The Great Canadian Transit Thread - Page 395

1overcosc · #**7881** Posted **Jan 15, 2016, 9:39 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by hipster duck

4 or 5 new stations between Mount Dennis and Kennedy? That's pretty much RER spacing. Do those 4 or 5 include existing GO stations like Danforth and (please change the name) Scarborough?

What stations will likely make the list?

I'd say: Gerrard, Cherry (although Tory wants to build a less useful station at the old Lever-Ponds site for some reason), Spadina and Queen-Dufferin.

A few months ago, Metrolinx decided to evaluate possible sites for new stations as part of the RER lines. About 50 possible locations are shortlisted and there will be planning process to determine which ones to pick.

Of those 50, 14 are located on this U. The "4 or 5" stations will almost certainly be chosen from the list.

The 14 are:
St. Clair
Dundas West & Sterling Rd
Queen West & Dufferin
Liberty Village
Bathurst & Spadina
Parliament & Cherry
Don Yard
DVP & Eastern
Queen & Degrassi
Dundas & Logan
Gerrard & Carlaw
Jones
Greenwood
Coxwell

http://www.metrolinx.com/en/docs/pdf/boa...922_BoardMtg_New_Station_Analysis_EN.pdf

Quote:

Originally Posted by Innsertnamehere

The stations seem to be those on this map:

so 11-13 stations (unclear whether or not the white dots are "phase 2").

Mount Dennis
St Clair
Bloor
Lansdowne (Phase 2?)
Liberty Village
Spadina
Union
Great Gulf / Unilever
Queen (Phase 2?)
Gerard
Danforth
Scarborough
Kennedy

The reason Unilever is being pushed is because the owner of the lands is discussing putting in 8 million square feet of office space.. which would be a much larger driver of ridership than that would come from the Distillery or the couple of midrise condos in the West Donlands.

How do this planning work relate to the Metrolinx work I posted above?

hipster duck · #**7882** Posted **Jan 15, 2016, 9:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Innsertnamehere

The reason Unilever is being pushed is because the owner of the lands is discussing putting in 8 million square feet of office space.. which would be a much larger driver of ridership than that would come from the Distillery or the couple of midrise condos in the West Donlands.

There's a lot of redevelopment potential at the Unilver site. But, I wouldn't dismiss the importance of a stop at Parliament or Cherry. There is a significant amount of office space within walking distance - especially along King St. E., and there is still a lot of room for redevelopment in that area.

It's tough, because I see a rationale for both station sites, but don't support having two stops - especially two so close to one another.

In an ideal world, the DRL would serve the King-Parliament area and whatever this Smartrack thing will eventually be called would serve the Unilever site.

At least that kind of redundancy is more supportable than a duplicate Scarborough subway service just a kilometer to the east.

lrt's friend · #**7883** Posted **Jan 15, 2016, 9:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TorontoDrew

Why go to Kennedy? The people in that ward fought for a Subway screwing the city out of a DRL for even longer. Personally I hate the smart track plan but I still like Tory.

Doesn't this accomplish, more or less, what the DRL was trying to accomplish? Taking some pressure off the YUS subway. If this becomes a practical way to build a new rapid transit route into downtown, why hope for a plan that is so expensive that no level of government is willing to invest in?

caltrane74 · #**7884** Posted **Jan 15, 2016, 10:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

Doesn't this accomplish, more or less, what the DRL was trying to accomplish? Taking some pressure off the YUS subway. If this becomes a practical way to build a new rapid transit route into downtown, why hope for a plan that is so expensive that no level of government is willing to invest in?

New trainsets/electrication and track automation are what will really make this work. Then you will take pressure off YUS.

Innsertnamehere · #**7885** Posted **Jan 15, 2016, 10:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

Doesn't this accomplish, more or less, what the DRL was trying to accomplish? Taking some pressure off the YUS subway. If this becomes a practical way to build a new rapid transit route into downtown, why hope for a plan that is so expensive that no level of government is willing to invest in?

This will relieve the Yonge line to a certian extent, but not nearly as effectively as a DRL would. The DRL is expected to take 15% of ridership off of Line 1 south of Bloor, this would probably take closer to 5%. The main reason is largely the location of its connection to Line 2, at Kennedy, while the DRL connects at Pape, much further down the line (and therefor catching more of the people transferring from Line 2 to Line 1).

It will be a good stopgap solution as it can be completed before the DRL, but it isn't a "final" fix. The DRL will still be required, especially if Line 1 is extended to Highway 7 in Richmond Hill as planned.

