The Great Canadian Transit Thread

[ssiguy]

Interesting video. I have often said that GO will be the true game changer for the entire region and could easily surpass the subway lines in ridership which is quite common throughout the world especially in cities that have relatively small subway networks like Toronto. They offer far larger systems providing superior services to millions of residents and thousands of employment centres yet at a fraction of the price and time of what traditional subways/Metros would take. With good frequency, electrification, and basically total grade separation in the inner parts of the system {like Toronto} they essentially become subway/Metros.

The GO RER system could become a stellar success and completely transform the GTA transit service but it's all going to come down to fares and right now the fares are simply too high for many especially those in Toronto itself. There are hundreds of thousands of new potential riders in the City alone right now and would love to use GO but they can't afford it so they are stuck getting packed onto much slower TTC buses/subways. A horrid waste of resources when you have busy and slow TTC services going by relatively empty GO trains especially in off-peak and weekends. This is what happens when you don't have total fare integration and expensive fares.

Thankfully GO has FINALLY started to acknowledge this and has at least brought in partial fare integration and significantly cheaper fares for travel of less than about 10km. This however can only be the start and the entire GO RER system should be the exact same price as the TTC and then ridership would soar. Until such a time GO will simply be a luxury liner going by their door that they wish they could take but can't afford it.

What I have never quite understood is why Metrolinx has not been more clear on schedules. It always states RER will be every 15 minutes, each way, all day, everyday...…...that's great but totally illogical. That means that Monday mornings at 8:30 when the regular GO commuter trains have essentially stopped their frequent service is going to be getting the same level service as 11:30PM on a Sunday night.

[Reecemartin]

Originally Posted by ssiguy

Interesting video. I have often said that GO will be the true game changer for the entire region and could easily surpass the subway lines in ridership which is quite common throughout the world especially in cities that have relatively small subway networks like Toronto. They offer far larger systems providing superior services to millions of residents and thousands of employment centres yet at a fraction of the price and time of what traditional subways/Metros would take. With good frequency, electrification, and basically total grade separation in the inner parts of the system {like Toronto} they essentially become subway/Metros.

The GO RER system could become a stellar success and completely transform the GTA transit service but it's all going to come down to fares and right now the fares are simply too high for many especially those in Toronto itself. There are hundreds of thousands of new potential riders in the City alone right now and would love to use GO but they can't afford it so they are stuck getting packed onto much slower TTC buses/subways. A horrid waste of resources when you have busy and slow TTC services going by relatively empty GO trains especially in off-peak and weekends. This is what happens when you don't have total fare integration and expensive fares.

Thankfully GO has FINALLY started to acknowledge this and has at least brought in partial fare integration and significantly cheaper fares for travel of less than about 10km. This however can only be the start and the entire GO RER system should be the exact same price as the TTC and then ridership would soar. Until such a time GO will simply be a luxury liner going by their door that they wish they could take but can't afford it.

What I have never quite understood is why Metrolinx has not been more clear on schedules. It always states RER will be every 15 minutes, each way, all day, everyday...…...that's great but totally illogical. That means that Monday mornings at 8:30 when the regular GO commuter trains have essentially stopped their frequent service is going to be getting the same level service as 11:30PM on a Sunday night.

Not exactly, every 15 mins is the *minimum* service. If you look at the RER business case it is a lot better than that in the peak at many locations.

[Dengler Avenue]

https://www.orilliamatters.com/local-new...illia-to-barrie-will-begin-aug-6-1586295

[Reecemartin]

Our latest Station Focus is out now!
Check it out and don't forget to like and subscribe!


Pioneer Village in Toronto!
https://youtu.be/ZMTQnYQuzbc

[Reecemartin]

Our latest video talks about why Mississauga actually might have pretty good transit, watch here: https://youtu.be/3q_-n3ygsq0

Don't forget to share, like and subscribe for more!

[Reecemartin]

Super excited for Viva on Southern Yonge Street in York https://youtu.be/s9uXl6_mTAk

[Wpg_Guy]

Overhead Shots of Winnipeg's Southwest Transitway Construction Activities from June 2019

[SteelTown]

Work on a third rail track into Hamilton is primed to finally bring more GO trains to West Harbour station — a $45-million building so underused that half of it is closed.

Metrolinx has confirmed work is underway to complete a "third track" to add capacity on the busy rail corridor between the Desjardins Canal and West Harbour GO station. That work, plus testing and commissioning could continue through late 2019.

https://www.thespec.com/news-story/95443...milton-s-west-harbour-station-but-when-/

[Alegan]

I've reached my limit on Star articles. What does this go on about?

https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2019/08...big-changes-for-two-subway-projects.html

[MalcolmTucker]

Originally Posted by Alegan

I've reached my limit on Star articles. What does this go on about?

https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2019/08...big-changes-for-two-subway-projects.html

Value engineering stuff - considering at grade/elevated sections; considering smaller or less elaborate bus transfers; considering the cost benefit of potential low demand stations.

