Confederation Line (Stage 1) | In Service 1.0

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by Acajack

I know it hasn't been announced, but does anyone have an inkling of when the line might open?

They say 2018 but I doubt it will be in December.

Maybe the spring or the summer? Best guess is what?

The RTG is expected to transfer ownership to the city on May 24, 2018, but the city will want to do some tests (likely including public trials) before they begin normal operation.

In post #5159 I made the guess that it will start normal operation on June 24, 2018 (the first day of the summer schedule).

Originally Posted by roger1818

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

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Truenorth00

1) DND does not care where its staff live. Somewhere between one third and half of all DND personnel in the National Capital Region are uniformed military personnel who are getting posted in/out every 3-4 years. Maybe two tours, so 8 years. That means, virtually all of those jobs will see their occupants move closer to work over the next few years. With each posting cycle, more and more will be living closer to work.

2) It is misguided to be fixated on the Nortel campus. There are several major campuses for DND. Not everybody at DND works at Nortel/Carling in Kanata. It's one of several major campuses being consolidated to. Including Louis St-Laurent in Gatineau, Star Top Rd, Leitrim and NDHQ downtown. That doesn't include several smaller offices (Coventry Rd, Montfort, Ottawa General, etc.) and DND personnel embedded in other departments. Here's a list from a realtor:

http://ottawarelocations.ca/military-relocations/ottawa-dnd-locations/

Some of those will consolidate. But major campuses above remain.

3) Not everybody who works at DND lives in the East End. In fact, the vast majority don't. And in due course, as the civvies retire and new personnel posted in take up residence around the campuses, this just won't be an issue. In a decade, a lot of DND personnel living in Orleans will be a memory.

4) Defence facilities cannot and should not be built just anywhere. It's bad enough that NDHQ is right in the downtown core. It was very smart to build the new HQ further out. Worked out well with them getting the Nortel complex. Too bad about the Chinese bugs.

We can agree on one thing; DND does not belong downtown. But I still think they could have chosen a site that was still a little more central. I aslo think building from scratch (like the CSEC building) would have produced a something that is better adapted to the DND's security concerns.

Originally Posted by Hybrid247

Great shots zzptichka! Thanks for sharing.

I'm impressed with how quickly Pimisi and Bayview went up, but it seems to me that Blair has barely changed for months. I was expecting it be nearly done by now but it seems there's still a lot of work to be done. What's going on with that?

I was ecstatic when they finally put up the flashing on the east side stair enclosure after months of waiting!

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by roger1818

The RTG is expected to transfer ownership to the city on May 24, 2018, but the city will want to do some tests (likely including public trials) before they begin normal operation.

In post #5159 I made the guess that it will start normal operation on June 24, 2018 (the first day of the summer schedule).

Does anyone know how long it usually takes between the day the line is handed to the City and the day it goes into revenue service? How long did it take for Canada Line.

[Truenorth00]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

We can agree on one thing; DND does not belong downtown. But I still think they could have chosen a site that was still a little more central. I aslo think building from scratch (like the CSEC building) would have produced a something that is better adapted to the DND's security concerns.

Like the current location in the downtown core (which is not going away), this site was not chosen by DND so much as chosen for them (by Public Works effectively). DND would be quite happy if the government gave them $2-3 billion and a few hundred acres of land in Ottawa to do proper custom built military base.

That's never going to happen. So they took the best opportunity they could get to consolidate. The Nortel campus has enough space to build on. They can move one of the other large sites over eventually too (cough...Star Top...cough).

[Truenorth00]

Originally Posted by roger1818

The RTG is expected to transfer ownership to the city on May 24, 2018, but the city will want to do some tests (likely including public trials) before they begin normal operation.

In post #5159 I made the guess that it will start normal operation on June 24, 2018 (the first day of the summer schedule).

I would think there is an overlap period. A sort of soft launch for the LRT, where they keep the reliever bus routes and the LRT running at the same time. Get some early feedback, fix what they must and then launch.

So take delivery on 24 May. Soft launch on the long weekend. Let people ride for a month. Construction relief bus routes end with summer schedule launch.

