ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit

[ijmorlan]

I’ve been waiting and waiting, every time I see a new post in this thread.

Apart from it generally being a bad idea to turn into the path of a moving train, are left turns allowed at that location?

From Agnes onto King, yes. Off King, no; you can see in the photo that northbound traffic may not turn (including U-turns); but the same is true southbound as well (Thanks Streetview!). Initially I guessed the car was turning from Agnes onto King, in which case it would have to be running a red (unless a basically impossible signal malfunction were happening) but now I think it was going southbound on King and either U-turning or going down the laneway.

Either way, a traffic violation. Pro tip: if you’re going to violate a turn restriction or other traffic rule, make absolutely sure there is nobody and nothing anywhere nearby with whom you could possibly be involved in a collision. Or, just follow the rules; it’s not that hard to go an extra couple of blocks.

Slight oddity: the lights on King northbound are regular greens, but they could be straight ahead arrows since no other movement is permitted. Also there is a no-left-turn sign next to each traffic light head but no U-turn only next to the left hand one.

[taylortbb]

Apart from it generally being a bad idea to turn into the path of a moving train, are left turns allowed at that location?

Left turns aren't allowed there, but I strongly believe a large percentage of drivers in this city think that "no left turns" actually means "no left turns, unless it would be inconvenient to go around". Lots of people have (correctly) assessed that we don't enforce traffic rules in this country, so why wouldn't they ignore the rules if it gets them somewhere faster? I think it's seen by a lot of people as equivalent to driving 10 over, just a thing everyone does. Except sometimes there's a train.

Also there is a no-left-turn sign next to each traffic light head but no U-turn only next to the left hand one.

The no left turns are installed as required by regulations for properly signing a turn restriction, the no u-turn is just a bonus sign that was added later. No left turns also prohibits u-turns, but apparently not enough people know that.

[trainspotter139]

I’ve been waiting and waiting, every time I see a new post in this thread.

Apart from it generally being a bad idea to turn into the path of a moving train, are left turns allowed at that location?

there's a No Left Turn and a No U-Turn sign on the centre pole in both directions  and a No Left Turn sign to the right of the right-most traffic signal in both directions.

[ijmorlan]

The no left turns are installed as required by regulations for properly signing a turn restriction, the no u-turn is just a bonus sign that was added later. No left turns also prohibits u-turns, but apparently not enough people know that.

That mostly makes sense, but how would you sign a location where U-turns are allowed but the left turn would be a one-way violation and must therefore be prohibited?

Anyway, I’ve noticed inconsistencies in signage all over the place. I’ve realized that all the turn prohibitions should be grouped right next to the traffic light head, and both traffic light heads should have the exact same signs grouped next to them. Since it’s not my actual job I haven’t thought through how it should work when there is a separate left turn signal. I will however watch to see just what the inconsistencies are; if they are only the presence/absence of “bonus” signs then it’s not as bad as I thought.

[Coke6pk]

That mostly makes sense, but how would you sign a location where U-turns are allowed but the left turn would be a one-way violation and must therefore be prohibited?

This is my guess:

   

Coke

[Bytor]

That mostly makes sense, but how would you sign a location where U-turns are allowed but the left turn would be a one-way violation and must therefore be prohibited?

This is my guess:



Coke

Don't give up your day job quite yet, OK? ;-)

[trainspotter139]

515 out and about testing. Seen here at Fairway Station    

[ac3r]

Is 515 the latest LRV that Bombardier sent us for their colossal screw ups?

I'm curious if they plan on putting it into service anytime soon, or whether it'll just act as a spare. I don't know much about train scheduling but if adding that could increase headway, that would be pretty nice. I may be remembering incorrectly, but I think the initial headway was supposed to be 7 minutes in rush hour and...possibly 12 minutes the rest of the time.

Edit: Unrelated, but does anyone know if the automatic door opening will end up being permanent? I know they started that at the beginning of the pandemic when we thought that it could be easily transmitted through touch, but research has since proven that it's extremely hard to do so. I don't mind having them open on their own, it's pretty useful.

[danbrotherston]

Is 515 the latest LRV that Bombardier sent us for their colossal screw ups?

I'm curious if they plan on putting it into service anytime soon, or whether it'll just act as a spare. I don't know much about train scheduling but if adding that could increase headway, that would be pretty nice. I may be remembering incorrectly, but I think the initial headway was supposed to be 7 minutes in rush hour and...possibly 12 minutes the rest of the time.

