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ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit - Printable Version

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RE: ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit - ac3r - 01-10-2020

Not sure if this has been posted before, but here's a peek at two LRVs running together, which they'll introduce in about 3-4 years. Not the best angle, unfortunately.

[Image: s43SWaD.jpg]


RE: ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit - taylortbb - 01-10-2020

(01-10-2020, 12:47 AM)ac3r Wrote: Not sure if this has been posted before, but here's a peek at two LRVs running together, which they'll introduce in about 3-4 years. Not the best angle, unfortunately.

The draft service plans from the project agreement had that timetable, but those are ancient and pretty irrelevant at this point. The region would have to be ordering vehicles now for that timetable to be realistic, and that's not something they've done. Actual changes will be based on ridership.

RE: ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit - panamaniac - 01-10-2020

(01-10-2020, 01:55 AM)taylortbb Wrote:
(01-10-2020, 12:47 AM)ac3r Wrote: Not sure if this has been posted before, but here's a peek at two LRVs running together, which they'll introduce in about 3-4 years. Not the best angle, unfortunately.

The draft service plans from the project agreement had that timetable, but those are ancient and pretty irrelevant at this point. The region would have to be ordering vehicles now for that timetable to be realistic, and that's not something they've done. Actual changes will be based on ridership.
Speaking of which, are we likely to see much wrt ridership numbers prior to the first full year of operation?

RE: ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit - Bytor - 01-10-2020

(01-10-2020, 10:06 AM)panamaniac Wrote:
(01-10-2020, 01:55 AM)taylortbb Wrote: The draft service plans from the project agreement had that timetable, but those are ancient and pretty irrelevant at this point. The region would have to be ordering vehicles now for that timetable to be realistic, and that's not something they've done. Actual changes will be based on ridership.
Speaking of which, are we likely to see much wrt ridership numbers prior to the first full year of operation?

I have been bugging them about that since March 2019. Here is my latest tweet:

https://twitter.com/Bytor/status/1215721201735274496

Perhaps others could retweet and amplify?

I was using the numbers for this project: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1uiRgK-7HHQU7R_A_I6EWdQs_MK1qyvUe3sjEnTmPhGY/edit#gid=0

RE: ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit - Bob_McBob - 01-11-2020

The Record just published a fairly in-depth article about maintenance issues since the start of service.

https://www.therecord.com/news-story/9804142-sticking-gates-holding-up-traffic-at-lrt-crossings/

RE: ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit - danbrotherston - 01-11-2020

(01-11-2020, 04:07 PM)Bob_McBob Wrote: The Record just published a fairly in-depth article about maintenance issues since the start of service.

https://www.therecord.com/news-story/9804142-sticking-gates-holding-up-traffic-at-lrt-crossings/

It's a little ironic that the most frequent maintenance failure doesn't impact system users, but drivers. That being said, given that at University, drivers drive in the pedestrian crossing to go around the gates, it's still a big issue.

My question is, we have had railway gates for about 150 years. How is it possible that they still do not function correctly. These are standard parts are they not?

RE: ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit - Bob_McBob - 01-11-2020

I really do not understand the continuing issues with the gates either. As you said, this isn't exactly a new technology, and they've been in place for years. Even when it happened literally beside the OMSF in December it took them nearly 30 minutes to resolve the issue.

RE: ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit - ijmorlan - 01-11-2020

(01-11-2020, 04:51 PM)Bob_McBob Wrote: I really do not understand the continuing issues with the gates either. As you said, this isn't exactly a new technology, and they've been in place for years. Even when it happened literally beside the OMSF in December it took them nearly 30 minutes to resolve the issue.

I thought that one was due to a stopped LRV? Still unacceptable, if my understanding of the sequence of events is correct, but not related to failing crossing gate equipment.

RE: ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit - Bob_McBob - 01-11-2020

(01-11-2020, 08:38 PM)ijmorlan Wrote:
(01-11-2020, 04:51 PM)Bob_McBob Wrote: I really do not understand the continuing issues with the gates either. As you said, this isn't exactly a new technology, and they've been in place for years. Even when it happened literally beside the OMSF in December it took them nearly 30 minutes to resolve the issue.

I thought that one was due to a stopped LRV? Still unacceptable, if my understanding of the sequence of events is correct, but not related to failing crossing gate equipment.

Yes, it was caused by a stalled train triggering the signal, but it took a ridiculous amount of time for Keolis to clear it considering the location. I have little faith they are dispatching repair crews any faster to other stuck signals caused by the signal hardware itself.