Caltrane, there is more work needed than that. This thing is expected to still have a 3 billion dollar price tag.. new stations, new trackage, new trains, electrification, possible tunnel at Union, etc.

Beedok · #**7886** Posted **Jan 15, 2016, 10:50 PM**

Weird to had three strations so close together and the others so sparse.

TorontoDrew · #**7887** Posted **Jan 15, 2016, 10:55 PM**

Those 3 stations are right by my Lofts, well the Gerrard and Unilever one.

swimmer_spe · #**7888** Posted **Jan 15, 2016, 11:12 PM**

I am confused.

GO RER, SmarTrack and DRL i what has been talked about.

I know DRL will be a Subway, similar to Lines 1 and 2.

RER and SmarTrack, aren't they the same?

Really, once fully built, what is the difference between the 2?

Boris2k7 · #**7889** Posted **Jan 16, 2016, 12:56 AM**

Gallery: S200 CTrain unveiled

http://calgaryherald.com/gallery/gallery-new-s200-ctrain-unveiled

GAVIN YOUNG / CALGARY HERALD

Nouvellecosse · #**7890** Posted **Jan 16, 2016, 1:32 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by swimmer_spe

I am confused.

GO RER, SmarTrack and DRL i what has been talked about.

I know DRL will be a Subway, similar to Lines 1 and 2.

RER and SmarTrack, aren't they the same?

Really, once fully built, what is the difference between the 2?

I don't think we know the exact details yet. But from what I understand, GO RER is just an electrification of some or all of existing GO services with an increase in service frequency, while SmartTrack is a single corridor using much smaller single deck EMU trains (probably no more than 150m) that will be more similar to a metro system. But of course, we don't know what the exact service frequency will be of each nor their final choice of rolling stock.

Beedok · #**7891** Posted **Jan 16, 2016, 2:03 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boris2k7

Gallery: S200 CTrain unveiled

GAVIN YOUNG / CALGARY HERALD

Looks closer to Montreal Metro interiors. I like it.

Daveography · #**7892** Posted **Jan 16, 2016, 2:12 AM**

^ Look very nice. The exit indicator lights surrounding the doors is a nice touch, very Blade Runner.

caltrane74 · #**7893** Posted **Jan 16, 2016, 3:03 AM**

Tunnel at Union Station for Smart track/RER, that will be hardcore...

If you think Union Station is an animal house now...wow!

Boris2k7 · #**7894** Posted **Jan 16, 2016, 3:34 AM**

• Video Link

caltrane74 · #**7895** Posted **Jan 16, 2016, 3:36 AM**

Dual trainsets?

ssiguy · #**7896** Posted **Jan 16, 2016, 4:01 AM**

Smart Tracks will be more frequent all day service with more stops than GO commuter rail but less than a subway. It will probably use single level EMU trains.

The really big difference for Torontonians is that Smart Tracks, unlike RER or GO will be part of the standard TTC service so no extra fare. It's basically a Metro line but on standard rail track.

swimmer_spe · #**7897** Posted **Jan 16, 2016, 4:22 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ssiguy

Smart Tracks will be more frequent all day service with more stops than GO commuter rail but less than a subway. It will probably use single level EMU trains.

The really big difference for Torontonians is that Smart Tracks, unlike RER or GO will be part of the standard TTC service so no extra fare. It's basically a Metro line but on standard rail track.

Too bad that it is only one line. The could have 7 branches. (7 lines of GO.)

ScreamingViking · #**7898** Posted **Jan 16, 2016, 4:39 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by caltrane74

Tunnel at Union Station for Smart track/RER, that will be hardcore...

If you think Union Station is an animal house now...wow!

IMO, instead of digging deeper to provide a new concourse, they should have also dug deeper to provide more platform space.

Union is going to be a major choke-point with respect to all these rail initiatives (RER/SmartTrack, HSR, VIA)

swimmer_spe · #**7899** Posted **Jan 16, 2016, 4:51 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScreamingViking

IMO, instead of digging deeper to provide a new concourse, they should have also dug deeper to provide more platform space.

Union is going to be a major choke-point with respect to all these rail initiatives (RER/SmartTrack, HSR, VIA)

Why not go up instead of down? Wouldn't it be cheaper to do that?

ScreamingViking · #**7900** Posted **Jan 16, 2016, 5:15 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by swimmer_spe

Why not go up instead of down? Wouldn't it be cheaper to do that?

Perhaps it might... but it would disturb the "heritage" aspect of the train shed that they're trying to preserve (at great expense, including that of time)

There's also the option of creating another station and platforms to the west of Union's, and coordinating service between the two sets.