The Great Canadian Transit Thread

[SkahHigh]

Originally Posted by swimmer_spe

I doubt Toronto can get to the top. It has way too many projects to be done, and they need to get more bus service, and, they are simply too busy for their own good.

It is what happens when you just expand the line well beyond where it is necessary. If Toronto had not kept expanding those existing lines, there would be a DRL and an Eglinton Line.

So, when those are done, and the extensions to Richmond Hill and STC are done, it might be number 2.

Toronto's RER project is massive and a definite game changer. Then if you add up the Eglinton, Hurontario and Finch West LRTs and a future Relief Line (fingers crossed for you guys), there's definitely something that could at least bring Toronto from a C to a B+. Or an A+ If you believe that Calgary deserves an A+...

[swimmer_spe]

Originally Posted by SkahHigh

Toronto's RER project is massive and a definite game changer. Then if you add up the Eglinton, Hurontario and Finch West LRTs and a future Relief Line (fingers crossed for you guys), there's definitely something that could at least bring Toronto from a C to a B+. Or an A+ If you believe that Calgary deserves an A+...

Have they even started work on the RER?

Of all you listed, only Eglington is a reality. The other ones do not have shovels in the ground. By the time they get built, other cities will have stepped up their game.

[SkahHigh]

Originally Posted by swimmer_spe

Have they even started work on the RER?

Of all you listed, only Eglington is a reality. The other ones do not have shovels in the ground. By the time they get built, other cities will have stepped up their game.

Well, Metrolinx is starting soon on the RER I believe with significant track improvements. They just gave a technical advisory contract to Parsons and launched a RFQ for the Lakeshore East portion (source: http://www.progressiverailroading.com/pa...O-Transits-Lakeshore-East-project--52561).

Hurontario launched their RFP last week (source: http://m.railjournal.com/index.php/light-rail/rfp-issued-for-hurontario-light-rail-project.html)

Enbridge has started gas relocation along the Finch West route (source: http://www.metrolinx.com/en/projectsandp...ionprojects/finch_west_construction.aspx) and Metrolinx ordered 61 new Alstom LRVs for this project and the Hurontario one (plus added insurance in case Bombardier keeps being delayed on Eglinton).

The Relief Line is under study but indeed, nothing concrete for that project.

That's a lot more transit action than any other canadian city apart from Montreal and Edmonton.

[niwell]

Not to mention all the grade separation projects on the GO corridors that is a precursor to enabling RER to really happen.

Thankfully the relief line is further along in the process than it has ever been, and there does seem to be significant political capital in getting it built from all sides.

[Metro-One]

Well, guess who is back!

I spent 3 weeks in BC this August (back in Japan now) but I took well over a thousand photos and hundreds of video clips. I will slowly be editing through them and posting them on various threads over the next month or two.

Anyways, here is my first one completed.

I finally got to ride the Evergreen Line! (Millennium Line Evergreen Extension).

So of course I had to make a time lapse video doing so.

Here it is, please enjoy! (watch in HD)

• Video Link

[Mister F]

Originally Posted by niwell

Not to mention all the grade separation projects on the GO corridors that is a precursor to enabling RER to really happen.

Thankfully the relief line is further along in the process than it has ever been, and there does seem to be significant political capital in getting it built from all sides.

RER isn't a single project but a series of small projects that will gradually bring service up to the desired standard. Work started a couple years ago including double and triple tracking, station expansions, grade separations, signal upgrades, etc. Service is slowly being improved as the work progresses.

[caltrane74]

RER is a massive project $25 billion allocated, and expected to take 10 years to complete. That is for those not aware, the largest transit project in Canadian history and almost 3 times the cost of the Eglinton LRT which will bisect Toronto, and will be underground through the central 11 kms.

RER will offer frequent service to Brampton/Malton/Kitchener, Markham-Stoffville, Scarborough, Mississauga-Oakville, and Pickering-Oshawa.
Yes, it is that massive. It will also be the backbone of any high-speed rail link between Toronto and Kitchener. (If that is ever built) And with electrification, more stops within the 416 are possible.

[niwell]

Originally Posted by Mister F

RER isn't a single project but a series of small projects that will gradually bring service up to the desired standard. Work started a couple years ago including double and triple tracking, station expansions, grade separations, signal upgrades, etc. Service is slowly being improved as the work progresses.

