The Great Canadian Transit Thread

[rbt]

Originally Posted by megadude

They put extra trains on the line for games and concerts but to modify a trip when there isn't an equipment problem or previous cancellation, etc is so rare I don't recall ever being on one like that and I've been doing this since 2007.

Looked up events at the Encercare Centre and it turns out it was for Jehovah's. Lots of people spent serious coin staying at DT hotels and were getting on at Union to take the GO or street car.

It's an unusually large convention for Toronto with with 45,000 delegates expected. Union to Exhibition is a short trip for GO but probably unusually high revenue for those outgoing AM trips.

[WhipperSnapper]

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

Did you even read it? Nowhere does it say they're asking the UCP for money. They just need the go-ahead from the government that, if the test track works, they will be able to proceed with the entire project.

They want the government assurance on the project as it's highly unlikely a startup could raise $100 million dollar on untested technology without government involvement. That probably will include a financial commitment too. It doesn't have to come from the pubic purse. The governments' equity and pension funds are heavily invested in the condo and rentals booms across the nation which is why we are in this expanding affordability mess.

[megadude]

Originally Posted by rbt

It's an unusually large convention for Toronto with with 45,000 delegates expected. Union to Exhibition is a short trip for GO but probably unusually high revenue for those outgoing AM trips.

At least Union to Exhibition in the morning is normal unlike my 7:47 Oakville to Union making a special stop at Exhibition. The 8:05 and 8:32 make all stops so those people could have used that. But I'm wondering if the GO people would have realized that many of those folks would have made the mistake of getting on and just assuming it stops where they are going and to avoid them being confused once at Union and how they're going to get to Exhibition and to avoid them paying again they just decided to stop at their destination.

And ya, Union to Exhibition in the morning was definitely much higher ridership this morning. I wonder how many took GO as opposed to streetcar. It would be more comfortable for those 6 minutes or so but at a couple bucks higher cost and not as frequent. Though it is quicker. Or they could have just not paid and got on because the chance of transit officer checking on that short journey, especially during a church convention would be 0.000001%. But something tells me these folks weren't about to commit a crime.

[megadude]

Coincidentally, as I was typing my last reply I got this email:

Extra trips on the Lakeshore West line and more trains will make a stop at Exhibition GO July 19 to 21

On Friday, July 19 through to Sunday, July 21, there will be extra train service and changes on some trips to accommodate a significant number of advanced GO train ticket bookings that have been made.


I checked my email including spam folder and this is the first email about this and of course it's after the fact. This shouldn't be surprising given the incompetence of Metrolinx.

They are also running extra trains to Niagara Falls this weekend, presumably for the delegates who aren't local and want to do the day trip.

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by megadude

Midway through I'm thinking we're travelling as fast as usual, but then again it's hotter than Hell outside and they reduce speeds. Then we pull up at Exhibition and the church people get off.

In the end we probably lost about six minutes making that extra stop. Doesn't matter for my job, but for others it would.

I think it's highly unusual for the train to make an extra stop considering how fixed they are on routine, especially during rush hour. Especially since they didn't make an announcement.

They put extra trains on the line for games and concerts but to modify a trip when there isn't an equipment problem or previous cancellation, etc is so rare I don't recall ever being on one like that and I've been doing this since 2007.

It is rare. I don't mind the one-offs like this though, they're going to happen with big events.

For me it's ALL the other times there's a 6-minute delay... or a 10-minute delay... or 15. Signal issues, switch issues, problems with a level crossing, just waiting with no reason provided. That adds up.

And it's way worse since they interlined LSE and LSW. In theory that made sense but until they have everything working like a Swiss watch every single delay on LSE affects LSW and vice-versa.

[J.OT13]

Rideau Station from Mathieu Fleury's Twitter.


https://twitter.com/MathieuFleury/status/1152625488206209024

Pimisi and Hurdman from David Bellerive's Twitter.

[Dengler Avenue]

I was looking at Go Bus schedules from Highway 407 Terminal to Richmond Hill Centre. Why does it take 10 minutes for 51, 52 and 54 to go from the former to the latter, but 15 minutes for 40 to do the same? Is it simply because 40 runs on double-deckers but not so much for the other 3 routes?

