Confederation Line (Stage 1) | In Service 1.0

[PHrenetic]

Good Day...

At Belfast MSF - the sound panels are going into the uprights - they began at the Belfast Rd. end and are about halfway along eastward. almost all the uprights are in, as far as I can see. And they have begun excavations for the foundation walls of the storage shed extension.

EnJoy!

[hwy418]

Originally Posted by roger1818

Agreed. It is the digging of the tunnel that was the slow part. While they were doing that, they plugged away at the other bits as there was no real rush (they wanted to get some trains running to do some early testing, but that is all they needed). Now that the digging is pretty much done, they can pick up the pace on everything else.

I think the City needs to update the little key plan on http://www.ligneconfederationline.ca/ - should be a little more green shown there.

[kmcamp]

Originally Posted by hwy418

I think the City needs to update the little key plan on http://www.ligneconfederationline.ca/ - should be a little more green shown there.

Well, a lot of it is like at "95% and holding". For example the east end stations could easily be finished up within the next couple of weeks if they spent the effort, but they seem to be plodding along with the finishing touches. To be honest, there's no real reason to complete the remaining details either since they're just going to sit there until next spring.

[PHrenetic]

Originally Posted by kmcamp

Well, a lot of it is like at "95% and holding". For example the east end stations could easily be finished up within the next couple of weeks if they spent the effort, but they seem to be plodding along with the finishing touches. To be honest, there's no real reason to complete the remaining details either since they're just going to sit there until next spring.

Good Day...

yup.... no way any more of it will turn green until the day they hand it all over.
There might have been a case for turning Belfast MSF green, until they opened it up again for Phase 2 upgrades and expansions, which will not be finished until after the May handover. So - no more green, until the fat lady sing.

EnJoy!

[hwy418]

Originally Posted by kmcamp

Well, a lot of it is like at "95% and holding". For example the east end stations could easily be finished up within the next couple of weeks if they spent the effort, but they seem to be plodding along with the finishing touches. To be honest, there's no real reason to complete the remaining details either since they're just going to sit there until next spring.

Sure, but you can at least show portions of the guideway as completed. Substantially completed sections under testing can/should be green. Otherwise, what's the point of having the map? This is all about showing progress; I'm surprised Watson's office is not pushing for more accurate updates of the map.

[PHrenetic]

Originally Posted by hwy418

Sure, but you can at least show portions of the guideway as completed. Substantially completed sections under testing can/should be green. Otherwise, what's the point of having the map? This is all about showing progress; I'm surprised Watson's office is not pushing for more accurate updates of the map.

Good Day...

Sometimes we are lucky to get any updates at all.
These times the weekly construction update, dated Wednesdays, does not hit until - at best - Thursday evenings.
And the Scott/Albert and 417 indicators were not greened until there had been many comments and complaints, and not from just in here. Many people and forums noticed the -delay- and commented poorly upon it.

WhatEver!

[1overcosc]

The entire guideway from uOttawa to Blair is complete (energized, signalled, and everything) so it really should be green on the map.

[kilroy]

In case anyone is curious, here's a capture via the internet wayback machine of the earliest iteration of the construction schedule.

A lot has changed, there's no longer the detailed station construction schedule and they're woefully behind schedule... but we knew that already.

http://web.archive.org/web/20151208181645/http://www.ligneconfederationline.ca/the-plan/when/

[kmcamp]

Originally Posted by kilroy

In case anyone is curious, here's a capture via the internet wayback machine of the earliest iteration of the construction schedule.

A lot has changed, there's no longer the detailed station construction schedule and they're woefully behind schedule... but we knew that already.

http://web.archive.org/web/20151208181645/http://www.ligneconfederationline.ca/the-plan/when/

Given the general state of completion, I don't think we're much at risk here. Really, it's the guideway that would be the big problem if it wasn't done (the stations can easily be completed over the winter given their current progress).

[Uhuniau]

I don't see much sign of major schedule slipppage, esp. not given the sheer size of the civil works.

[Kitchissippi]

I hope they at least have station tours (or, crossed fingers, test rides) for the next Doors Open in June

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by hwy418

Substantially completed sections under testing can/should be green.

In a normal process flow, the test is part of the manufacturing process, so until it has passed the test, it isn't complete. It is quite probable that certain tests will fail initially and thus require remediation. To mark it complete early is akin to putting empty boxes in the warehouse and marking the product shipped (we have track but can't safely run trains on it).

Otherwise, what's the point of having the map? This is all about showing progress;

The map was probably mandated by those who didn't understand how manufacturing processes work. Having said that, we may start to see things turning green in the coming months when thing really are completed.

