Went for a 30+ km bike ride along Toronto's waterfront on Sunday, which has the added bonus that for part of the trail, you get to ride right alongside the 509/Harbourfront streetcar line, with streetcars zipping by!
One of the things I don't think I've brought up yet is just how fantastic the external annunciation system is on the new FLEXITY trams. I'm so excited about this for ion. Our trains will have the same vocalizer (or so I'm told), and the clarity and volume with which the line stops are announced gave me goosebumps every time I rode by one and heard her speaking. Chills, even!
I know it sounds a bit silly, but one of my absolute favourite things about trains is the noises they make. Whether it's mechanical, or chimes or automated announcements or whatever. My mind was completely blown when I was in Japan (I knew it would be, and was trying to be prepared for it, but I couldn't help but almost tear up every time I heard the little 7-note JR chime before every platform announcement). So I have a lot of anxiety about ion "getting this right" with regard to what kind of voice they pick or what kind of chimes are chosen (it'll be the same as the Toronto FLEXITY LRV's - I'm OK with that).
In Toronto for a bike ride alongside some nice #FLEXITY LRV's. This is a good trail.
— iain (@Canardiain) July 10, 2016pic.twitter.com/A7o14mVoLU
One of the things I don't think I've brought up yet is just how fantastic the external annunciation system is on the new FLEXITY trams. I'm so excited about this for ion. Our trains will have the same vocalizer (or so I'm told), and the clarity and volume with which the line stops are announced gave me goosebumps every time I rode by one and heard her speaking. Chills, even!
I know it sounds a bit silly, but one of my absolute favourite things about trains is the noises they make. Whether it's mechanical, or chimes or automated announcements or whatever. My mind was completely blown when I was in Japan (I knew it would be, and was trying to be prepared for it, but I couldn't help but almost tear up every time I heard the little 7-note JR chime before every platform announcement). So I have a lot of anxiety about ion "getting this right" with regard to what kind of voice they pick or what kind of chimes are chosen (it'll be the same as the Toronto FLEXITY LRV's - I'm OK with that).