[1overcosc]

We're supposed to hear more about the details of the opening schedule at the end of the year, so in the next 2 months.

[Uhuniau]

Those are great shots, zzptichka

[caveat.doctor]

Originally Posted by kmcamp

It was actually written somewhere about "easy maintenance"... can't find the reference off hand though.

I think that came from one of the slides:


Image: OC Transpo

Besides the OC Transpo "curve" being dated, it's already being replaced by the red O as the branding everywhere else. Don't see why we're spending more effort to add the old brand when it's going to have to be taken off and replaced anyway.


Image: Screenshot of Google image search results

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by Truenorth00

I would think there is an overlap period. A sort of soft launch for the LRT, where they keep the reliever bus routes and the LRT running at the same time. Get some early feedback, fix what they must and then launch.

So take delivery on 24 May. Soft launch on the long weekend. Let people ride for a month. Construction relief bus routes end with summer schedule launch.

Most places do a free trial period while they work out the last bugs. Initially it would likely be off peak only (weekends, evenings and maybe daytime), to not get overwhelmed and then eventually maybe only during PM rush hour and finally all day. If they want to test out the fare gates, they could always have those who already have passes or transfers tap in and those wanting the free ride have a staff member tap them through (the machines could probably be configured to not debit presto e-purses and not issue an e-transfer).

Once in revenue service, I doubt if there will be much if any overlap with current bus routes, but there might be some. Regardless, it makes sense to switch to the new routes on the first day of the summer schedule.

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by caveat.doctor

Besides the OC Transpo "curve" being dated, it's already being replaced by the red O as the branding everywhere else. Don't see why we're spending more effort to add the old brand when it's going to have to be taken off and replaced anyway.

I see the curve as being compatible with the O. The signs only show a corner of the O, so the arch could be imagined to be the top of the O. Unless they are going to start plastering red O's all over the train (which I think would be ugly), I don't see what else they could do to make it "fit" the new branding. i guess they could replace the maple leaf with part of an O or replace the word OCTranspo with an O and I would rather not see them do either of those.

[McC]

If offered a vote, I would have voted for parts of big red 'O's down the sides of the trainsets (or more likely: full 'O's folding over the sides, which gives the same effect in profile), but I recognize that my like of polka dots is not universal.

[AndyMEng]

Originally Posted by Truenorth00

Other departments don't have SCIFs:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sensitive_Compartmented_Information_Facility

Also, security. See above with a SCIF. Nobody is going to be discussing operations or intelligence in a parliamentary office.

That you know of...

[caveat.doctor]

Originally Posted by roger1818

I see the curve as being compatible with the O. The signs only show a corner of the O, so the arch could be imagined to be the top of the O.

Perhaps, though the arch of the swoosh is too flat and thin to be part of the new red O, and there's also no grey on it.

Originally Posted by McC

If offered a vote, I would have voted for parts of big red 'O's down the sides of the trainsets

That’s similar to what they’re doing with the ticket machines: the red O goes across the front and "folds" down the sides.


Image: OC Transpo

Edit: None of the mockups had a red O design: I guess it really was selected before they came up with the new branding. The left middle one would have been the least likely to look dated over time, and maximise contrast between the doors and the sides for visibility.


Image: OC Transpo

[kmcamp]

Originally Posted by caveat.doctor

Perhaps, though the arch of the swoosh is too flat and thin to be part of the new red O, and there's also no grey on it.


Edit: None of the mockups had a red O design: I guess it really was selected before they came up with the new branding. The left middle one would have been the least likely to look dated over time, and maximise contrast between the doors and the sides for visibility.

The left middle is the same as the bus livery they've been using since the late 90's, so I guess it does stand the test of time. I'm like how they adapted that one quickly from the "KFC Bucket" livery they first tried when they switched of the old 70's look.

