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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 - tomh009 - 12-13-2016

(12-13-2016, 07:11 PM)Markster Wrote:
(12-13-2016, 07:04 PM)tomh009 Wrote: Of course we wouldn't have been ready to receive 14 train sets last week anyway ... or the first train set in August.  Our track construction is also behind schedule, although not as much as Bombardier.

The storage tracks at the maintenance facility looked pretty good at the Open House.  I'm sure they would have been able to park them no problem.
Not to mention, if there was actual sign of receiving vehicles, I imagine that certain parts of the maintenance facility would have been higher up on the construction schedule. As it stands, there was no rush.

Maybe we could store them.  But that's pretty much all we could do with them at this point.

RE: ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit - Drake - 12-13-2016

I really wonder how on earth the penalty could be so low. As others have stated, now that we have reached the maximum threshold, there is no incentive to hurry. $3.3M is small potatoes to all players and likely only fills the requirement expected by the public that there is a penalty clause.

When I read articles about how Bombardier failed to meet its contacts is signed in the UK in 2011 (and I am putting that mildly) and the fiasco going on in Toronto; this appears to be business as usual for Bombardier.

Its a feel good story that we supported a Canadian company however they seem to have no intention of reciprocating, and likes to think of themselves as an NGO that is too big to fail, just like the CBC.

I pay a lot in taxes and to see money thrown away over the course of a variety of subjects doesn't leave me with a warm fuzzy. Mismanaged companies should fail. This is the natural order of things. To perpetually prop them up causes more problems than it solves.

Can we argue about the monorail some more?

RE: ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit - Canard - 12-13-2016

(12-13-2016, 07:04 PM)tomh009 Wrote: Of course we wouldn't have been ready to receive 14 train sets last week anyway ... or the first train set in August.  Our track construction is also behind schedule, although not as much as Bombardier.

(12-13-2016, 08:39 PM)tomh009 Wrote: Maybe we could store them.  But that's pretty much all we could do with them at this point.

Can you elaborate?  This is news to me.  As far as I am aware, the test track schedule was "relaxed" somewhat in light of the late train delivery - a very kind and logical decision, I think, all around. Why force GrandLinq to blow their brains out with OT to get the Test Track ready, when their worker's time would be better spent finishing up other areas, instead?

(12-13-2016, 09:18 PM)Drake Wrote: I really wonder how on earth the penalty could be so low. As others have stated, now that we have reached the maximum threshold, there is no incentive to hurry. $3.3M is small potatoes to all players and likely only fills the requirement expected by the public that there is a penalty clause.

Well, that's basically a free train...

RE: ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit - rangersfan - 12-13-2016

I am surprised that the penalty cap is so low. In deals I have been involved with, I don't remember having a cap.

RE: ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit - tomh009 - 12-13-2016

(12-13-2016, 09:52 PM)Canard Wrote:
(12-13-2016, 08:39 PM)tomh009 Wrote: Maybe we could store them.  But that's pretty much all we could do with them at this point.

Can you elaborate?  This is news to me.  As far as I am aware, the test track schedule was "relaxed" somewhat in light of the late train delivery - a very kind and logical decision, I think, all around.  Why force GrandLinq to blow their brains out with OT to get the Test Track ready, when their worker's time would be better spent finishing up other areas, instead?

Maybe the test track is ready, but where would we run 14 train sets at this point?  It seems that there is still quite a lot of work to get the embedded track and catenaries done, at least in Kitchener.  Or am I completely wrong about what we will do with the 14 sets prior to start of service?  We will run all 14 sets on the test track only?

RE: ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit - danbrotherston - 12-13-2016

(12-13-2016, 10:34 PM)tomh009 Wrote: Maybe the test track is ready, but where would we run 14 train sets at this point?  It seems that there is still quite a lot of work to get the embedded track and catenaries done, at least in Kitchener.  Or am I completely wrong about what we will do with the 14 sets prior to start of service?  We will run all 14 sets on the test track only?

All 14 trains must be run for a period of time prior to starting passenger service to break them in, test them.  The full track is not needed for that, and basically they'd planned on running the trains on the completed sections in parallel with finishing the whole track.  As is, we will finish the track, get all of out trains, then wait some additional period of time while trains are broken (you know, watch them drive around empty), in before we can actually ride them.

RE: ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit - Canard - 12-13-2016

(12-13-2016, 10:34 PM)tomh009 Wrote:
(12-13-2016, 09:52 PM)Canard Wrote: Can you elaborate?  This is news to me.  As far as I am aware, the test track schedule was "relaxed" somewhat in light of the late train delivery - a very kind and logical decision, I think, all around.  Why force GrandLinq to blow their brains out with OT to get the Test Track ready, when their worker's time would be better spent finishing up other areas, instead?

Maybe the test track is ready, but where would we run 14 train sets at this point?  It seems that there is still quite a lot of work to get the embedded track and catenaries done, at least in Kitchener.  Or am I completely wrong about what we will do with the 14 sets prior to start of service?  We will run all 14 sets on the test track only?

The plan was always that the burn-in for the trains would be performed along the test track - from Erb/Caroline to Northfield. Then in the summer, once GrandLinq hits substantial completion on the remainder of the line, we have 4-6 months of commissioning and simulated service testing along the entire line - and only then will the system open to the public.

RE: ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit - tomh009 - 12-13-2016

So are we ready to burn in 14 train sets now?

I'm not saying the delay is good, but even if BBD were on the original schedule, my gut says we would still be delayed.

RE: ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit - JoeKW - 12-14-2016

The reason for the cap is that Bombardier has savvy salesmen and lawyers and know how to protect themselves.

RE: ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit - Canard - 12-14-2016

Tom, as I've said... the test track schedule was relaxed when the delay from Bombarder became significant. The original schedule was that the test track be ready in July 2016 with the expectation of the first train arriving in August 2016. When that slipped to a October 2016 (announced in February 2016, IIRC), it was obvious at that time that the delay would be greater and the schedule for the test track was relaxed. Sure enough, in May 2016 Bombardier modified the schedule again and said the first train would arrive in December 2016. It's now looking like it'll be February.

So. To answer your question, is the test track ready to drop a train on it today? Maybe. I don't know. I think so? The crossing arms have been tested and the control houses were being worked on a month ago or so and I haven't seen much activity since that flurry. So I'd imagine the answer is "yes".

The way this will play out is that there's a good chance now that somewhere mid-delivery of the 14 trains, they'll be able to get off the test track and begin exploring the entire system. Unpowered Pull-through first, then low speed, then actual speed, then simulated service.

GrandLinq is on time and the only spot there's really any notable delay is the King St. Grade Separation and I think that was related to issues with sewer, and then the asphalt plants closed for the winter.

RE: ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit - Canard - 12-14-2016

Snow brings another LRT headache, but a quick fix - The Record

RE: ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit - ijmorlan - 12-14-2016

(12-13-2016, 09:18 PM)Drake Wrote: Can we argue about the monorail some more?

As long as it’s not from Bombardier, I’m all for a discussion ;-)

RE: ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit - Canard - 12-14-2016

Too bad, since Bombardier makes the best monorail system!

RE: ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit - p2ee - 12-14-2016

I saw crews working this morning at King/Fredrick. It was around -10, even cooler with the wind chill. I hope they are being compensated fairly for working in that weather. I wouldn't want to stay out more than 10 mins in that weather.

RE: ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit - Drake - 12-14-2016

(12-14-2016, 06:05 PM)Canard Wrote: Too bad, since Bombardier makes the best monorail system!

I would have thought you would argued Disney.