ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit

[trainspotter139]

So when do we get the LRV update? Still nothing in the council meeting agenda.

It  won't be added until just before the meeting.

[Canard]

So when do we get the LRV update? Still nothing in the council meeting agenda.

They do it as a last-minute thing (literally, like seconds before they start talking about it), so the Media doesn't jump the gun on the "goodies".

[Spokes]

But what about us?!?!?!?

[Bob_McBob]

It's up!

https://calendar.regionofwaterloo.ca/Cou...020106c222

All fourteen vehicles are currently in Waterloo Region. The status of these vehicles is as follows:

• Installation of specialized on-board equipment on all the vehicles was completed in December 2018
  
• All fourteen vehicles are being used to complete system testing, training and demonstration activities and vehicle modifications
  
• Vehicle and system integration testing and driver training has resulted in approximately 30,600 km of cumulative travel equaling approximately 800 ION round trips 
  
• All rolling stock vehicle testing required to start revenue service is complete
  
• Reliability of vehicles is not yet “ready for service”
  
• Overall reliability of the vehicles continues to be an issue. Bombardier needs to complete significant modifications to address reliability issues. This totals approximately 50 to 100 hours per vehicle of critical work that needs to completed before service starts and 200 to 250 hours of work that can be completed after service starts. These types of issues can be expected with an initial run of vehicles. 
  
• Preliminary Acceptance Certificate (PAC) and Final Acceptance Certificate (FAC) processes still need to be completed.
  

To begin service, vehicles must go through an acceptance process. Significantly, no vehicles are yet fully ready for service, in that they have not yet achieved Preliminary Acceptance Certificate (PAC) or Final Acceptance Certificate (FAC).

[Bob_McBob]

Notable:

Based on the current schedule for the completion and testing of Bombardier vehicles and GrandLinq’s schedule for system integration testing, and driver and mechanic training, it is expected that service will start in spring 2019.

[Chris]

Notable:

Based on the current schedule for the completion and testing of Bombardier vehicles and GrandLinq’s schedule for system integration testing, and driver and mechanic training, it is expected that service will start in spring 2019.

Oh man, let me ride the LRT already....


   

[Canard]

Just happy to be along for the ride. it’s been an incredible journey. I’ll be a little sad when it’s over, a sentiment I’m sure many who were actually responsible for bringing it to life will feel, too.

[plam]

Looks like they're aiming for the spring service switchover date, whenever that is.

"Starting service in spring 2019 aligns with the start of spring service for Grand River Transit and will allow the LRT service to integrate smoothly into the overall transit network."

They expect the PAC will be issued shortly (for all vehicles). They do mention that reliability is still a concern at the moment. 78/86 required system integration tests have succeeded, but I don't really know what that means. I'm sure things like vehicle coupling were part of that. They are also doing dry-run for burn-in, but not counting it in the official burn-in times yet. 503 has an open items inspection started with 25 still open, although 512 is estimated to require the fewest number of hours of modifications. Hours of modifications is a bit weird because we don't know how many hours can proceed in parallel.

They also flag availability of spare parts as a concern.

[KevinL]

Looks like they're aiming for the spring service switchover date, whenever that is.

That's typically at the end of April, when the university winter term has ended.

[trainspotter139]

Looks like they're aiming for the spring service switchover date, whenever that is.

"Starting service in spring 2019 aligns with the start of spring service for Grand River Transit and will allow the LRT service to integrate smoothly into the overall transit network."

They expect the PAC will be issued shortly (for all vehicles). They do mention that reliability is still a concern at the moment. 78/86 required system integration tests have succeeded, but I don't really know what that means. I'm sure things like vehicle coupling were part of that. They are also doing dry-run for burn-in, but not counting it in the official burn-in times yet. 503 has an open items inspection started with 25 still open, although 512 is estimated to require the fewest number of hours of modifications. Hours of modifications is a bit weird because we don't know how many hours can proceed in parallel.

They also flag availability of spare parts as a concern.

Spring Service Changes for GRT is Usually the last Monday of April. The 8 remaining tests relate to crossing gates, runtime tests, headway tests and communications tests are are planned to be completed by early March. The last bits of Bombardier Qualification are waiting of the next software upgrade which will likely be a part of the reliability modifications.

[jwilliamson]

It looks like GRT spring service usually starts in late April. If GrandLinq wants to align with that, we have a two month wait.

Is GRT still planning to introduce the "2018 Network Redesign" when ION starts service?

[trainspotter139]

It looks like GRT spring service usually starts in late April. If GrandLinq wants to align with that, we have a two month wait.

Is GRT still planning to introduce the "2018 Network Redesign" when ION starts service?

that was always the plan

[KevinL]

It looks like GRT spring service usually starts in late April. If GrandLinq wants to align with that, we have a two month wait.

Is GRT still planning to introduce the "2018 Network Redesign" when ION starts service?

This is precisely why they are targeting that date, so the new network starts with a scheduled service change.

[danbrotherston]

.....

• All rolling stock vehicle testing required to start revenue service is complete
  
• Reliability of vehicles is not yet “ready for service”
  
• Overall reliability of the vehicles continues to be an issue. Bombardier needs to complete significant modifications to address reliability issues. This totals approximately 50 to 100 hours per vehicle of critical work that needs to completed before service starts and 200 to 250 hours of work that can be completed after service starts. These types of issues can be expected with an initial run of vehicles. 
  
• Preliminary Acceptance Certificate (PAC) and Final Acceptance Certificate (FAC) processes still need to be completed.
  

To begin service, vehicles must go through an acceptance process. Significantly, no vehicles are yet fully ready for service, in that they have not yet achieved Preliminary Acceptance Certificate (PAC) or Final Acceptance Certificate (FAC).

Thanks so much for posting!

I am confused here, these two highlighted statements seem to be in direct disagreement.

"All rolling stock vehicle testing required to start revenue service is complete"

And multiple statements explaining the work left to be done on vehicles explicitly before revenue service and discussing reliability issues of the vehicles suggests that stock vehicles are not completed testing for revenue service.

What does the first statement mean?

[Canard]

Well, the only take-away from tonight's meeting is... we'll find out in March when opening day will be, and that planing for that day has already begun!