As for handoff and start times, it really does look like RTG is trying to move heaven and earth to finish by the deadline, as they have a real financial incentive to do so. However, my prediction is we'll sit there looking at a fully complete line sitting there unused for months *after* the handoff while OCTranspo does their final prep work. Look at the glacial pace it took for the faregates, which were originally supposed to be testing last spring.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by caveat.doctor

I think that came from one of the slides:


Image: OC Transpo

Besides the OC Transpo "curve" being dated, it's already being replaced by the red O as the branding everywhere else. Don't see why we're spending more effort to add the old brand when it's going to have to be taken off and replaced anyway.


Image: Screenshot of Google image search results

Wow. I never made the connection. If they actually wanted to mimic that "curve", they would have made a curve at the front, turn into a flat line until it curved back down at the back of the train car. That wold have looked better.

Of the 6 options we didn't get to vote on, I would have gone for the middle, left as well. Classic.

[roger1818]

Construction Update
Week of OCTOBER 26, 2017

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Crews are completing the final pours for the two ventilations shafts at Lyon Station. Mechanical, electrical, and architectural work continues to progress at Hurdman, Lees, and Tremblay Stations. In the western stations, at Pimisi and Bayview Station, elevators are being readied for service.

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Track installation at Tunneys Pasture Station

West Stations

Tunney’s Pasture Station
Masonry work at the platform is continuing and electrical work is ongoing. Sections of inter-track barrier and plinths for the track within the station itself are also being installed.

Bayview Station
The mechanical and electrical work continues to progress. Painting of steel continues and plaza concrete work continues. Crews are also working on the elevator installations.

Pimisi Station
Precast-concrete at stairways in the station continues. Porcelain panels are going up at the platform and intumescent painting is progressing. Escalators are being readied for service and the station is expected to have permanent power by early November.

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Rebar installation occurs at Lyon West TVS

Central Stations

Lyon Station cavern
The floor topping is poured for the west TVS areas in the cavern and concrete patching occurs at the west entrance. Tiling and glazing post installation progresses. Electrical conduit is installed for the station’s communication, fire alarm and PA systems.

Lyon Station west entrance
Queen and Bay Street north side civil and road work continues this week. Crews allocate resources to complete work on the TVS with rebar installation and concrete pours. Crews will receive and install the grate cast-ins

Lyon Station east entrance
Resources are allocated to complete the TVS. Crews recently completed the rebar for the south and east walls of the shaft. They will now be completing the rebar for the north, centre and west walls before proceeding to final concrete pours.

Parliament Station cavern
Structural columns are installed inside the cavern and elevator curb forms are stripped and removed. In addition, work on the stairways advance and crews close and brace platform formwork and the central wall on the concourse. Trackwork progresses with work on the track slab.

Parliament Station west entrance
Work on the west entrance roof advances with the completion of architectural parapets. Below surface level, chipping occurs for the south wall, the north wall progresses with forming and pouring and rebar is installed for the south, north and west walls.

Parliament Station east entrance
Construction is ongoing at the station, the walls and roof slab are being waterproofed and adit rebar is cleaned-up for concrete works to advance. This includes the second phase of wall forming and concrete pours taking place next week.

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Cut and cover tunnel progresses with concrete works at East Portal

Rideau Station cavern
The next phase of formwork, concrete and stripping occurs for the headwall this week. In the running tunnel, arch pours progress and shotcrete continues for the transition. Elsewhere, concrete stripping takes place for the concourse slab and the arch form is disassembled.

Rideau Station west entrance
Backfilling is now complete and the removal of slab deck reshoring is still ongoing and will be until the following week.

Rideau Station east entrance
Waterproofing, rebar and concrete pours are ongoing for the TVS slab and systems crews continue to work on electrical in the TPSS room. Wall insulation continues to be installed in the HVAC room as well. Upcoming work includes forming and pouring the TVS adit walls.

East Portal
Inside the tunnel, rebar, arch concrete pours and pours for the headwall continue. The starter walls for the cut and cover tunnel progress as well with rebar installation and concrete pours for both the north and south walls.

uOttawa Station
Porcelain panels are being installed in the concourse area. Crews are also at work on all three elevators. Construction of the pedestrian plaza is also progressing and there is work taking place for the duct, plumbing, and fire protection systems.

