Confederation Line (Stage 1) | In Service 1.0

[lrt's friend]

I don't remember much security when I was in Oslo. Definitely, when I was in Poland, my guide took me not just to the platform but also to my seat on the train.

[Truenorth00]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

All the more reason for this type of stupid decentralization to be banished from the federal and municipal planning vocabulary.

"Decentralization" means different things to different people. To a government department going from 48 buildings and sites to 7 campuses in Ottawa, that does not look like decentralization.

If DND had the option of building a facility in the downtown core that could house 10 000 personnel, for an acquisition cost of $208 million, I'm sure they would have jumped on it. Just look at the parking issues they have at Carling. They don't want people driving. But that was also the best they could acquire.

[zzptichka]

Hopefully our terrorists are dumb enough they don't realize they could board same train without any gate check and security theatre at any minor station including very busy Fallowfield for example.

[Truenorth00]

Originally Posted by zzptichka

Hopefully our terrorists are dumb enough they don't realize they could board same train without any gate check and security theatre at any minor station including very busy Fallowfield for example.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_Via_Rail_Canada_terrorism_plot

If/when HFR happens, I'll be genuinely surprised if there isn't airline style security to get on the platforms.

[Gat-Train]

Speaking of under-engineering stations, they really cheaped out at Tunney’s Pasture. The sidewalk between the north side of the building and the bus loop is already a tight squeeze and is made even worse by the doors opening outward. I can’t imagine automatic sliding doors adding that much to the $2 billion price tag.

[Horus]

Originally Posted by Truenorth00

Few points.

First, the number of snow days doesn't correspond to crap on the ground.

True, but outside of those days the crap on the ground is a maintenance issue, not an exposure issue.

Originally Posted by Truenorth00

Next, the cost of a covered walkway is really not that huge for VIA.

And that is VIA's responsibility, not that of the Confederation Line planners/builders.

Originally Posted by Truenorth00

Lastly, I did say it makes sense as part of an overall effort with rejuvenating the station and designing it for higher traffic volumes, with HFR. Until then, I agree, it's not the highest priority.

I'm with you there. If increased volumes result from implementation of HFR or other improved intercity passenger service, there may be a justified need for improvements between the VIA and OCTranspo stations

[CityTech]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

I don't remember much security when I was in Oslo. Definitely, when I was in Poland, my guide took me not just to the platform but also to my seat on the train.

A few months ago I took a trip to Israel that involved lots of train trips (including some low use local branch lines) and there security was minimal. All the train stations had fare gates that blocked off platform access to non-passengers (very similar to what we have in Confederation Line stations) but there weren't any bag checks or security screenings or anything. The process of buying a ticket to get through the gate was automated by a fare machine. Pretty minimal security.

Then again the Israelis are masters at providing real security instead of security theatre, so there's that.

[zzptichka]

Originally Posted by Truenorth00

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_Via_Rail_Canada_terrorism_plot

If/when HFR happens, I'll be genuinely surprised if there isn't airline style security to get on the platforms.

Good example of how anti-terrorist measures should work. Infiltrate, work with the community and prevent the attack on early stages.
If terrorists went as far as attempting to board a train with a bomb then you are doing anti-terrorism wrong and misusing your resources.

Here is what happens when you are more pre-occupied with security theatre instead of doing actual anti-terrorism work: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/December_2013_Volgograd_bombings
18 people died while standing in line for security screening.

[613Steve]

In November I took Deutsche-Bahn ICE from Paris to Frankfurt and you had to scan your ticket to go through what was basically a fare gate to get on to the platform. It was rather minimal and very different than the VIA Rail airport style setup that we have.

I didn't see any security checkpoints at stations when taking regional trains in Europe. The closest thing to that would be police checking passports on the train at the Sweden/Denmark border.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by CityTech

A few months ago I took a trip to Israel that involved lots of train trips (including some low use local branch lines) and there security was minimal. All the train stations had fare gates that blocked off platform access to non-passengers (very similar to what we have in Confederation Line stations) but there weren't any bag checks or security screenings or anything. The process of buying a ticket to get through the gate was automated by a fare machine. Pretty minimal security.

Then again the Israelis are masters at providing real security instead of security theatre, so there's that.

Well yeah. In Israel the security is always there even if you don't see it!

