ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit

[robdrimmie]

It's a difficult time of day for this sort of thing, but if anyone really wants to spot a train find somewhere along Charles between Victoria and Ottawa between 8:20 and 8:40 on weekdays. A window seat at Cafe Pyrus is probably perfect. I see several every day on my way into work (the 11 comes up Charles), and if I sit near a window on the bridge over Charles for more than a couple of minutes (which I do almost every day when I eat lunch) it seems like I see one. I'm never prepared with a camera or anything so I rarely take pictures (I'm a bad community member!), and the ones I do are through bus windows or from awkward angles so they're never any good. It never gets boring though. I visibly turn my head as the bus and train pass each other, every day.

I see significantly fewer of them on the way home, though a couple every week. It's probably because that'saround the time we've established they all head back into the shed in North Waterloo so they're probably on the Duke street tracks if they're heading back in.

[Canard]

On my drive home each day I now take Charles instead of the 85. I exit 8 in the left lane and turn down by King Fish, or earlier (Rockway) and drive up to Victoria and then go Left on Victoria. I almost always end up seeing one that way. Unless I happen to come home when they’re on their evening “lunch” when they bring all the vehicles back to the yard.

[ert86]

I think I beat ION today. Fri/Mon I cut through the RT Park platform at about 6:05 am to get the 200 at 6:20 and see ION pass at about 6:07, I got off the 200 at about 6:53 and while walking home see it cross Wilson at about 6:56.

I'm assuming it stopped somewhere Uptown/Charles terminal because it had such a head start, unfortunately i was glued to my phone and didn't look if we crossed paths so maybe it was a different one.

[trainspotter139]

I think I beat ION today.  Fri/Mon I cut through the RT Park platform at about 6:05 am to get the 200 at 6:20 and see ION pass at about 6:07, I got off the 200 at about 6:53 and while walking home see it cross Wilson at about 6:56.

I'm assuming it stopped somewhere Uptown/Charles terminal because it had such a head start, unfortunately i was glued to my phone and didn't look if we crossed paths so maybe it was a different one.

The first train of the day is the "Sweep Train" they travel a little slower during their full circuit as they check the line for anything that might affect their ability to travel.

[Spokes]

Will that be the same once fully operational?

[trainspotter139]

Will that be the same once fully operational?

I would say yes. But also be mindful that the deadhead runs to Fairway and Conestoga for service start will count as sweep runs so the impact of sweep runs would be very minimal. They are designed, essentially, to check to any obstacles or damage to the infrastructure that may have occurred when the system was out of service. They wouldn't be required if there were Ice/Snow trains operating overnight as well.

[KevinL]

How often will they keep trains overnight at Fairway? In conditions like today, I can see it being a help to making sure the northbound tracks are clear.

[trainspotter139]

How often will they keep trains overnight at Fairway? In conditions like today, I can see it being a help to making sure the northbound tracks are clear.

They won't keep trains out of the OMSF yard overnight. They will have operators to operate them along the entire alignment overnight during snow events to keep the tracks clear.

[jason897]

Check out those sparks

[danbrotherston]

So does anyone know, is the ice actually causing contact to be lost with the centenary causing a loss of traction power and that's why it keeps stopping?

Why aren't the lights flickering in that case?

[ijmorlan]

So does anyone know, is the ice actually causing contact to be lost with the centenary causing a loss of traction power and that's why it keeps stopping?

Why aren't the lights flickering in that case?

It probably has a battery to run some systems. I know the pantograph can retract so there must be a battery to do that. Unfortunately, a battery to run the traction motors would be rather large (although some systems do have that). I hope this isn’t a regular occurrence — does anybody know if that was the first vehicle for a fairly long time?

[plam]

So does anyone know, is the ice actually causing contact to be lost with the centenary causing a loss of traction power and that's why it keeps stopping?

Why aren't the lights flickering in that case?

It probably has a battery to run some systems. I know the pantograph can retract so there must be a battery to do that. Unfortunately, a battery to run the traction motors would be rather large (although some systems do have that). I hope this isn’t a regular occurrence — does anybody know if that was the first vehicle for a fairly long time?

Heard them talking to Control on the radio about losing power. Probably has a battery. They were trying to retract the pantograph and put it back up to get better contact. There were a bunch of LRVs out, but it's probably still less than in regular service.

[Bob_McBob]

The signals at the Columbia Ave crossing have been malfunctioning for at least 20 minutes. Lights flashing and bells ringing but arms up. Lots of cars going through. I saw a police car head up there but they were just waiting with all the rest of the traffic.

[Canard]

[Canard]

510 and 513 are coupled and zipping back and forth along the hydro corridor, between Fairway and Courtland. Lovebirds!