01-18-2022, 06:00 PM
I'm not sure why, but you're really prone to misrepresenting facts related to ION. It opened about 1.5 years, which isn't great, but isn't that unusual for major infrastructure projects. The trains weren't about to fall apart - there were welding issues but not severe enough that the trains couldn't be used in service. They remained in service and a 15th unit that Bombardier provided as compensation to the region for they delays filled in as they were taken out of service individually (I'm actually not sure if the work is complete yet).
The slightly raised platforms are to allow level boarding so that the trains are accessible. I don't believe any other vehicle was really in the cards anyway, as we were piggybacking on the Metrolinx order for the Eglinton LRT in Toronto. Even if high-floor vehicles were an option, I strongly disagree that they would have been a good one - look at how disruptive they are to the streetscape in downtown Calgary, for example.
The slightly raised platforms are to allow level boarding so that the trains are accessible. I don't believe any other vehicle was really in the cards anyway, as we were piggybacking on the Metrolinx order for the Eglinton LRT in Toronto. Even if high-floor vehicles were an option, I strongly disagree that they would have been a good one - look at how disruptive they are to the streetscape in downtown Calgary, for example.