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by 613Steve

In November I took Deutsche-Bahn ICE from Paris to Frankfurt and you had to scan your ticket to go through what was basically a fare gate to get on to the platform. It was rather minimal and very different than the VIA Rail airport style setup that we have.

I didn't see any security checkpoints at stations when taking regional trains in Europe. The closest thing to that would be police checking passports on the train at the Sweden/Denmark border.

Yeah. I was prepared for that when going from Copenhagen to Malmo. The lady next to me was not. She didn't have a problem but didn't have a passport as she should have had.

[Baybreeze12]

I'm curious to know how many people have taken the train out for a spin. Does anyone know if OC Transpo will be releasing ridership figures for the opening of the line? I know they "stopped" collecting system-wide numbers during construction, but surely now they'd want to brag?

For comparison, GRT reported that the first week of the Ion launch saw 300,000 riders (though the rides were free).

[Truenorth00]

Originally Posted by Baybreeze12

. Does anyone know if OC Transpo will be releasing ridership figures for the opening of the line? I know they "stopped" collecting system-wide numbers during construction, but surely now they'd want to brag?

For comparison, GRT reported that the first week of the Ion launch saw 300,000 riders (though the rides were free).

I've racked up more than a dozen rides with commuting and short hops and first day trial. I would be surprised if first week ridership wasn't half a million. I'm hoping for a million.

[TheMatth69]

Don't know if anybody noticed but trains are going faster after 9pm. Took the train at 10pm today and between Bayview & Pimisi the train was going much faster than during the day. On that portion of the track trains never seem to go faster than 50km/h, but this time the train was going at least 60km/h. Anybody with possible explanation ?

[midriser]

Originally Posted by Truenorth00

What? Not my experience in Spain, Germany, or UK. Most HSR and intercity rail platforms were restricted to ticket holders. And in many cases had bag scans and metal detectors to access the platform.

Just a few days ago, I got back from a trip to Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic. I took 10+ long distance and regional trains, from flagship high speed services like the DB ICE and ÖBB/ČD RailJet, to international EuroCity services, to InterCity services, and down to local stopping trains. Not once did I have to go through any kind of ticket check, barrier, or security procedure before getting on a train.

Anyone could access any platform at every station I went to, including large central stations in places like Frankfurt, Berlin, Leipzig, Dresden, Prague, Salzburg, and Vienna. The only time tickets were checked were actually on the train when it was well underway.

Last year I went on a trip to the Scandinavian capitals + Helsinki, and there weren't any restrictions to accessing train platforms there either.

I've seen ticket barriers to access train platforms in the UK, but haven't seen them anywhere else that I've been in Europe.

[OCCheetos]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

We really don't know the final plan. One of the last things I heard is that airport trains will arrive midway between the main line trains. There will be a 6 minute wait, but that could all change with the final design. The ideal would have South Keys to Bayview double tracked so that airport trains could go to Bayview and overall frequency and speed on the main line improved. Not happening any decade soon.

The very latest word is that the design of South Keys is in flux and could be changed. A user reported it on the O-Train Fans forum and then Shane said he heard the same while he was at OC Transpo recording videos.

The general message was that elements of Stage 2 south could change (so Shane should hold off on content for a bit), but unfortunately I don't think it's any of the elements we really want.

[zzptichka]

Via Matthew Fleury:

[Truenorth00]

2450 trips seems low. That works out to a rough average of about 9-10 per hour per direction on average for the 6.5 days in service. I would think it might be higher with 4 min frequencies for a chunk of the day.

Dunno if they'll publish first week ridership, but with that many trips, it should be over half a million at least.

[Kitchissippi]

Riding the line end to end, it's really noticeable how ridiculously twisty, slow and noisy the stretch between Tremblay and Hurdman is. Given that there was a lot of open space to work with, couldn't Hurdman station have been built more angled towards the northeast to get rid of the s-curve?

[Razor]

My wife wanted a Subway sandwich for dinner last night, so I stopped in on the one in that Alta Vista strip mall, parked my car and took a 15 min walk down to Hurdman to check it out..Very cool, and impressive..I imagine that in time there will be vendors at some of these stations, and Hurdman will be one of, if not the busiest hub? I'm not sure of the numbers..I may take the train out for a spin tonight or tomorrow sometime.