ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit

[bpoland]

Saw a southbound train at King and Louisa about 8:45 AM.  Nobody standing but many of the seats were full.

[danbrotherston]

I don't think it's possible for both grips to be stationary relative to the part inside the bellows.  The bellows connects two 'cars', but the floor is fixed relative to one car, thus the other side of the bellows MUST move relative to the floor, and the floor must pivot somewhere, in this case around one edge of the bellows section.

That being said, I don't mind this at all, I've stood there a few times, it's kind of fun, although I'm sure some will prefer not too.

It could be fixed to either side, they would just have to make it not fixed to the floor at that point (which does move), and instead use some sort of lateral support to fix it to the adjacent section. The reason they didn't do this, I suspect, is that it would then hit the passenger sitting next to it through turns.

I suppose they could fix it to the floor at that point, but then you're right, it would move relative to the walls, which is a crush risk, probably much worse.

[Bob_McBob]

Nice to see reasonably positive coverage. I've also noticed quite a change in the comment sections on Facebook. All the old whiners are starting to disappear and be replaced by people who recognize the benefits of ION.

https://www.therecord.com/news-story/948...e-for-ion/

[danbrotherston]

Well that is magical. Seems the latest thing the LRT haters have to complain about is that it is too busy.

Pretty much the definition of "no winning with these people".

Still, overall, the first week has been very positive.

[ijmorlan]

Well that is magical.  Seems the latest thing the LRT haters have to complain about is that it is too busy.

Pretty much the definition of "no winning with these people".

Still, overall, the first week has been very positive.

Yep, nobody’s going to use it if it’s so busy. Much better to sit in cars in traffic.

[rickhd]

I was on the LRT coming back from Fairview.   I noticed when it started raining the train seemed to be jerking a bit.   Like it was losing power and then getting power.  Could it have been slipping on the wet rails?    Only lasted a short period of time.   Maybe a power brownout?   Not sure if the trains can be affected by brownouts.

[KevinL]

Well that is magical.  Seems the latest thing the LRT haters have to complain about is that it is too busy.

Pretty much the definition of "no winning with these people".

Still, overall, the first week has been very positive.

Yep, nobody’s going to use it if it’s so busy. Much better to sit in cars in traffic.

"Nobody goes there anymore, it's too crowded." - Yogi Berra

[danbrotherston]

A suggestion for GRT. When you have a free transit weekend, keep 10 minute frequencies.

Edit:. Ion is indeed leaving people behind. GRT could have avoided this.

[ac3r]

Once the things do get busier (as in outside of the free week, and as the city grows), I wonder what the plan is to deal with packed trams? Add more? Couple two together? Purchase larger units, like we have here on the TTC? I don't see how they could increase the frequency very easily, without annoying drivers if you have a train going over intersections and roads every 5 minutes.

[danbrotherston]

I don't see annoying drivers as a problem or even a bad thing. More frequency would be a big benefit to riders. Sadly the current plan is to run double trains, because our regional transportation planners agree with you and not me on the driver annoyance issue.

[ijmorlan]

Once the things do get busier (as in outside of the free week, and as the city grows), I wonder what the plan is to deal with packed trams? Add more? Couple two together? Purchase larger units, like we have here on the TTC? I don't see how they could increase the frequency very easily, without annoying drivers if you have a train going over intersections and roads every 5 minutes.

My understanding is that 7/8 minute frequencies are already planned, at least at peak times. This requires 12 vehicles, leaving 2 spares. I expect to see this in the Fall.

Further down the road, the plan is to buy additional vehicles and run some trips with trains of 2 LFLRVs. The platforms are all designed to allow this. All that is needed is to buy more vehicles and complete the other halves of the platforms (extend the shelter, probably add the remaining black strips at the doors, etc.).

Personally, I hope we go to 5 minute service before going to 2-car trains. The subway in Toronto has 5 minutes frequency off peak, and down to about 2 minutes on peak. Signals will need to be optimized. For example, at Erb and Caroline, Caroline needs to be given a green when only the southbound track is in use.

This is a good time to mention yet another signal problem. Coming in to Conestoga Mall, we got the transit signal to go through the intersection. However, the interlocking signal controlling access to the tracks leading to the crossover was still showing a red, so we waited there. Eventually the transit signal timed out and regular traffic got to go. Then, the interlocking signal allowed us to proceed, so we moved up to the intersection, then after a while the traffic lights cycled and we got our transit signal to go through the intersection.

This is incorrect operation. The first transit signal was useless to us as we couldn’t reach it without violating the red signal on the interlocking. As a result other traffic was stopped for no reason at all. At a minimum, the intersection signal should not trigger if no LRV is able to use it.

This makes me wonder what they were doing for the last many months of testing. This is the sort of thing they should have fixed, as it has nothing to do with having passengers on board.

[jeffster]

Yep, nobody’s going to use it if it’s so busy. Much better to sit in cars in traffic.

"No one goes there nowadays, it's too crowded." - Yogi Berra

Yogi Berra -- gotta love his oxymorons. "A nickel ain't worth a dime anymore!" or nn being told he looked cool: “You don’t look so hot yourself.”

[bgb_ca]

I'm at Queen station and noticed there are no card readers on the pedistals at the end. Anyone know why?

[KevinL]

I'm at Queen station and noticed there are no card readers on the pedistals at the end. Anyone know why?

Getting serviced? Hopefully back by Tuesday...

[kalis0490]

There is an exhibit at Waterloo Region Museum called " Going Places" that features an ION train. I'm not sure whether its an actual train or a life-sized model.

Admission to the Museum and village is free on Canada day