The Great Canadian Transit Thread - Page 205

Innsertnamehere · #**4081** Posted **Apr 3, 2014, 3:21 AM**

Between Brampton and Toronto the corridor is being rebuilt to 90mph (145km/h) standards, with a 70 mph section through the Weston Tunnel.

That is roughly 1/2 the trip, but the section from Mount Pleasant to Kitchener could very easily be 200km/h. This wouldn't be true HSR so to speak, but would be sort of a "mid level" roughly equivalent to what the US is doing around Chicago right now. 1 hour travel times running semi express between Toronto and Kitchener is very possible.

caltrane74 · #**4082** Posted **Apr 3, 2014, 3:31 AM**

Surprise Surprise, Metrolinx has posted some awesome cross-sectionals of the Union Station Rebuild.

From the Metrolinx Facebook Page

caltrane74 · #**4083** Posted **Apr 3, 2014, 3:34 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Innsertnamehere

Between Brampton and Toronto the corridor is being rebuilt to 90mph (145km/h) standards, with a 70 mph section through the Weston Tunnel.

That is roughly 1/2 the trip, but the section from Mount Pleasant to Kitchener could very easily be 200km/h. This wouldn't be true HSR so to speak, but would be sort of a "mid level" roughly equivalent to what the US is doing around Chicago right now. 1 hour travel times running semi express between Toronto and Kitchener is very possible.

Wow, Semi-Express still an hour between Kitchener and Toronto. That's too long, they need to get that to about 45 minutes and then you will see ridership go gangbusters. However, I don't have a problem with an hour, it's better than the current two hour trip on the GO Train between Kitchener and Toronto.

WhipperSnapper · #**4084** Posted **Apr 3, 2014, 3:37 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1overcosc

^ I'm talking about CMA's, so Mississauga's BRT & LRT are lumped in with Toronto in that list.

Municipalities make it hard because there's so many cross-municipal systems in the GTA... the Highway 7 VIVA BRT for example includes Markham, Richmond Hill, Vaughan.

Poor choice as Markham, Vaughan, Richmond Hill are cities in the Regional Municipality of York.

mpd618 · #**4085** Posted **Apr 3, 2014, 3:57 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Innsertnamehere

That is roughly 1/2 the trip, but the section from Mount Pleasant to Kitchener could very easily be 200km/h. This wouldn't be true HSR so to speak, but would be sort of a "mid level" roughly equivalent to what the US is doing around Chicago right now. 1 hour travel times running semi express between Toronto and Kitchener is very possible.

What struck me in Glen Murray's comments is that he was quite clear that the province is in negotiation for purchasing tracks in order to expand GO service. He did not specify the corridor, but given the discussion was regarding Kitchener, it may very well be the Mount Pleasant to Kitchener portion.

Dwils01 · #**4086** Posted **Apr 3, 2014, 6:04 AM**

I'd would personally prefer to expand and improve transit in the GTA then to expand or built new highways there.

kwoldtimer · #**4087** Posted **Apr 3, 2014, 12:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by caltrane74

Wow, Semi-Express still an hour between Kitchener and Toronto. That's too long, they need to get that to about 45 minutes and then you will see ridership go gangbusters. However, I don't have a problem with an hour, it's better than the current two hour trip on the GO Train between Kitchener and Toronto.

Folks in K-W would be thrilled with a one hour trip, which would be considerably faster than you can do it (legally) by car. The current two hour trip is pathetic.

caltrane74 · #**4088** Posted **Apr 3, 2014, 1:26 PM**

Lots of goodies coming down the pipe for this election.

With that said, Airport Electrification first, then Lakeshore , and the final piece would be between the Airport and Kitchener. That is just my assessment based on the drip drip of information, coming from the political masters. Long timelines yee, but will be worth the wait.

franktko · #**4089** Posted **Apr 3, 2014, 2:53 PM**

Possible scenarios for the Montreal portion of the Champlain Bridge LRT. One scenario has a 3 km metro-like tunnel with stations in Pointe-St-Charles and Griffintown:

http://blogues.lapresse.ca/avenirmtl/2014/04/02/une-nouvelle-ligne-de-metro-pour-le-slr-champlain/

Aylmer · #**4090** Posted **Apr 3, 2014, 2:57 PM**

Do you figure GO might start to morph into a province-wide regional network, akin to Germany's Regionalbahn and RE Bahn? Instead of just serving Toronto, it could offer local and semi-local service throughout southern and eastern Ontario. Instead of all lines passing through Union, there could be routes like KW-Hamilton or Pembroke-Ottawa. VIA could provide interprovincial and express service (like Toronto-Ottawa-Montreal or KW-Guelph-Toronto with no intermediary stops) as well as remote service (Northlander and Canadian, for example).

