ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit

[Canard]

It may have to do with rail lubrication. In the curves with a restraining rail (anything r<150m), there is a gap below the restraining rail to permit debris and grease so on to fall through. It may not be possible with an off-the-shelf solution to fill the gap with a rubber filler strip (I know what you're talking about - you often see it on heavy railways on newer crossings). There is a lot of wear on the curves from the flanges of the trains (especially since ours are fixed-bogie) so it's very possible that it's not as simple a matter as filling the gap with a rubber strip.

In the video you posted, I think the cyclist would have been fine if they had very firmly snapped their handlebars to the left at the moment of rail-to-wheel interface. The trick is if you're just loosely holding your handlebars, and going parallel enough to the tracks, it'll fall into the gap and throw you off. If you're very firmly holding the handlebars and bias the opposite way, you win out over the track and you're fine. I really should post a little video about this technique. You can "feel it" very easily once you've done it a few times.

[danbrotherston]

It may have to do with rail lubrication. In the curves with a restraining rail (anything r<150m), there is a gap below the restraining rail to permit debris and grease so on to fall through. It may not be possible with an off-the-shelf solution to fill the gap with a rubber filler strip (I know what you're talking about - you often see it on heavy railways on newer crossings). There is a lot of wear on the curves from the flanges of the trains (especially since ours are fixed-bogie) so it's very possible that it's not as simple a matter as filling the gap with a rubber strip.

In the video you posted, I think the cyclist would have been fine if they had very firmly snapped their handlebars to the left at the moment of rail-to-wheel interface. The trick is if you're just loosely holding your handlebars, and going parallel enough to the tracks, it'll fall into the gap and throw you off. If you're very firmly holding the handlebars and bias the opposite way, you win out over the track and you're fine. I really should post a little video about this technique. You can "feel it" very easily once you've done it a few times.

There are definitely off the shelf products used by tram lines in other cities very similar to ours, I cannot believe it is not possible at least in some locations, I can believe that it would cost more in maintenance.  This is still different from the rubber guides used on mainline rails, I've never seen this used anywhere in Canada, although I haven't exactly looked.

Yeah, you can cross safely by turning sharply, and its easy to practice now, but when riding in traffic, its easy to be distracted at the wrong moment.  I think it's much safer to encourage crossing at a safe wide angle to begin with, then there is little risk of getting it wrong.  The problem in some cases will be surrounding traffic forcing cyclists to take a dangerous angle, for example turning right across the tracks in some locations, I would make the turn wide, and cross at a 90 degree angle, but if a car was forcing me towards the curb at that moment, I may not be able too.  Sharrows showing cyclists the safe route to take will do some good, but at the end of the day, proper cycling infrastructure is always better.  Still, I'd just be happy to see sharrows and warning signs at this point, because right now, I haven't heard a peep about any plans.

[KevinL]

Got a close look a the Cedar/Charles area this morning.

The view from up the hill - looks great from here!


Up towards Eby:




And, the future station entrance area, as it were. Obviously that wooden railing is to be eventually removed.

[Canard]

Here's another little video tour, this time for R+T Park, down to Seagram.

[KevinL]

Let me guess, King Street is next.

[Canard]

You know me surprisingly well, Kevin.

It would have been, yes - but, I didn't realize I had water droplets on the lens of my camera, so my footage was unusable. Will have to try again on a nicer day.

[jamincan]

Great videos Canard. It's also nice seeing you greet and praise the workers

[jwilliamson]

The framing shop in Uptown is selling framed pieces of the corduroy rode for $500.

[clasher]

The framing shop in Uptown is selling framed pieces of the corduroy rode for $500.

LOL the ones that were given away at the dump?

[Markster]

The framing shop in Uptown is selling framed pieces of the corduroy rode for $500.

LOL the ones that were given away at the dump?

Supply and demand.
You're welcome to try to go to the dump for a free one now.

[Canard]

Went for a 30+ km bike ride along Toronto's waterfront on Sunday, which has the added bonus that for part of the trail, you get to ride right alongside the 509/Harbourfront streetcar line, with streetcars zipping by!

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">In Toronto for a bike ride alongside some nice <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FLEXITY?src=hash">#FLEXITY</a> LRV's. This is a good trail. <a href="https://t.co/A7o14mVoLU">pic.twitter.com/A7o14mVoLU</a></p>&mdash; iain (@Canardiain) <a href="https://twitter.com/Canardiain/status/752206787617566721">July 10, 2016</a></blockquote>

One of the things I don't think I've brought up yet is just how fantastic the external annunciation system is on the new FLEXITY trams.  I'm so excited about this for ion.  Our trains will have the same vocalizer (or so I'm told), and the clarity and volume with which the line stops are announced gave me goosebumps every time I rode by one and heard her speaking.  Chills, even!


I know it sounds a bit silly, but one of my absolute favourite things about trains is the noises they make. Whether it's mechanical, or chimes or automated announcements or whatever. My mind was completely blown when I was in Japan (I knew it would be, and was trying to be prepared for it, but I couldn't help but almost tear up every time I heard the little 7-note JR chime before every platform announcement). So I have a lot of anxiety about ion "getting this right" with regard to what kind of voice they pick or what kind of chimes are chosen (it'll be the same as the Toronto FLEXITY LRV's - I'm OK with that).

[panamaniac]

The framing shop in Uptown is selling framed pieces of the corduroy rode for $500.

I'm still shaking my head that the original bits were not offered up for a modest price/donation - it could have been a terrific fundraiser for the Waterloo Museum and the Region of Waterloo History Museum.

[danbrotherston]

I'm still shaking my head that the original bits were not offered up for a modest price/donation - it could have been a terrific fundraiser for the Waterloo Museum and the Region of Waterloo History Museum.

I suspect they simply did not anticipate the demand for it.  Otherwise, in addition to the points you make, it would have been a good way to moderate demand.

On the other hand, there's something to be said for freely giving people access to a piece of our heritage.  That being said "free" is a bit of a loaded term, you still needed a car, and time in the morning to sit in line for ages

[GtwoK]

The Ottawa St / Mill and Hayward closures have been extended by 3 months - now reopening Nov 30th

On the plus side - check out what's gone up along Charles



Also, street lights were going in at Francis / King as I walked passed them just now.

[Canard]

Yeah! Poles were up on the weekend, including under the Manulife building (it's so cute!). I was wondering how they'd do that - direct afixment to the building, or just standard poles. They went with the latter. They must have decided they had enough headroom to do that, which is simpler.