[Chadillaccc]

The Confederation Line is looking amazing. Reminds me a lot of Coquitlam's Evergreen Line.

[Reecemartin]

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

The Confederation Line is looking amazing. Reminds me a lot of Coquitlam's Evergreen Line.

There is definitely a lot of resemblance

[Reecemartin]

Our latest video is about Presto which frustrates me more and more the more I learn about it:

https://youtu.be/WFGvePWGaWM

[Dengler Avenue]

https://www.kitchenerpost.ca/news-story/...f43-bb71-b3b87efa399b&li_tr=mobile_ymbii

Should King Street between Uptown Waterloo and Downtown Kitchener, and Charles Street from Victoria Street to Borden Street, be turned into strict RIRO thoroughfares? Even the cops respond via other routes too now. So should the ambulance coming in and out of Grand River Hospital.

Pedestrians can still cross the tracks at the stations.

[J.OT13]

Rideau Transit Group, the builder of Ottawa's Confederation Line, has submitted a Notice of Substantial Completion. This means that they believe the line is complete and ready for the final test, that is the 12 consecutive days of regular service simulation (trains running on schedule, elevators and escalators running, regular maintenance...) The City has 5 days to determine whether it agrees and an independent certifier will make the final determination within the following 5 days.

If Substantial Completion is achieved, they will have the go ahead to start the 12 days of testing. If all goes well, the August 16th handover date will be within reach paving the way for a September opening.

https://www.otrainfans.ca/news/memo-ride...etion-for-the-o-train-confederation-line

[Dengler Avenue]

Oh snap that means a labour-day opening date isn’t entirely impossible.

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by Dengler Avenue

Oh snap that means a labour-day opening date isn’t entirely impossible.

The city has consistently said that it needs 4 weeks to prepare for opening.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

The city has consistently said that it needs 4 weeks to prepare for opening.

If the City and Certifier give their blessing quickly ( say 5 days total) and the 12 days of testing goes absolutely flawlessly, then it's plausible. Not likely, but plausible.

[J.OT13]

Confederation Line simulator, full-ride end-to-end.

• Video Link

[ssiguy]

Thanks for the great O-Train vid. How many meters long are the stations?

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by ssiguy

Thanks for the great O-Train vid. How many meters long are the stations?

Above-ground stations and St-Laurent are 90 meters while the three downtown subway stations are 120 meters.

[TorontoDrew]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Rideau Station from Mathieu Fleury's Twitter.


https://twitter.com/MathieuFleury/status/1152625488206209024

I thought I was looking at the Scarborough LRT for a second.

[ainvan]

TransLink named the best public transit system in North America

It has been a banner few years for TransLink when it comes to ridership growth and the rollout of expansion plans, and this work is now being recognized by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA).

The Washington DC-based non-profit organization awarded the 2019 Outstanding Public Transportation System Achievement Award to Metro Vancouver’s public transit authority, which qualified for the major transit system category of providing 20 million or more annual passenger trips.

“Winning this prestigious award means that TransLink has been recognized as the best large public transit system in North America and is a role model for the rest of the public transportation industry,” said Paul Skoutelas, CEO and president of APTA, which is an association representing 1,500 public and private sector member organizations and the only association in North America that represents all modes of public transportation.

A number of considerations for the evaluation period between 2016 and 2018 were made by APTA, including ridership growth, operational efficiency, maintenance initiatives, customer service, financial management, marketing, and sustainability.

Ridership growth during this period was 18% — far higher than all other public transit systems in Canada and the United States, far exceeding growth in population and employment.

In the last few years, TransLink introduced new passenger amenities, a new Compass Card system, and made improvements to it including Compass Card wristbands and an industry-leading RFID fare gate technology for riders physically unable to tap a Compass Card.

But at the very core of TransLink’s work is the $9-billion, 10-year Mayors’ Council transit expansion plan, including big-ticket items such as new SkyTrain extensions in Vancouver and Surrey, numerous new ‘RapidBus’ bus routes, increased regular bus service, and improved SeaBus service.

TransLink is also currently engaging the public on Transport 2050 for the creation of its next 30-year transportation expansion strategy, and just last month it unveiled a six-year strategy of improving its customer service.

DailyHive

Skytrain by Michelle Lee, on Flickr