RE: ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit - ijmorlan - 01-11-2020

(01-11-2020, 08:44 PM)Bob_McBob Wrote: Yes, it was caused by a stalled train triggering the signal, but it took a ridiculous amount of time for Keolis to clear it considering the location. I have little faith they are dispatching repair crews any faster to other stuck signals caused by the signal hardware itself.

I see what you mean. Yes, I agree that problems which severely affect either LRT service or cross traffic need to be addressed forthwith. It occurs to me that a signal stuck down could be handled by a staff member popping on the LRT and just being let off right at the problem location. That might be the fastest access to locations along the rail corridor section in Waterloo. Not so much in Kitchener where taking a truck down the expressway would probably be faster.

I wonder how those jobs are staffed? I mean, what is the person who fixes a stuck gate doing when they aren’t fixing a stuck gate?

RE: ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit - plam - 01-12-2020

(01-11-2020, 04:35 PM)danbrotherston Wrote: My question is, we have had railway gates for about 150 years. How is it possible that they still do not function correctly. These are standard parts are they not?

Recall that a big part of the vehicle delay was because of the in-cab signalling systems. I understand that it's not just a simple mechanical device these days but instead the cab works in conjunction with the signal and control to ensure safety. I don't think that it is standard parts at all anymore. Pretty sure it is also linked with positive train control.

I guess this is one such system:

https://www.scheidt-bachmann.de/en/strongsignallingstrong-systems/products-solutions/level-crossing-system/level-crossing-control-system/

RE: ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit - MidTowner - 01-12-2020

(01-11-2020, 04:07 PM)Bob_McBob Wrote: The Record just published a fairly in-depth article about maintenance issues since the start of service.

https://www.therecord.com/news-story/9804142-sticking-gates-holding-up-traffic-at-lrt-crossings/


"[Thomas] Schmidt said the public may learn in a few months when the planned frequency will be achieved."

We "may" learn in a few months. In late August, we were told the delay would be measured in months, not weeks. Fair enough, but four and a half months later there is not even an estimate of when the planned frequency will be delivered.

RE: ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit - danbrotherston - 01-12-2020

(01-12-2020, 02:10 AM)plam Wrote:
(01-11-2020, 04:35 PM)danbrotherston Wrote: My question is, we have had railway gates for about 150 years. How is it possible that they still do not function correctly. These are standard parts are they not?

Recall that a big part of the vehicle delay was because of the in-cab signalling systems. I understand that it's not just a simple mechanical device these days but instead the cab works in conjunction with the signal and control to ensure safety. I don't think that it is standard parts at all anymore. Pretty sure it is also linked with positive train control.

I guess this is one such system:

https://www.scheidt-bachmann.de/en/strongsignallingstrong-systems/products-solutions/level-crossing-system/level-crossing-control-system/

I got the sense from the description that the failures where in the actual gates, not the control systems. If it was in the control systems, I would think the central control centre could remotely fix the problem within a few minutes....or at least, should be able to do so.

RE: ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit - danbrotherston - 01-12-2020

(01-12-2020, 07:37 AM)MidTowner Wrote:
(01-11-2020, 04:07 PM)Bob_McBob Wrote: The Record just published a fairly in-depth article about maintenance issues since the start of service.

https://www.therecord.com/news-story/9804142-sticking-gates-holding-up-traffic-at-lrt-crossings/


"[Thomas] Schmidt said the public may learn in a few months when the planned frequency will be achieved."

We "may" learn in a few months. In late August, we were told the delay would be measured in months, not weeks. Fair enough, but four and a half months later there is not even an estimate of when the planned frequency will be delivered.

At this point, I don't put much trust in what Schmidt says.

RE: ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit - taylortbb - 01-12-2020

(01-12-2020, 02:10 AM)plam Wrote:
(01-11-2020, 04:35 PM)danbrotherston Wrote: My question is, we have had railway gates for about 150 years. How is it possible that they still do not function correctly. These are standard parts are they not?

Recall that a big part of the vehicle delay was because of the in-cab signalling systems. I understand that it's not just a simple mechanical device these days but instead the cab works in conjunction with the signal and control to ensure safety. I don't think that it is standard parts at all anymore. Pretty sure it is also linked with positive train control.

I guess this is one such system:

https://www.scheidt-bachmann.de/en/strongsignallingstrong-systems/products-solutions/level-crossing-system/level-crossing-control-system/

ION uses the Alstom Urbalis signalling system https://www.alstom.com/our-solutions/signalling/urbalis-cbtc-range-future-signalling-systems . It's not yet fully working, that's why we don't have ATP and trains are limited to 50km/h on the spur line. Wouldn't be surprised if its issues are related to the gate issues.