ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit

[Canard]

Yes - all of Ontario, or any projects that Metrolinx has any involvement in at all. Ours is a bit different, since the only portion of our project that Metrolinx is involved with at all is the vehicle procurement.

The way it was explained to me, is that since our order for 14 trains is procured by taking 14 trains from Metrolinx' original 182 train order with Bombardier, they still have a strong say in the look/feel/options and so on for the vehicles.

This is why our trains look just like Crosstown, with just a different colour stripe. Personally, I really like that, and am glad that they're thinking about things like this (branding/design/feel).

I'm 75% satisfied with having the TTC chime. I was dreading that it would be the default BEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEP alarm that most of the other Flexity trams I've watched clips of on Youtube seem to have. First choice would have been a custom chime, for sure, but it was also explained to me that a custom chime brings a new problem: You have to involve the accessability/disability folks, because there are specific requirements on announcements and warnings and so on, so it would have been a much more drawn out project. That, coupled with Metrolinx looking over our shoulder, kind of made it a simple choice for them.

[KevinL]

Had a bit of a look along Charles this morning. First, now that the construction equipment is mostly gone, you can get a decent look along the completed ribbon that stretches from Ontario to Water.



Then, south of Benton, we can see the new tracks are going in well.




Though the rails don't yet reach Eby, that intersection has been closed. Rebar mats extend nearly to Cedar.

[Canard]

Thanks Kevin!

The weather forecast today keeps teasing that the sun is just an hour away from coming out - and it doesn't seem to be happening.  

Was up near Northfield today so popped by the OMSF and Conestoga platform.

   

   

   

   

   

[Canard]

   

   

   

   

[Canard]

A couple of repeat shots (sorry!) of Kevin's from this morning:

   

   

   

After seeing the positioning of this track lubricator/sensor, I'm convinced this is definitely a "whoops".

   

   

I'll be interested in seeing how they rectify this... either get out the die grinder and hack out a notch for the flange, or jackhammer out the concrete all around it and totally do-over. If you go look at the boxes a hundred metres South at Borden/Charles, it's immediately obvious that this one was placed incorrectly.

I'm sorry I questioned you, Kevin!

[jamincan]

I wonder how often mistakes like that happen in projects like this. The scrutiny grandlinq had on this forum seems almost unprecedented.

[Canard]

Oh no, sorry - I don't mean to sound like I'm complaining or criticizing! Mistakes happen all the time. I just enjoy technical details, that's all - I'm a mechanical designer. and our guys screw up stuff that I've designed like this all the time. They don't look closely enough at my (very detailed!) assembly drawings, make assumptions... and then when I come out to the shop and take a look at what they've done, I sheepishly have to point out that it's assembled incorrectly and they'll need to re-do it.

[tomh009]

Colours: Rendering is accurate, but the grey is a little lighter.  Doors on the inside are the same blue as the outside, and seats are light blue with grey accents.

OK, so where can I find this render?  I have been trying to catch up after two weeks of vacation, but I didn't spot this.

[Canard]

Just the standard one on all the "Future Stop" signs:

[jamincan]

Oh no, sorry - I don't mean to sound like I'm complaining or criticizing!  Mistakes happen all the time.  I just enjoy technical details, that's all - I'm a mechanical designer. and our guys screw up stuff that I've designed like this all the time.  They don't look closely enough at my (very detailed!) assembly drawings, make assumptions... and then when I come out to the shop and take a look at what they've done, I sheepishly have to point out that it's assembled incorrectly and they'll need to re-do it.

Oh, I wasn't been critical or anything. I think it's fantastic, to be honest. I just don't think that these sorts of mistakes in other projects would be noticed by the public before they are fixed by the contractors. I wish that there were people paying as close attention to projects elsewhere in Canada so I'd have more information about them!

[tomh009]

Just the standard one on all the "Future Stop" signs:

OK, thanks, I thought I had missed something new!

[KevinL]

A couple of repeat shots (sorry!) of Kevin's from this morning:

No need to apologize; I really like this high angle! And I think you have a superior camera, I just make do with my phone.

[zanate]

Looking from the pedestrian crossing in Waterloo Park. In the latter shot, the uncovered Seagram platform can be seen.

   
   

[GtwoK]

This may well have been known already , but I noticed today that all the lights and rail signals were up at the University crossing. Can't remember if that was a recent thing or a long ago thing

[Canard]

Yeah! And also the traffic signals at Borden/Courtland are enabled and operating now too.