Yeah that's what I was getting at. It's a ton of work that doesn't have a huge immediate impact but when it all comes together will be quite impressive. Not really comparable to building a new transit line.

The scope of grade separation in the west end on the Kitchener / Barrie lines alone was an extremely massive project. Metrolinx did a pretty bad job in marketing this IMO, as a lot of people seem to think this work was done solely for the Union Pearson express. Although now that the dust has settled I've heard almost only good things about UP.
https://goo.gl/maps/HenwQv9EfTR2
https://goo.gl/maps/i9cdqgxZvcT2
https://goo.gl/maps/feDBFsMYkeR2

[WhipperSnapper]

Originally Posted by SkahHigh

Toronto's RER project is massive and a definite game changer. Then if you add up the Eglinton, Hurontario and Finch West LRTs and a future Relief Line (fingers crossed for you guys), there's definitely something that could at least bring Toronto from a C to a B+. Or an A+ If you believe that Calgary deserves an A+...

Does it matter? Toronto at a C compared to nearly all the others at perfect and even better than perfect is pretty darn laughable. I'm most familiar with Calgary. The C train is near perfect for travellers that live close to it and are heading downtown but, the rest the services drops down very quickly.

[jigglysquishy]

Toronto is a C, for its population.

The network of 2017 is the same as the network of 1994 (with the only growth being the Shepard line) despite Toronto growing by 2 million people.

The Toronto RT network is inadequate for a region of its size. The GTHA is what, 8 million people now? You can't rely on an RT network that is still largely the same as the one from the 70s when you've had the growth Toronto has.

The Eglington should improve massively. The relief line is the most necessary infrastructure project in the country.

[WhipperSnapper]

I guess if you limit yourself to subway lines in the TTC coverage area (which definitely hasn't grown by 2 million) It's stupid to say transit across the GTA hasn't been greatly improved since 1994 because the subway system is the same.

[TorontoDrew]

Originally Posted by jigglysquishy

Toronto is a C, for its population.
The Eglington should improve massively. The relief line is the most necessary infrastructure project in the country.

That's about right. Now if only we could get some politicians with back bones to build it.

[lrt's friend]

We are now seeing the biggest expansion of rapid transit in Toronto history. The fact that we are still waiting for these projects to be completed does not change this fact. Getting around the GTA on transit is going to change big time in the next 10 years. We just have to hope that we don't end up with transit-hostile governments in the meantime.

[TorontoDrew]

Too bad the Ford's delayed it all and reduced it in size by 4 plus years and 100's of millions of extra dollars.

[Innsertnamehere]

The spadina extension is less than 100 days away from opening, only 3 more months. That will be a big change right there, it's the longest subway extension to open since the spadina line opened in 1978 from St George to Wilson.

[Doady]

Spadina extension should provide some relief for the Yonge subway, intercepting riders from the west.

[WhipperSnapper]

I have doubts the relief with be noticeable.

[swimmer_spe]

Originally Posted by WhipperSnapper

I have doubts the relief with be noticeable.

The reality is that they could build multiple lines in various U shapes to ease congestion, but unfortunately, Yonge is the street a lot of those other suburbs are built around.

What is needed is a new line running down Yonge that is an express line.

[Doady]

A Sheppard subway extension to Spadina would provide some relief for Yonge also.

Likewise, Eglinton Crosstown LRT will mean Eglinton riders no longer dumped at Yonge.

With Pape-Don Mills subway, extended Spadina subway, united east/west corridors, maybe Yonge Express Subway wouldn't be needed anytime soon.

[WhipperSnapper]

I agree. A huge benefit to the system would be to twin large sections if not the entirety of the Yonge line. This would also allow for 24 hour service.


Vaughan City Centre is just a little to far west for people in the Yonge/Bathurst corridor to travel "backwards". I can't see the numbers using the Yonge subway from Brampton, Concord or Woodbridge being all that significant. I'd love to see the figures if anyone has them. Most will pay a little extra and use the GO. The Barrie line is right beside Vaughan City Centre. The Vaughan subway will lose out if a station ever opens by VCC on that line.