Edit: Unrelated, but does anyone know if the automatic door opening will end up being permanent? I know they started that at the beginning of the pandemic when we thought that it could be easily transmitted through touch, but research has since proven that it's extremely hard to do so. I don't mind having them open on their own, it's pretty useful.

On the first point, they seem to be testing it, so I'm guessing it will be put in the rotation. I'm not an operations specialist, but I suspect that it makes more sense to keep all your vehicles in rotation, so that they all see equal wear, and none are left sitting to rot (or whatever mechanical devices do to degrade when you leave them sit). That being said, I don't think it will be used to increase headway. I believe the current fleet was enough to achieve 8 minute headways, the limitation was never equipment, but policy, that left us with less. And during a pandemic, I really doubt we'll see any investment.

As for automatic doors, I'm not sure. I know that we all know touch is a low probability vector, but it a highly advertised part of the...COVID theater. I've seen numerous examples even to this day, of government announcements spending even half of a notice talking about the need for handwashing and surface sanitation.  And ultimately, I suspect that at least part of the reason it is so low risk, is because of precautions we all take. But regardless, I doubt they will be easing up on those any time. (Of course, at no time was the region willing to turn off its beg buttons, because pandemic or no pandemic, priority is always on moving drivers faster, and fuck the rest of us).

That being said, I know they wanted the doors not to open automatically for the benefit of heating and air conditioning efficiency and comfort of passengers, and I'm gonna say...I'm definitely sympathetic to that argument.

[ac3r]

That being said, I know they wanted the doors not to open automatically for the benefit of heating and air conditioning efficiency and comfort of passengers, and I'm gonna say...I'm definitely sympathetic to that argument.

I figured that was the case above all else, if we ignore the pandemic reasons. Since it's not an underground system - nor are any stations covered from the elements in any meaningful way - it makes sense to only open doors when people require them. It is convenient to have them open on their own, however. This helps people unfamiliar with the system or the physically or visually impaired who may not be able to easily locate the button before the train pulls off. I have witnessed people miss their stops because they are unsure how to do it, including an individual with a physical impairment who could not manage to reach the button.

[danbrotherston]

That being said, I know they wanted the doors not to open automatically for the benefit of heating and air conditioning efficiency and comfort of passengers, and I'm gonna say...I'm definitely sympathetic to that argument.

I figured that was the case above all else, if we ignore the pandemic reasons. Since it's not an underground system - nor are any stations covered from the elements in any meaningful way - it makes sense to only open doors when people require them. It is convenient to have them open on their own, however. This helps people unfamiliar with the system or the physically or visually impaired who may not be able to easily locate the button before the train pulls off. I have witnessed people miss their stops because they are unsure how to do it, including an individual with a physical impairment who could not manage to reach the button.

Definitely are tradeoffs. To be honest, since we don't have an automated system, I think the driver should be looking to see if there are people trying to get off.

[KevinT]

Is 515 the latest LRV that Bombardier sent us for their colossal screw ups?

I'm curious if they plan on putting it into service anytime soon, or whether it'll just act as a spare.

It will definitely be put into service, as some of our early units have the same welding issues as the first 60 or so TTC streetcars and require significant disassembly for rework. They'll be taken out of service one at a time in order for this to happen. 515 exists to cover that gap, but we also get to keep it in the end as penance.

[KevinL]

Yes, 515 is the stopgap unit while the others go for repair AND part of the compensation for the delays in the first place.

[ac3r]

Ah I see. For some reason I thought we already fixed the welds here...but now that I think about it, there is probably some clause where only Bombardier is authorized to make certain repairs (beyond us fixing the bumpers) on the vehicles since modern capitalism is great like that.

[Bytor]

Is 515 the latest LRV that Bombardier sent us for their colossal screw ups?

I'm curious if they plan on putting it into service anytime soon, or whether it'll just act as a spare.

It will definitely be put into service, as some of our early units have the same welding issues as the first 60 or so TTC streetcars and require significant disassembly for rework. They'll be taken out of service one at a time in order for this to happen. 515 exists to cover that gap, but we also get to keep it in the end as penance.

Do we know how many, exactly?

I thought they switched away from the Mexican fabs and started using La Pocatière components before too many in our run, only switching back after 514 to start the Crosstown run.