01-10-2016, 12:18 AM
(01-09-2016, 10:04 PM)tomh009 Wrote:(01-09-2016, 08:51 AM)Canard Wrote: I honestly don't think there's any plan or evidence that they're planing on platforms being long enough to couple 3 trains together. It's not anywhere on the 30-year operations plan. The gauntlet tracks along the spur are built to permit freight trains to bypass a platform that is long enough for two trains coupled together.
They can still design for three-car trains, even if they only build for two-car trains. Ensure that all platforms etc can be extended to handle a third car, when the time comes to extend them.
But hopefully they will increase frequency before they start even thinking about adding a third car to the trains.
There are physical limitations at a number of the stations that would not allow three-car trains. Notably, both of the core stations on Charles Street: Victoria Park would not have enough space between Gaukel and the Manulife building; Queen would not have enough between Queen Street and the slope up to Benton. Others have less restrictive geometry but lengthening the platforms would require rebuilding roadways a second time to allow enough space, on top of realigning many stretches of track (which would shut down the line, at least partially). I don't think this would be a straightforward undertaking.