ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit

[The85]

The safety concern is valid. Those lights are very much at pedestrian height and location. In Downtown on Charles, I've had to do double-takes now because of the colour and location. Some people might look quickly and see white light and think they can cross, when in fact it is just the LRT signal and not the walk signal that is providing the white light. For people with less-than-perfect vision, this can become even more of a concern.

Another side note: holy moly are those signals bright. If you're within their primary light angle, they are painful to look at. If you're a pedestrian, the white light from these will definitely be more powerful and noticeable than white light from the pedestrian walk signal.

Car drivers have figured out the white diagonal bar at Highland Hills mall for exiting buses only, very quickly.

However in Cambridge...

[Square]

It's also visible from much further away. If you're 100 m away, you can't read the LED signboard on the platform. But you can see the logo pulsing and know you'd better book it.

A really cynical and pessimistic part of me wonders if this is exactly why they aren't doing it - fears that people will run for a train and get hit by it in the process.

Is this the reason?   I still hope they somehow find a way to make this work.  If they don't, I will be heart broken, just like I was when I heard that the weather beacon built on Kitchener City Hall roof was broken and will never work. 

[Canard]

Just looking at the image, though, and the curve radius is obviously significantly larger on the southbound track, which suggests that the design speeds should also be different. Do we know if the speed limit sign shows 35 in the southbound direction?

My camera has once again probably caused a misleading image.  Here's a screenshot from the actual design:

The radius for both curves is actually 110 m, and both have a design limit of 26 km/h.

   

   

Is it just me or are they not quite level to horizontal?  I saw the northbound signal at King/Vic today and thought that...and looking back at the photos on the prev page, it sort of looks similar...

It's not just you - a bunch of them are askew.  And it's worse - on some of them, the actual text isn't centred/straight on the physical sign itself.  As a design guy with a touch of OCD, this drives me so mad and I can't un-see it.

More discussion points:

   

   

[KevinL]

Sorry, what are those photos addressing?

[Canard]

Sorry, what are those photos addressing?

Which, the aspect signal ones? The fact that people are somehow confusing a "Walk" signal for a big horizontal white bar.

[KevinL]

Oh, sorry. The unusual angles made me think it was about something else.

[trainspotter139]

Those with low vision would be most likely to confuse the vertical aspect of the tram signals. I still think this is a non-issue though since the pedestrian signals are installed directly across from where the crosswalk is.

[Canard]

There are a few instances (as Kevin's photos show) where the Aspect Signals are very close to the pedestrian signals, facing the same direction. I took a few frames yesterday; I'll post them later.

Really, I just think the media need to run a piece on it and everyone will go "Oh, so that's what those are." and that will be the end of it.

[timio]

Really, I just think the media need to run a piece on it and everyone will go "Oh, so that's what those are." and that will be the end of it.

Fake news!  :Stare:

But you only need to scroll down to the comment section (Don't scroll down.  Ever.) to see people who don't event try to comprehend articles that are sharing useful information like this.

[Pheidippides]

It seems pretty clear from the project agreement that the train proximity lighting is a requirement.

14.9 Design Elements of Continuity and Variability
(a) Project Co. must create various elements of LRT Stop classified as either:
(i) Constant elements for all LRT Stops (elements of continuity)
(ii) Unique elements for each LRT Stop (elements of variability) 

"...reflect system branding."


"System-wide Constant Elements: LED Light signalling LRT vehicle proximity"


And just so no one thinks they are referring to the variable message signs the language above is clearly different language from below:
"At least one centrally located Variable Message Signs (VMS) per platform used to display next train information and any other special messages issued by Central Control."

I am also disappointed with this news. It seems ridiculous that in this day and age, in this high-tech town, that this is not possible. As it has been said many times on this board, by many users, it is the little things, the details, that make for a memorable experience and will drive ridership.

"Provide a comfortable ambient environment, adequate lighting, personal comfort, aesthetic quality, supplementary services, weather protection, and security. As the time spent by patrons in aggregate is substantial, the environment for patrons waiting for a LRT train must not only be safe and secure, but should also be enjoyable, comfortable and informative."

[KevinL]

Something about the system that I just realized I haven't seen - where are the expansion joints?

I'm sure thermal expansion of the rails must have some effect on them (lengthening, contracting); at what points is this accounted for and in what way?

[Canard]

Great question. There are expansion joints in the concrete itself (not the rail) every 18m, and the rail is stressed. Between that and being secured so tightly, it isn't going anywhere.

Buckling is a real thing in ballasted track in environments with big temperature swings, if you aren't careful!

[KevinL]

So, let's say we get a blistering summer day with temps in the high 30s. How is buckling avoided on our ballasted sections?

[Canard]

Because the rail was pre-stressed to what it would have been at like 22C, so it's negligible. Or they go out and retamp the curves a little to make up the length, I think.

[KevinL]

Interesting. The physics of metallurgy certainly is facinating!