane74

In addition to Streetcar-LRT-Subway, Toronto also has 100's of km's of commuter rail transit, which is in the early stages of electrification. Environmental assesments have been completed and the RFP's for contractors to begin building the substations along the Kitchener Line has already gone out. Even without electrification, the commuter lines carry 60 million passangers per year.

Toronto also has an airport rail link which is 25km, might not qualify as rapid transit, but it is surely defined as rail transit.

When it comes to rail-transit and total passengers, there is no chance of another city building a larger network than Toronto when the category is so broadly defined.

Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver could easily have over 100km of rail (light or rapid transit) lines by 2024. Lots of important mass transit projects to come for our country in the near future.

niwell · #**6812** Posted **Jul 25, 2015, 3:26 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beedok

I know the GO Train basically crawls along with all the stops (at least on Lakeshore West).

That's kind of a bizarre thing to say. The stops are all fairly far apart and the train gets up to a pretty high speed in between them. Plus there are express trains skipping stops during rush hours.

Innsertnamehere · #**6813** Posted **Jul 25, 2015, 4:52 PM**

GO averages around 60km/h on the lakeshore lines for its all stop services, hardly a slow service. Its twice the speed of a subway line.

Beedok · #**6814** Posted **Jul 25, 2015, 5:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkahHigh

The commuter rail system works well but the frequency depends on the line, for example Deux-Montagnes has 50 trains per day while Candiac has only 18. Of course there are delays sometimes as usual with commuter rail but it's fine. As for speed, depending on the lines it can go pretty fast, especially in long stretches between stations.

If you were asking about the Metro, it's operated by the STM so that's another story.

So a decent thing to live near if you can't find a place downtown?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Innsertnamehere

GO averages around 60km/h on the lakeshore lines for its all stop services, hardly a slow service. Its twice the speed of a subway line.

The last time I took it it seemed super slow.

SkahHigh · #**6815** Posted **Jul 25, 2015, 5:31 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beedok

So a decent thing to live near if you can't find a place downtown?

Since you're an anglophone, I would advise you to pick somewhere in the West Island as there is a total of 10 AMT stations there and many people speak English so you might feel more at home. Deux-Montagnes has more frequency with 25 trains in each direction, but is a lot more crowded. Vaudreuil-Hudson has 14 daily trains in each direction which is more than enough if you commute Downtown. There are park-and-ride lots at most AMT stations.

If you're looking for a quick way to get around I would advise you to move near a Metro station but that's probably more expensive. NDG could be a good spot as you have two Metro stations (Villa-Maria and Vendome) and a commuter rail station at Vendome which has high frequency because three lines go through it (Candiac, Vaudreuil-Hudson and Saint-Jérôme).

Beedok · #**6816** Posted **Jul 25, 2015, 6:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkahHigh

Since you're an anglophone, I would advise you to pick somewhere in the West Island as there is a total of 10 AMT stations there and many people speak English so you might feel more at home. Deux-Montagnes has more frequency with 25 trains in each direction, but is a lot more crowded. Vaudreuil-Hudson has 14 daily trains in each direction which is more than enough if you commute Downtown. There are park-and-ride lots at most AMT stations.

If you're looking for a quick way to get around I would advise you to move near a Metro station but that's probably more expensive. NDG could be a good spot as you have two Metro stations (Villa-Maria and Vendome) and a commuter rail station at Vendome which has high frequency because three lines go through it (Candiac, Vaudreuil-Hudson and Saint-Jérôme).

I'd prefer to live in a francophone part. I'm reasonably bilingual and much prefer the French language. That's half the reason I want to move. (Plus it seems to be cheaper to go to the Francophone bits.)

Razor · #**6817** Posted **Jul 25, 2015, 8:38 PM**

I'm not sure if this has been posted yet, but here's a pdf showing Ottawa's proposed Phase 2 Light rail line. The funding is all secured now via the vote buying.

http://documents.ottawa.ca/sites/documents.ottawa.ca/files/documents/stage2_map_en.pdf

TorontoDrew · #**6818** Posted **Jul 25, 2015, 9:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkahHigh

The Crosstown is an LRT (light rail transit) just like the Finch West LRT:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eglinton_Crosstown_line

It'll run on Eglinton and rely on traffic signals... Just saying. Light rail doesn't mean it's not good transit.

Not entirely true. Half of the the Eglinton line will be below surface.

TownGuy · #**6819** Posted **Jul 25, 2015, 9:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by caltrane74

In addition to Streetcar-LRT-Subway, Toronto also has 100's of km's of commuter rail transit, which is in the early stages of electrification. Environmental assesments have been completed and the RFP's for contractors to begin building the substations along the Kitchener Line has already gone out. Even without electrification, the commuter lines carry 60 million passangers per year.

Toronto also has an airport rail link which is 25km, might not qualify as rapid transit, but it is surely defined as rail transit.

When it comes to rail-transit and total passengers, there is no chance of another city building a larger network than Toronto when the category is so broadly defined.

Lies! Didn't you know we are supposed to ignore Toronto's well over 600 km of rail transit?

SkahHigh · #**6820** Posted **Jul 25, 2015, 10:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TorontoDrew

Not entirely true. Half of the the Eglinton line will be below surface.

Yes I know half is tunnelled but you can't deny it's light rail when Metrolinx says it is:

Quote:

The Crosstown is a light rail transit (LRT) line that will run across Eglinton Avenue between Mount Dennis (Weston Road) and Kennedy Station. This 19-kilometre corridor will include a 10-kilometre underground portion, between Keele Street and Laird Drive.

http://www.thecrosstown.ca/the-project