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by Kitchissippi

I hope they at least have station tours (or, crossed fingers, test rides) for the next Doors Open in June

That would mean it not going into "revenue service" on the scheduled "substantial completion" date of May 7, 2018 (apparently "revenue service availability" is defined in the contract as "substantial completion.")

Having said that, there could be reasons for the RTG to achieve "substantial completion" on time but the city to not pull the trigger on "revenue service" but that would likely involve public trials before Open Doors in June. The only likely way our first look would be at Open Doors would be if the deadline is missed, something the RTG definitely doesn't want to do.

LRT contract shows service was to begin May 7, 2018

[Catenary]

Originally Posted by roger1818

That would mean it not going into "revenue service" on the scheduled "substantial completion" date of May 7, 2018 (apparently "revenue service availability" is defined in the contract as "substantial completion.")

Having said that, there could be reasons for the RTG to achieve "substantial completion" on time but the city to not pull the trigger on "revenue service" but that would likely involve public trials before Open Doors in June. The only likely way our first look would be at Open Doors would be if the deadline is missed, something the RTG definitely doesn't want to do.

LRT contract shows service was to begin May 7, 2018

May 7th always seemed odd, as it lines up almost but not quite with the summer service change. It makes sense for the train to start running in concert with a service change, or a few weeks before, so bus routes can be changed without causing too much confusion. The train could start to run for a few weeks with the existing bus routes still running, while people get accustomed to the train, and any issues are discovered.

To think that there was always going to be a day when suddenly we would have a train running and the buses would work and everything would just happen always seemed unrealistic.

[1overcosc]

May 24th is when RTG hands over the line to the city, so that's essentially the completion date.

I haven't seen the guideway west of the tunnel in a long time but east of the tunnel its completed. Train assembly is nearing completion too (last train is going to be rolling off the assembly line in February last I heard). The stations could be finished within weeks if they worked at full speed (as stated above there isn't much point to doing this now as it would mean the stations hit empty all winter). I don't know how far along the guideway work in the tunnel is, but they've got a lot more time on that one because they can continue working at full speed through the winter as well in there.

Doesn't look like they're behind schedule at all

[kmcamp]

Originally Posted by 1overcosc

May 24th is when RTG hands over the line to the city, so that's essentially the completion date.

I haven't seen the guideway west of the tunnel in a long time but east of the tunnel its completed. Train assembly is nearing completion too (last train is going to be rolling off the assembly line in February last I heard). The stations could be finished within weeks if they worked at full speed (as stated above there isn't much point to doing this now as it would mean the stations hit empty all winter). I don't know how far along the guideway work in the tunnel is, but they've got a lot more time on that one because they can continue working at full speed through the winter as well in there.

Doesn't look like they're behind schedule at all

The fact we have trains is definitely a good sign that we'll make the date... over in Waterloo (http://urbantoronto.ca/forum/threads/ion...victoria-transit-terminal.19202/page-105) they have lots of nice completed stations, signs, countdown timers and all, and no actual trains

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by roger1818

The only likely way our first look would be at Open Doors would be if the deadline is missed, something the RTG definitely doesn't want to do.

The Open Doors people could also change the schedule for Open Doors for a special LRT one-off. Have an Open Doors style event, branded as such, only earlier in the year.

[acottawa]

At some point don't they have to test it with real humans?

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by Catenary

May 7th always seemed odd, as it lines up almost but not quite with the summer service change.

In 2017 the Summer Service started on June 25.

http://ottawa.ca/en/news/oc-transpo-summer-service-starts-june-25

Are you thinking of the spring service change? That is in late April.

It makes sense for the train to start running in concert with a service change, or a few weeks before, so bus routes can be changed without causing too much confusion. The train could start to run for a few weeks with the existing bus routes still running, while people get accustomed to the train, and any issues are discovered.

To think that there was always going to be a day when suddenly we would have a train running and the buses would work and everything would just happen always seemed unrealistic.

They would probably first run a (free?) trial service for 4-6 weeks without changing any bus routes (maybe first one weekends and later 7 days a week). This would allow them to iron out some of the bugs (shutting the line down if needed) and get people accustomed to the stations.

I'll call it now. Full revenue service (with new bus routes implemented) on June 24, 2018.

[lrt's friend]

I saw at least 3 unpainted trains at Belfast Yards today as I passed on a VIA Rail train.

I can't imagine free service being offered for more than a few days and I also can't see duplicate service either. We need to move forward with changes and adapt to any problems as quickly as possible. We shouldn't be commencing service if we are not ready for full service.

As far as when service will begin, I say it will happen after July 1st, 2018. It just seems too risky to start rail service just days before Canada Day, especially with the fiasco that occurred this year. We can't have Canada Day being a mess two years in a row.