ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit

[nms]

What's the expected dwell time at each station in between the terminals? Are there other tasks that are expected to occur at each end such as a rudimentary cleaning (eg garbage)? I could also imagine that in a scenario where only one LRV arrives at a double platform, that the three minute dwell time would allow passengers the chance to switch platforms if they discover that they are waiting on the wrong side of the tracks.

Finally, I can imagine that the approach in the service agreement was, "Write everything down so there isn't any mistake or misunderstanding." If passengers complain about the length of the dwell time (or other operational matters), both the Region and GrandLinq can point to the agreement and say, "If it fits in this standard, then everything is working fine."

[ijmorlan]

What's the expected dwell time at each station in between the terminals? Are there other tasks that are expected to occur at each end such as a rudimentary cleaning (eg garbage)?  I could also imagine that in a scenario where only one LRV arrives at a double platform, that the three minute dwell time would allow passengers the chance to switch platforms if they discover that they are waiting on the wrong side of the tracks.

I’m pretty sure “layover” refers to the terminals only. I would expect dwell time at en-route stations to be planned at well under a minute. Stations with a lot of boarding and deboarding will need more time (by seconds) of course.

As to the double platform situation, our terminal stations are designed ideally for only one track to be in regular use. Best design for a terminal station where trains regularly depart from either platform is either a single platform, a centre platform, or separate “off” and “on” platforms. I’m a bit concerned however that at both ends they built the same shelters on both platforms, which suggests trains might regularly use both.

Using the second platform as an “off only” for vehicles going out of service, either because of a fault or because it’s the end of peak period or the end of service for the day, would be a reasonable use for our second platforms. However that use doesn’t require shelters, so I don’t know. We’ll see.

[ijmorlan]

1/1 - Friday, February 16, 2018


[i]History is made:  Crews on Friday made it all the way to Fairway!

Are the last OCS poles placed in the path of the tracks, the same as at Conestoga? That seems like a weird choice when there is an active plan to extend the line.

[Canard]

They indeed are. Reworking 1 pair of OCS poles will be the least of their concern when extension plans come along - they’ll have to move the birbs, for example!

[Canard]

...speaking of birbs, where is that promised update about the art projects from a few weeks ago?! Philipides?

[trainspotter139]

What's the expected dwell time at each station in between the terminals? Are there other tasks that are expected to occur at each end such as a rudimentary cleaning (eg garbage)?  I could also imagine that in a scenario where only one LRV arrives at a double platform, that the three minute dwell time would allow passengers the chance to switch platforms if they discover that they are waiting on the wrong side of the tracks.

I’m pretty sure “layover” refers to the terminals only. I would expect dwell time at en-route stations to be planned at well under a minute. Stations with a lot of boarding and deboarding will need more time (by seconds) of course.

As to the double platform situation, our terminal stations are designed ideally for only one track to be in regular use. Best design for a terminal station where trains regularly depart from either platform is either a single platform, a centre platform, or separate “off” and “on” platforms. I’m a bit concerned however that at both ends they built the same shelters on both platforms, which suggests trains might regularly use both.

Using the second platform as an “off only” for vehicles going out of service, either because of a fault or because it’s the end of peak period or the end of service for the day, would be a reasonable use for our second platforms. However that use doesn’t require shelters, so I don’t know. We’ll see.

The LRVs will dwell at each stop until no more than 30 seconds after their scheduled departure time. If they arrive early they remain at the station until the scheduled departure time to ensure the LRVs don't get too far ahead of schedule.

[Canard]

...speaking of birbs, where is that promised update about the art projects from a few weeks ago?! Philipides?

I found this: https://calendar.regionofwaterloo.ca/Cou...19,%202018

Of note:

• Conestoga Stop – Installation of Continuum by Catherine Paleczny has been slightly adjusted so that the artwork will be at a more prominent location between the multiuse trail and the stop platform. ???!!?!!??!!!???!??!!!?!?!?!!!!?????
  
• Research + Technology – Network by Ken Hall has been upgraded to have a presence on both sides of the tracks in accordance with the updated stop design. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[urbd]

...speaking of birbs, where is that promised update about the art projects from a few weeks ago?! Philipides?

I found this:  https://calendar.regionofwaterloo.ca/Cou...19,%202018

Of note:

• Conestoga Stop – Installation of Continuum by Catherine Paleczny has been slightly adjusted so that the artwork will be at a more prominent location between the multiuse trail and the stop platform. ???!!?!!??!!!???!??!!!?!?!?!!!!?????
  
• Research + Technology – Network by Ken Hall has been upgraded to have a presence on both sides of the tracks in accordance with the updated stop design. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  

This means bigger, actually... you'll like it. In fact you all will be very pleased what is planned for this station!

[Viewfromthe42]

But taking Continuum to be in a 'more prominent location between the multiuse trail and stop platform' sounds a lot like "we're taking this piece of public art meant to enliven a transit stop, and moving it closer to the road, so that cars whizzing by at 50 (to let's be honest, 70) km/h can glance out their windows and see it briefly.

[Canard]

No, I see this as a hugely stupid thing because:

• It was supposed to serve dual-duty as a cosmetic wind wall, but also as a way to prevent people from climbing on top of tbe Driver’s facility. Now, a second, probably ugly, fence will be required
  
• It will block the view of beautiful LRV’s and the anchor wall from both the trail and the road
  
• It will prevent people from moving between the trail and the platforms across the grass, which I actually think is the real reason they have done this

Urbd: you working on this?

[ijmorlan]

No, I see this as a hugely stupid thing because:

• It was supposed to serve dual-duty as a cosmetic wind wall, but also as a way to prevent people from climbing on top of tbe Driver’s facility. Now, a second, probably ugly, fence will be required
  
• It will block the view of beautiful LRV’s and the anchor wall from both the trail and the road
  
• It will prevent people from moving between the trail and the platforms across the grass, which I actually think is the real reason they have done this
  

Urbd: you working on this?

You’re talking about Continuum here, right? I hope you’re wrong but fear you’re right. Ugly fences are not what we need. Nice art that happens to serve a function as a fence is much better. And who cares if people cross the grass to get to the platform? If enough people do it that the grass doesn’t grow they should just add a paved path.

[Pheidippides]

My interpretation is that the term "layover" refers to the time between trips, not time spent at each station. I am sure if you look hard enough the term has been clearly defined by some lawyer in those documents somewhere.

According to the system description the design goal is, "...a round trip time of 90.0 minutes or less. This time period is the time it takes for a train to depart from a Terminal Station, return back to the same terminal station and is ready to once again depart from that Terminal Station."

Plus, we have seen in the baseline service that they expect a trip to take about 46min from end to end.

[Canard]

A couple of notes from the Southern portion of the line:

• A crew at Fairway was working on the crossover switches.
  
• A crew was using very large rail equipment (couldn’t see what) at Overland Dr. on the Huron Spur.
  
• Hayward may be our next casualty for track gauge rework. A bunch of people were crawling around on their hands and knees measuring stuff.

[bgb_ca]

In other news. It is now the 1 year anniversary of the delivery of 501.

[Spokes]

In other news. It is now the 1 year anniversary of the delivery of 501.

Wow.  Feels like just yesterday.