[WhipperSnapper]

Originally Posted by Alegan

I've reached my limit on Star articles. What does this go on about?

https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2019/08...big-changes-for-two-subway-projects.html

Who cares. It's the Toronto Star.

[Alegan]

Originally Posted by MalcolmTucker

Value engineering stuff - considering at grade/elevated sections; considering smaller or less elaborate bus transfers; considering the cost benefit of potential low demand stations.

Thank you! So no major changes to routes or anything .. cool cool cool

[ssiguy]

I hope they do elevate it or grade separated at-grade. It's such a huge waste of money and time building underground in the suburbs so as not to block the view of the nearest McDonald's or Walmart.

[gunnar777]

Originally Posted by WhipperSnapper

Who cares. It's the Toronto Star.

The last remaining major, left of centre newspaper in Canada?

Which news source would you consider to be a reliable source of transit updates for Toronto?

[Reecemartin]

Our latest video is a long one, we talk about Dundas West Station which honestly is one of the best-connected hubs besides Union with 2 regional rail lines, a subway line, 2 streetcar lines, and several bus lines!

Enjoy!

https://youtu.be/idOOllM6Tlw

[p_xavier]

Originally Posted by gunnar777

The last remaining major, left of centre newspaper in Canada?

Which news source would you consider to be a reliable source of transit updates for Toronto?

Le Devoir is the best left of center newspaper in Canada. The Star is so biased that it lost all of its credibility.

[Chadillaccc]

I'm continually impressed with Winnipeg's transitway. Looks like it will be quite easily convertible to LRT/light metro in the future.

[SteelTown]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

Work on a third rail track into Hamilton is primed to finally bring more GO trains to West Harbour station — a $45-million building so underused that half of it is closed.

Metrolinx has confirmed work is underway to complete a "third track" to add capacity on the busy rail corridor between the Desjardins Canal and West Harbour GO station. That work, plus testing and commissioning could continue through late 2019.

https://www.thespec.com/news-story/95443...milton-s-west-harbour-station-but-when-/

More GO trains coming to West Harbour and Niagara
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/west-harbour-go-1.5247906

Travellers at Hamilton's West Harbour GO station will soon have four more trip options.

Three existing Lakeshore West GO train trips will now extend to the James North station, the Ministry of Transportation said on Thursday. There will also be a new 4:45 p.m. trip from Union Station to West Harbour, which will run express to Clarkson before serving all stops to West Harbour.

The West Harbour station opened in 2015. Metrolinx currently offers weekday rush-hour train service between West Harbour and Union Station, plus other trips to Aldershot that connect to West Harbour via bus service.

Hamilton has long hoped for increased service to West Harbour, as well as all-day GO trains to the Hamilton Centre GO station. Metrolinx is in the process of negotiating with CN, which controls much of the rails heading into Hamilton.

Metrolinx and CN are also negotiating railway access to the new Confederation GO station in east Hamilton, and construction of the station is underway.

The province is also offering new year-round weekend GO train service between Niagara Falls and Union Station.

The province says this is part of a broader Metrolinx expansion that includes 84 new weekly GO train trips across Kitchener, Lakeshore East and Lakeshore West GO train lines, and extending 65 weekly trips across the Lakeshore West and Kitchener lines, including reinstating evening train service on the Stouffville line.

[Truenorth00]

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

I'm continually impressed with Winnipeg's transitway. Looks like it will be quite easily convertible to LRT/light metro in the future.

They won't be converting for a very long time. And there's a reason it's a high quality BRT.

Hint: Look at one of the major industrial OEMs in the city.

[J.OT13]

Quick Confederation Line update. Next Revenue Service Availability deadline is tomorrow and it's all but certain that it will be missed once again. The City and the Mayor are still confident that it will be delivered this month for a September launch.

The builder must first successfully complete 12 days of testing. Based on observations around town, it's looking pretty good; trains are coming in and out of station consistently, crossing each other at the same points, announcements are in sync with train movements. Only issue is, every once in a while, a train breaks down. We don't know why. The builder and the City refuse to give updates until testing is complete, whenever that might be.

In the meantime, here are some pictures:

Hurdman Station, major transfer with the South-East Transitway:



https://twitter.com/rail613/status/1162055102494117888


https://twitter.com/RailsOfOttawa/status/1162107153768951808

Parliament Station in the heart of the CBD, expected to be the busiest on the line.

SunLife Centre entrance between the towers' central atrium and Queen Street.


https://twitter.com/OTrainFans613/status/1162081485572202501

Heritage Place entrance, corner of Queen and O'Connor.


https://twitter.com/OTrainFans613/status/1162082606311194624