Maybe full-day GO service to KW is a sign of things to come

kwoldtimer · #**4091** Posted **Apr 3, 2014, 3:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aylmer

Do you figure GO might start to morph into a province-wide regional network, akin to Germany's Regionalbahn and RE Bahn? Instead of just serving Toronto, it could offer local and semi-local service throughout southern and eastern Ontario. Instead of all lines passing through Union, there could be routes like KW-Hamilton or Pembroke-Ottawa. VIA could provide interprovincial and express service (like Toronto-Ottawa-Montreal or KW-Guelph-Toronto with no intermediary stops) as well as remote service (Northlander and Canadian, for example).

Maybe full-day GO service to KW is a sign of things to come

Maybe someday, though not in my lifetime. The moves toward decent GO service to/from Kitchener is all about reinforcing the high tech sector.

Aylmer · #**4092** Posted **Apr 3, 2014, 3:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by franktko

Possible scenarios for the Montreal portion of the Champlain Bridge LRT. One scenario has a 3 km metro-like tunnel with stations in Pointe-St-Charles and Griffintown:

http://blogues.lapresse.ca/avenirmtl/2014/04/02/une-nouvelle-ligne-de-metro-pour-le-slr-champlain/

I've never understood why no one seems to consider the Pont Victoria, even as a temporary solution. At least until the Champlain LRT is up and running, I think that a smart congestion-relief measure would just be to run some old DMUs back and forth between Bonaventure and Longueuil all day.

I am excited to see how LRT in Montreal will play out. If it's successful, I'd hope to see more of it in the city as a lower-cost alternative to the Metro to places like Montréal-Nord, Lachine, the Airport and the West Island which are woefully underserviced by transit, but which might not warrant the enormous cost of a Metro.

Beedok · #**4093** Posted **Apr 3, 2014, 3:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aylmer

Do you figure GO might start to morph into a province-wide regional network, akin to Germany's Regionalbahn and RE Bahn? Instead of just serving Toronto, it could offer local and semi-local service throughout southern and eastern Ontario. Instead of all lines passing through Union, there could be routes like KW-Hamilton or Pembroke-Ottawa. VIA could provide interprovincial and express service (like Toronto-Ottawa-Montreal or KW-Guelph-Toronto with no intermediary stops) as well as remote service (Northlander and Canadian, for example).

Maybe full-day GO service to KW is a sign of things to come

I really hope for decent Hamilton-KW and Brantford GO connections, even if they're just buses for a while.

Riise · #**4094** Posted **Apr 3, 2014, 8:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by caltrane74

Surprise Surprise, Metrolinx has posted some awesome cross-sectionals of the Union Station Rebuild.

Is there a particular reason why the platforms are low and not level with the doors as opposed to high platforms that could align?

caltrane74 · #**4095** Posted **Apr 3, 2014, 9:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Riise

Is there a particular reason why the platforms are low and not level with the doors as opposed to high platforms that could align?

Probably because of the different train types that use the station. Although the centre of the platform which comes in flush, there is still a gap that needs to be transversed, by a user operated plank which extends from the centre car.

miketoronto · #**4096** Posted **Apr 3, 2014, 9:49 PM**

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/transpor...ransit_head_to_help_improve_service.html

TTC recruits York Region Transit head to help improve service

Five years after taking the wheel at York Region Transit, Rick Leary is crossing the border again.
But this time, the former Boston transit executive is only going as far as the TTC, where he has been named chief service officer. He will be responsible for driving up the performance of bus and streetcar routes and will oversee the system’s 69 subway stations. The six group station managers appointed last year will report to him.
“He has the knowledge, experience and, critically, the people skills to drive up performance of surface transit and customer satisfaction,” said TTC CEO Andy Byford.