ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit

[GtwoK]

I still don't get the Eby intersection. The curbs drop to street level cleanly, and allow cars to cross, but it's not supposed to be a crossable intersection. As well, there are no traffic lights at the intersection either.

Also, those hydro wires crossing Charles... they're hanging a bit low, are the not? How will the catenary wires cross here?

[KevinL]

As discussed some time back, I think the Eby intersection is not designed to be permanently open, but will be opened temporarily (and quite soon now) during the duration of construction on the Cedar intersection. (Closing both Cedar and Eby would push the nearest intersections to Benton and Cameron, a bit too far in either direction.) Once Cedar re-opens, Eby would be closed and made right-in, right-out.

As for those overhead wires, I imagine they will be replaced or relocated in some way before the catenary gets hung.

[GtwoK]

Right, but the curbs ends around Eby aren't the temporary, unfinished, rough curbs other temporary intersections have used. They have neat end pieces, that curve down and into the pavement, like the finished intersections do.

As well, it's quite strange that they would not have buried the hydro wires before laying the track, which is what I'm having trouble understanding.

[Canard]

Maybe the curb will stay low (as you say, they're nicely formed), so that emergency vehicles can enter the rapidway here - with signage that explicitly prohibits anyone else from entering?  (think No U-Turn signs on 401 at the emergency vehicle turnarounds.) Since the curb is so high and likely not mountable by vehicles to get up onto the rapidway, maybe entering it and leaving it by road vehicle is only possible at intersections.

[timio]

As discussed some time back, I think the Eby intersection is not designed to be permanently open, but will be opened temporarily (and quite soon now) during the duration of construction on the Cedar intersection. (Closing both Cedar and Eby would push the nearest intersections to Benton and Cameron, a bit too far in either direction.) Once Cedar re-opens, Eby would be closed and made right-in, right-out.

As for those overhead wires, I imagine they will be replaced or relocated in some way before the catenary gets hung.

I bet it's the Region's take on PRIMOVE. Catenary stops just short of the intersection, pantographs drop, and the LRT coasts through the intersection before raising the pans to connect with the continued catenary on the other side. [stare]

Or hydro will move the cables as they've been doing in other locations along the route.

[Canard]

I bet it's the Region's take on PRIMOVE.  Catenary stops just short of the intersection, pantographs drop, and the LRT coasts through the intersection before raising the pans to connect with the continued catenary on the other side.  [stare]

This made me LOL and smile

[KevinL]

Maybe the curb will stay low (as you say, they're nicely formed), so that emergency vehicles can enter the rapidway here - with signage that explicitly prohibits anyone else from entering?  (think No U-Turn signs on 401 at the emergency vehicle turnarounds.)  Since the curb is so high and likely not mountable by vehicles to get up onto the rapidway, maybe entering it and leaving it by road vehicle is only possible at intersections.

Here's a local example of a barrier designed to keep out regular traffic but designed to be crossable by emergency vehicles. Something like this could do the job...

[timc]

As well, it's quite strange that they would not have buried the hydro wires before laying the track, which is what I'm having trouble understanding.

Why would they bury the wires?

[Canard]

It's snowing/not happy.

...but there are catenary arms installed at the OMSF/happy.

...may or may not have jumped out of the car squealing in excitement over this.

   

[darts]

As well, it's quite strange that they would not have buried the hydro wires before laying the track, which is what I'm having trouble understanding.

Why would they bury the wires?

Not sure if it is happening here but Waterloo is paying about $1million to buy the hydro wires I believe around Caroline in uptown. The main reason as I understood it is that uptown will look nicer without hydro lines/poles running down the street.

[timc]

Not sure if it is happening here but Waterloo is paying about $1million to buy the hydro wires I believe around Caroline in uptown. The main reason as I understood it is that uptown will look nicer without hydro lines/poles running down the street.

It seems like the ones around Caroline are being buried out of necessity, not because it looks nice.

[ijmorlan]

It's snowing/not happy.

...but there are catenary arms installed at the OMSF/happy.

...may or may not have jumped out of the car squealing in excitement over this.  

Nice! Interesting that they’re using the more attractive round poles in the OMSF rather than the I-beam poles.

Elsewhere, I get an extra bit of enjoyment crossing the line because I get to see that beautiful copper contact wire running along. I assume it will turn green eventually (except right on the bottom where it will be scraped by the pantograph) but the colour now is quite striking.

[Markster]

Nice! Interesting that they’re using the more attractive round poles in the OMSF rather than the I-beam poles.

Interesting... I hope Waterloo Park at least gets the round ones, and not the I-beams.

[Canard]

Waterloo Park is all I beams (W-section):

   

[KevinL]

I think the round poles at the OMSF is more for practicality than aesthetics: they will likely have crossbars attached at varying angles for all the branching trackwork, which need to be easily attached no matter the angle.