The Great Canadian Transit Thread

[isaidso]

Union Pearson express is electrified.

[milomilo]

Originally Posted by isaidso

Union Pearson express is electrified.

I had to double check, because I definitely didn't remember it being electric when I rode it a few months ago. It isn't, though it is planned to be.

Pretty pathetic indeed for a first world country.

[Nouvellecosse]

Originally Posted by isaidso

Union Pearson express is electrified.

What made you think it was electrified already? Did they already erect the pantographs on some sections?

[caltrane74]

It's not electrified yet. And with Dougie Doug in charge, don't count on it happening anytime soon.

[isaidso]

Originally Posted by Nouvellecosse

What made you think it was electrified already? Did they already erect the pantographs on some sections?

I guess I never thought about it. I just assumed it was electric. I stand corrected.

[ssiguy]

UPX is not electrified and Toronto has the very dubious distinction of having the only airport in the world served by diesel trains.

[CityTech]

Where are they on Metrolinx electrification? I know it moved through all the planning and design steps under Wynne and last I heard it was planned in the early 2020s; that still on track?

[Innsertnamehere]

RER is scheduled to be electrified by 2025 - the EA is complete now with the contract in the early stages of the AFP process.

[p_xavier]

Originally Posted by hipster duck

Now that the Deux Montagnes line is closed and being torn down, does that mean that Canada is the only developed country in the world with zero kilometers of electrified mainline railroad?

The line will only halfly close in a year. There will be a raimainder part open to Du Ruisseau station until the REM starts operating up to the same station, after that the rest of the line will close. So I guess RER or HFR have to catch up by 2022 or you'll be correct.

[Ontario1]

Originally Posted by caltrane74

It's not electrified yet. And with Dougie Doug in charge, don't count on it happening anytime soon.

The subways are electrified.

[nfitz]

Originally Posted by Doady

According the APTA stats, overall TTC ridership in the first half of 2018 was 11.78% higher compared to 2017, and the subway ridership in particular was 35.67% higher compared to 2017. Subway network expanded by 12.59% but ridership increased by 35.67%. That's crazy.

Apparently TTC erroneously eported linked subway data to APTA for years, rather than unlinked. Hence the huge apparent ridership increase.

Now Toronto subway ridership (and bus and commuter train ridership) is listed by APTA as higher than Montreal.

I noted in another thread back in 2013 a couple of times that it made no sense that Montreal's subway ridership was higher, given Toronto trains were larger (10% shorter but 25% wider), with more trainsets and a higher peak and off-peak frequency than Montreal. I always figured Montreal's numbers were somehow escalated - I guess it was always more likely that TTC had messed up what they were reporting!

[nfitz]

Originally Posted by ssiguy

UPX is not electrified and Toronto has the very dubious distinction of having the only airport in the world served by diesel trains.

I'm pretty sure I've seen (and even ridden some) diesel trains into both Gatwick International and Birmingham International stations. And I don't think I've even ridden to any other airport heavy-rail train stations other than Heathrow and Pearson!

Surely, I've not actually ridden to the only 3 airport railway stations that have diesel trains? Haven't ridden to Gatwick or BHX recently - have both been upgraded?

[Nouvellecosse]

Originally Posted by nfitz

Apparently TTC erroneously eported linked subway data to APTA for years, rather than unlinked. Hence the huge apparent ridership increase.

Now Toronto subway ridership (and bus and commuter train ridership) is listed by APTA as higher than Montreal.

I noted in another thread back in 2013 a couple of times that it made no sense that Montreal's subway ridership was higher, given Toronto trains were larger (10% shorter but 25% wider), with more trainsets and a higher peak and off-peak frequency than Montreal. I always figured Montreal's numbers were somehow escalated - I guess it was always more likely that TTC had messed up what they were reporting!

Where was this reporting error revealed?

[Reecemartin]

Did a walkthrough for Dixie Transit way Station here: https://youtu.be/q0v8nY2SPe8

Currently in Montreal and may upload some videos of REM construction. . . So the maintenance centre is planned to be at the south shore terminus? Also are there plans to make the platforms extendable beyond 80 m?

[niwell]

I did always find it strange that TTC numbers were supposedly lower despite how crowded the train is almost all the time now. Makes sense.

No slight on Montreal - their inner city network still is more comprehensive.

[SkahHigh]

Originally Posted by Reecemartin

Did a walkthrough for Dixie Transit way Station here: https://youtu.be/q0v8nY2SPe8

Currently in Montreal and may upload some videos of REM construction. . . So the maintenance centre is planned to be at the south shore terminus? Also are there plans to make the platforms extendable beyond 80 m?

There will be two maintenance centres, one in Saint-Eustache at the end of the current DM line, one at the South Shore terminal station as you stated. I believe the Saint-Eustache one will be more oriented towards actual maintenance while the South Shore one will be dedicated to storage mostly.

As for the platforms, there aren’t any current plans to extend them as CDPQi is banking on high frequency to maximize capacity rather than train length. I know that if the system becomes overcrowded in the future, they will seriously look at extending the platforms. The maximum capacity can go up to 24,000 pphpd so we’ll have to wait a few years before reaching that and needing platform extensions.

[nfitz]

Originally Posted by Nouvellecosse

Where was this reporting error revealed?

The APTA reports have had much higher Toronto numbers for months.

Stuart Green - the senior communications specialist in media relations at TTC is the source confirming the error according to Steve Munro - https://twitter.com/SwanBoatSteve/status/1081377779055247360

Though that there was an obvious error somewhere seemed pretty obvious to anyone who is very familiar with both systems!

[Nouvellecosse]

I knew that they were reporting linked as unlinked as it was pretty obvious, but I remember arguing with someone awhile back on SSC who simply would not, could not accept that this was the case so I was curious if there was actual documentation to refer to.

[nfitz]

Originally Posted by Nouvellecosse

I knew that they were reporting linked as unlinked as it was pretty obvious, but I remember arguing with someone awhile back on SSC who simply would not, could not accept that this was the case so I was curious if there was actual documentation to refer to.

In retrospect, I'd think adding up the daily station totals (entries and exits) and comparing to reported ridership would make it clear if it was linked or unlinked.

The last time we had this discussion here, it appears it was because STM had temporarily started reported linked versus unlinked numbers. Not sure what SSC is - Supply and Services Canada? Shared Services Canada? Statistical Society of Canada?

I'd guess that a forum at the Statistical Society of Canada discussing the reliability of reported data might get quite prickly!

[CityTech]

Originally Posted by nfitz

I'm pretty sure I've seen (and even ridden some) diesel trains into both Gatwick International and Birmingham International stations. And I don't think I've even ridden to any other airport heavy-rail train stations other than Heathrow and Pearson!

Surely, I've not actually ridden to the only 3 airport railway stations that have diesel trains? Haven't ridden to Gatwick or BHX recently - have both been upgraded?

TLV's rail link is diesel heavy rail as well, I believe.

EDIT: It has both diesel and electric lines.