ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit

[bgb_ca]

Any livestreams?

Thought I heard ctv was

But I'm here in person so I never looked

[Bob_McBob]

Any livestreams?

https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=68597

[JoeKW]

Found it: https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=68597

[Bob_McBob]

[ac3r]

I passed Victoria Park Station about 10 minutes to noon and barely saw anybody but a few staff. I thought there'd be people lining up to catch trains at each stop once they all opened at lunch.

[robdrimmie]

We may have passed each other ac3r, I walked by shortly after. Thankfully it was filling out more a few minutes ago when a train was pulling through. I think it might have been the first one that left from Conestoga but I didn't pay close enough attention to times.

12pm
   



12:26

   


   

[kps]

Opening run arriving at the Transit Hub.

   

(The VIA train came through three minutes after the LRT left. I had been hoping to catch them together.)

[ac3r]

I was looking at the platform itself and didn't really see anyone, so I didn't notice the line. It doesn't look too bad. I should have got in line to catch it back to Fairview, rather than the 7B. But I had a bunch of architecture journals to carry and it was hot haha. I'll go down to the market tomorrow and take the tram there and back instead.

Even though I don't live here, it's great to see this finally up and running. It's truly going to reshape this city.

[robdrimmie]

Yeah, the line at 12 was 4 or 5 people, but the first train wasn't expected for 26 minutes (I also took a shot while walking towards the station along Charles from Water street that I only just looked at) and at 12:30 there were perhaps 20. I saw a few shots from the ceremony on Twitter and there appears to be a lot of people there, so perhaps that's where the majority will be.

There were no face painters or Oktoberfest things or such, just a handful of folks in vests helping people and the lines.

[urbd]

I just took it from Fairway to Downtown, I think I was on the 3rd train to ever do the full line for the public!
A couple notes: 8 people are allowed to board per station, but I heard there were less people than they were expecting at each station so probably they are letting many more on.
The signaling system seems a little bit late (the LRV had to come to a full stop because some gates hadn't been fully down when it approached).
It goes really slowly when doing tight turns.
It's super smooth but you can hear squeaking inside, which is normal obviously.

Anyway, everyone seemed happy and excited to finally be able to ride the ION!

[bgb_ca]

Well I just finished my first trip.

[GtwoK]

GRT is claiming on Twitter that they arent operating on a regular schedule this weekend, and that it's a "special schedule". Anyone know what that is? Are all stations being serviced?

[robdrimmie]

My understanding is that the intent for the weekend is to run the regular weekend schedule with service to all stops, but I don't have a reference I can point to to confirm.

Reading the thread on Twitter, my speculation is that this weekend is considered a special schedule in that it isn't being published to the various routing systems and they aren't necessarily making the same service level commitment that they would. Like, if a train is interrupted for any reason they might not feel the need to run the alternative bus route that they will have to do come Monday.

[bgb_ca]

All stops were serviced on my run from Fairview to conestoga.

[Coke6pk]

I posted to Twitter as Train #1 rode along the tracks...

https://twitter.com/coke6pk

Coke