ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit

[Square]

It's getting closer, I can't wait for spring! http://www.kitchenerpost.ca/news-story/6...-on-track/

[Canard]

That's excellent, and basically confirms that we'll see high-speed (80 km/h) testing along the Waterloo Spur of the prototype train from Bombardier before anywhere else! The plan was always low-speed testing at Thunder Bay, and possibly some higher speeds at the ex-UTDC facility in Kingston (they have a small standard-gauge OCS-equipped line with some S-curves there). Metrolinx will be keeping a close eye on this one, for sure.

I suspect that the first train will come to Waterloo in early fall 2016, be tested for ~6 months, then head back to Thunder Bay for modifications with any issues that come up. In parallel, trains 2, 3, etc. get whatever changes are required, so actual production train 2 would show up first here, ready for service. This is sort of what happened in Toronto with their order of streetcars; they fiddled around with 4401 for a while and worked out the kinks, then shipped it back to Thunder Bay for fixups once the rest of the trains started showing up.

[ert86]

Not sure when Manitou roundabout opened, but the route 12 bus finally went down it today instead of the detour route, which made connections at forest glen nearly impossible during the Christmas rush Fairway rd./Courtland gridlocks.

[KevinL]

Not sure when Manitou roundabout opened, but the route 12 bus finally went down it today instead of the detour route, which made connections at forest glen nearly impossible during the Christmas rush fairway rd. gridlocks.

It wasn't the roundabout so much as the bridge (which reopened Wednesday, as I commented in the General Roads thread).

[ert86]

Not sure when Manitou roundabout opened, but the route 12 bus finally went down it today instead of the detour route, which made connections at forest glen nearly impossible during the Christmas rush fairway rd. gridlocks.

It wasn't the roundabout so much as the bridge (which reopened Wednesday, as I commented in the General Roads thread).

That's right, I forgot.  I took a few pictures of the Hydro corridor, nothing much happening just moving dirt the first 2 weeks of December,  I might post them later.  Anyone know what the Wilson crossing will look like?

[KevinL]

  Anyone know what the Wilson crossing will look like?

As it's open sleepered track in that stretch, much like the Bearinger, Columbia or University crossings look like now - concrete slab pieces to provide level road over the trackbed, not solid embedded concrete.

That small rise that used to host a hydro pylon will have to go - in fact, the track will be below the grade of the parking lot there. Likely get a bit of a retaining wall.

[jamincan]

Caroline/Erb/Bridgeport is reconfigured now (coming along Bridgeport, you now are shoved to the left, instead of the right), and it looked like within days it will re-open so you'll be able to drive straight through onto Caroline.

I just drove through on Erb and I can confirm that you can now drive through onto Caroline.

[Canard]

I wonder for how long. Surely they will want to get this buttoned up sooner than later.

[timio]

I was talking to someone this morning who said that he now preferred to commute from Mississauga to downtown Toronto than to downtown Kitchener because of the LRT construction. I can't think it would be that much of a headache compared to the unpredictable nature of the Gardiner.

I tried to convince him that it'd be fine after construction's over, but he wasn't having any of it. Sigh. Some people.

[timio]

I wonder for how long. Surely they will want to get this buttoned up sooner than later.

I'm guessing the hot mix asphalt plants are probably closed down for the season now and won't open again until late March, early April, pending on the weather. My guess is that we'll see this intersection completed in May or June. If they've already done the underground utilities, it'll likely only be a long weekend full closure with a week of partial closures either side for prep/cleanup. There will be a lot of work leading up to ensure the new spur line is run so the freight's not disrupted too much.

[Canard]

While in California this past week, I rode a fair bit of LA's sprawling light-rail network.  Here are a couple of quick shots from my phone.

Nice system - not only going to the hipster meccas, it serves a lot of struggling areas, too - which I think is the right move for public transport.  Everybody uses it.

   

   
I like that the train is wearing a party hat.  

   

   
Construction near Little Tokyo to interline the Blue and Yellow lines - this looks familiar, eh?

   
Had to take a photo of this for all the gauntlet track fans.  

Here's to 2016, Waterloo Region - the year we'll finally get to see some train movement, too!

[jamincan]

Now that winter seems to have set in, any ideas what is going to take place construction-wise over the next few months? I can't imagine they'll stop completely, but I imagine a lot of work is simply not possible or practical until warmer temperatures return.

[Canard]

OCS pole installation along the Waterloo Spur, track installation along the road sections which are now complete/rebuilt (ie, Charles/Borden/Caroline/King), track installation at the OMSF, tent erection at Victoria/King for continuous work... in short, a lot! Just no heavy road/utility work.

[panamaniac]

Now that winter seems to have set in, any ideas what is going to take place construction-wise over the next few months? I can't imagine they'll stop completely, but I imagine a lot of work is simply not possible or practical until warmer temperatures return.

Surely Queen at Charles will re-open before the spring?

[KevinL]

Can embedded track be poured in the sort of temperatures we have now? I would not have thought so, but technology is marching on, so...