(05-12-2017, 12:25 PM)Markster Wrote:(05-12-2017, 12:18 PM)Pheidippides Wrote: How would this even work? By the time they'll know which line the trains are for won't the platforms, etc be in place and require adjusting to fit a different vehicle?
That's the beauty of building a standard LRT system (as opposed to say, skytrain). All the vehicles made by many different manufacturers are close enough to the same tolerances to make them inter-operable.
...which could be true if they'd gone with another type of Citadis, but if they're using the Spirit (Ottawa) vehicle (which sounds like they are, just to rush it through), then there are all sorts of complications that will arise. As one example, they'll have to totally reconfigure the maintenance pits at the OMSF for the vehicle lifts - there are lifts that are mounted within the concrete (totally integrated into the foundation) that align with the first, third and fifth modules on the 5-module FLEXITY. This is to lift up the train so that the bogies can be rolled out-exchanged. Citadis Spirit is a super-weird 4-module LRV with two bogies on the second module, and single bogies (trailered, articulated) on the other 3. The doors are also in non-standard locations (totally asymetric) because of the wheel configuration, and the length is different, so you can't have platform screen doors, if you decided to do that one day.
I just can't wrap my head around the fact that the 182 LRV's they have on order already from Bombardier is about 50% too many for what they actually need.... and now they've ordered another 60+. If ML can't cancel the order, and BBD pulls through, ML will have wasted close to a billion dollars on trains that will sit unused somewhere. The only plausable thing I can think they're trying to do is use this as an excuse like "Oh, well I guess we HAVE to build more LRT lines, then! Surprise, Scarborough, wouldn't make much sense to build a 1-stop subway now would it?" etc...
Metrolinx is playing this like a cheating wife who is running off with her new handsome French soccer-playing boyfriend (Alstom) while her hard-working husband (Bombardier) is pulling 60 hour work weeks. It is sickening.