ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit

[ijmorlan]

503 delivered, and a different LRV was just loaded on the flatbed. Speculation is it's 501 is going to Millhaven for retrofit, but workers apparently won't confirm.

Good to know our national security secrets are safe.

[Canard]

Thank you again Kevin for your dedication to this! Some day it is going to be really awesome to look back and have all this documented.

[Canard]

Stirring the pot, because I'm tired of waiting.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Wonder when that hole is going to get filled... ? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/wrLRT?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#wrLRT</a> <a href="https://t.co/OkQ36qDQZ5">pic.twitter.com/OkQ36qDQZ5</a></p>&mdash; ? Iain Hendry ? (@Canardiain) <a href="https://twitter.com/Canardiain/status/948740699222171649?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 4, 2018</a></blockquote>

[Canard]

For those still wondering: Elizabeth Clarke just confirmed it's 501.

[Rainrider22]

It would seem that the delivery of 501 was a publicity stunt from day one to instill some small amount of confidence in the ability of Bombardier to deliver a tangible product !

[Canard]

Nah. It was sent early at the request of the Region to test the functions of all the OMSF equipment.

[KevinT]

It would seem that the delivery of 501 was a publicity stunt from day one to instill some small amount of confidence in the ability of Bombardier to deliver a tangible product !

It was quite clear during the various open houses of the Operations, Maintenance, and Storage Facility (OMSF) that the place is stuffed with equipment (pits, jacks, wheel grinders, sanders, catwalks, servicing umbilicals) designed to fit these vehicles like a glove.  All of that had to be verified for fit as early in the building's life as possible to avoid downstream delays.  Although not admitted to until some months later, the region deliberately took delivery of an incomplete vehicle last February in order to complete these checks.

[Markster]

Stirring the pot, because I'm tired of waiting.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Wonder when that hole is going to get filled...  ? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/wrLRT?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#wrLRT</a> <a href="https://t.co/OkQ36qDQZ5">pic.twitter.com/OkQ36qDQZ5</a></p>&mdash; ? Iain Hendry ? (@Canardiain) <a href="https://twitter.com/Canardiain/status/948740699222171649?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 4, 2018</a></blockquote>

I assume that's a pic of 501 during an open house?

I really hope that the ones recently delivered have a screen there now???

[Rainrider22]

It would seem that the delivery of 501 was a publicity stunt from day one to instill some small amount of confidence in the ability of Bombardier to deliver a tangible product !

It was quite clear during the various open houses of the Operations, Maintenance, and Storage Facility (OMSF) that the place is stuffed with equipment (pits, jacks, wheel grinders, sanders, catwalks, servicing umbilicals) designed to fit these vehicles like a glove.  All of that had to be verified for fit as early in the building's life as possible to avoid downstream delays.  Although not admitted to until some months later, the region deliberately took delivery of an incomplete vehicle last February in order to complete these checks.

Yes  I do agree with all that.  I was at both open houses and noted the same things as you...  I think the optics leave people with that impression though, because the Region was not necessarily as transparent as they could have been. The first open house they told us that the Bombardier people were working at the facility (and we all saw the office with the Bombardier employees only sign on it) to complete the 501.  Never was it stated that the train would be returned for completion.

That is all I am saying, (not trying to be critical, stating what the impression could be with those not educated on all the facts, ie (CKCO, The Record).  I am actually quite happy they are returning it, this way I would expect it to be completed to the same level as the new arrivals.

[danbrotherston]

It was quite clear during the various open houses of the Operations, Maintenance, and Storage Facility (OMSF) that the place is stuffed with equipment (pits, jacks, wheel grinders, sanders, catwalks, servicing umbilicals) designed to fit these vehicles like a glove.  All of that had to be verified for fit as early in the building's life as possible to avoid downstream delays.  Although not admitted to until some months later, the region deliberately took delivery of an incomplete vehicle last February in order to complete these checks.

Yes  I do agree with all that.  I was at both open houses and noted the same things as you...  I think the optics leave people with that impression though, because the Region was not necessarily as transparent as they could have been. The first open house they told us that the Bombardier people were working at the facility (and we all saw the office with the Bombardier employees only sign on it) to complete the 501.  Never was it stated that the train would be returned for completion.

That is all I am saying, (not trying to be critical, stating what the impression could be with those not educated on all the facts, ie (CKCO, The Record).  I am actually quite happy they are returning it, this way I would expect it to be completed to the same level as the new arrivals.

I agree with this.  Recall that they actually did a pull through test with 501 (IIRC it was 501), so it wasn't for nothing, but I don't believe the region was open about the functionality of that train, or at least, I very much hope the region was aware of the functionality of that train.

Frankly, they should be full bore into work to get this launched by their current promised launch date, and I'm still not seeing it.

[tomh009]

Maybe it's an e-ink display?

[trainspotter139]

Stirring the pot, because I'm tired of waiting.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Wonder when that hole is going to get filled...  ? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/wrLRT?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#wrLRT</a> <a href="https://t.co/OkQ36qDQZ5">pic.twitter.com/OkQ36qDQZ5</a></p>&mdash; ? Iain Hendry ? (@Canardiain) <a href="https://twitter.com/Canardiain/status/948740699222171649?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 4, 2018</a></blockquote>

I assume that's a pic of 501 during an open house?

I really hope that the ones recently delivered have a screen there now???

Nope that screen gets installed by GrandLinq it's for the in-cab signalling and train control systems.

[Canard]

Not from what I’ve heard. My understanding is that while it’s a GrandLinq-spec’d wayside system, the module inside the dash on the LRV is on ML’s shoulders... and they’ve had no impetus to get it finished.

[tomh009]

ML? Metrolinx?

[Pheidippides]

Thank-you to Kevin for all the updates.
 
I would like ask one thing of everyone though.
 
In the spirit of equity please do not to refer to the LRVs, or any inanimate object, as “her” or “she,” and instead choose a gender-neutral pronoun such as “it” or “they.”
 
Using “her” or “she” is oppressive and implies that women in general are not people, but objects to be owned, manipulated, and disposed of like objects, and are somehow inferior to men. Equating women with objects literally objectifies strips them of their humanity and implies dispensability. Furthermore, there is an assertion of power in the use of a female pronoun for an object. Using a female pronoun asserts dominance over the object, therefore dominance over women, and equating inferiority with the female gender. 

Moreover, This underlying message in our language is reflective of how our society treats women. Our language clearly reflects a larger issue. Women are seen as objects to be controlled, bought, driven, or used.
 
Finally, proper modern English does not assign gender to inanimate objects  (MLA, AP, Chicago, etc.)
 
It may seem innocent, but language matters, and it is important to be an ally and recognize that patriarchy is so deeply rooted and commonplace in our language that it contributes to asserting dominance of one gender over another (MANager, fireMAN, chairMAN, MANkind, MANpower, dissemination, etc.).

Thank-you!