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Progress of construction at Tremblay Station

East Stations

Lees Station
Crews are working on the windscreen posts at the platform, as well as the intumescent painting. Concrete pours are taking place at the platform level. Mechanical and electrical work is ongoing.

Hurdman Station
There is work taking place on the mullions, or vertical partitions, for glass walls in the station. Elevator and escalator installation is ongoing. Meanwhile the excavating, grading and paving of Hurdman bus loop continues into mid-November.

Tremblay Station
Crews finalize the waterproofing of the concourse area and complete the windscreen posts. The snowmelts continue to progress, and there are two concrete pours scheduled to take place this week.

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Construction is ongoing at Hurdman Station

St-Laurent Station
Crews are completing the painting on the stairs in the plenum area and working on the layout outside the elevators. Other activities includes final installation of the station’s tunnel ventilation system, including the fans and two overhead door panels. There is also work to install the windscreen posts and mullions.

Cyrville Station
Final grading is concluding. Other scheduled works includes completion of the topping platform. Outside the station, landscaping work will take place soon.

Blair Station
Landscaping is taking place north of the station. Completion of the bus loop and the bus operator building progresses. Other work focuses on the installation of the wood ceiling panels.

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Crews prepare to pour the track slab at Parliament Station

Guideway and Trackwork

Current trackwork focuses on the diamond crossover between Lyon to Parliament Station; the plinths at Tunney’s Pasture; tamping at Pimisi Station; and the track installation tie-in to the West Portal. In the eastern portion of the alignment, testing continues to progress.

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The track slab has been poured for the diamond crossover at Parliament Station

Upcoming Construction Activities

In the coming weeks, the following construction activities are scheduled to occur:

• Landscaping at Cyrville Station.
• Construction of the Rideau Station West TVS.
• Installation of lighting inside jersey barrier by uOttawa Station.
• uOttawa guideway sewer repairs.
• Construction to complete the West Portal and East Portal
• Systems installation along the guideway, including OCS poles and wires.
• Station elevators and escalators being readied for service at multiple stations.
• Completion of Lyon Station west and east TVS

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http://www.ligneconfederationline.ca/construction/construction-update-147/

[rocketphish]

Originally Posted by caveat.doctor

I think that came from one of the slides:

White exterior for ease of maintenance

Hides bird poop better?

[McC]

Originally Posted by kmcamp

my prediction is we'll sit there looking at a fully complete line sitting there unused for months *after* the handoff while OCTranspo does their final prep work. Look at the glacial pace it took for the faregates, which were originally supposed to be testing last spring.

I don't see how Mayor Watson would allow such a delay unless it was absolutely necessary from a safety/operational standpoint. It's an election year, and he will almost certainly be running as the steady hand on the tiller to deliver a limited number of priorities on time and on budget and keep tax increases low. He'll be pointing to Landsdowne, Arts Court and LRT Stage I (warts and all) as the proven track record that he'll deliver LRT Stage II and a new Library (and maybe LeBreton arena, if the NCC and Senators come to terms first?).

[Truenorth00]

Originally Posted by AndyMEng

That you know of...

Should have worded that better. Other departments do have SCIFs. Nobody has many as DND does though. That's the difference.

[Truenorth00]

Originally Posted by McC

I don't see how Mayor Watson would allow such a delay unless it was absolutely necessary from a safety/operational standpoint. It's an election year, and he will almost certainly be running as the steady hand on the tiller to deliver a limited number of priorities on time and on budget and keep tax increases low. He'll be pointing to Landsdowne, Arts Court and LRT Stage I (warts and all) as the proven track record that he'll deliver LRT Stage II and a new Library (and maybe LeBreton arena, if the NCC and Senators come to terms first?).

This. They have to deliver by the Fall so that the councillors and mayor can run on this.

And I think they will. Let's not forget there are penalties for RTG if they deliver after Victoria Day. I have a feeling they'll be offering free rides that weekend. And then go into a testing schedule which should let them launch by summer.

They're already doing tons of testing now. So really, there should not be significant issues at launch.