ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit

[Momo26]

Yah, it's one thing to not divulge the reasons if there a POLICE investigation going on..okay fine. But be more clear with what's happening in terms of trains and detours...my issue is, so you have the shuttle buses running specifically between those two stops...it does not explicitly state which direction...one could infer Fairview bound as GRH comes before Kitchener Market, but that's an ass-umption.

Second, how does this effect the REST of the line, in terms of exact, to-the-minute delays? Display said 55mins at Block Line Station, so I think 'oh crap, no trains are coming this way for about an hour - and even that might be an estimate only. There are no obvious buses heading where I need to go at Block line, but there is at least one at Fairway Station, so I go THAT way instead, as a train is approaching heading there (somehow). Then I see one has left Fairway heading to downtown (maybe it'll end and kick everyone off at Market Station - this would have worked for me, but barely), but I did not know this and again, the signage said 55mins!

Bus drivers are kept out of the loop completely - despite all being part of the K-W Public transit NETWORK.

It's frustrating, infuriating. We depend on the transit that our tax dollars subsidize (LRT being built on property tax dollars). So get. it. right.

[JJTL]

On top of all the other considerations, do we really need to prosecute somebody who just put themselves in hospital with their carelessness, without endangering anybody else?

If we replace the bicycle with a car and the LRV with a bicycle, then you have an innocent but dead (possibly) cyclist and an unharmed automobile driver who is in need of prosecution. In this case, though, the cyclist didn’t endanger anybody else and is spending a few days in hospital, probably followed by an extensive period of healing.

If all collisions only harmed the at-fault party, I don’t think we would even need driving laws. It’s only because one person driving badly can hurt someone else that the law needs to come into it. There isn’t a law against cutting your thumb off with a paring knife while preparing dinner.

I wonder if they are considering there is endangerment to the passengers on the train. Train makes sudden unexpected stop to try avoiding cyclist and passengers of all ages get thrown around the train, could certainly result in injuries I would think (although not to the extent the cyclist endured). Just a thought.

[ijmorlan]

On top of all the other considerations, do we really need to prosecute somebody who just put themselves in hospital with their carelessness, without endangering anybody else?

If we replace the bicycle with a car and the LRV with a bicycle, then you have an innocent but dead (possibly) cyclist and an unharmed automobile driver who is in need of prosecution. In this case, though, the cyclist didn’t endanger anybody else and is spending a few days in hospital, probably followed by an extensive period of healing.

If all collisions only harmed the at-fault party, I don’t think we would even need driving laws. It’s only because one person driving badly can hurt someone else that the law needs to come into it. There isn’t a law against cutting your thumb off with a paring knife while preparing dinner.

I wonder if they are considering there is endangerment to the passengers on the train. Train makes sudden unexpected stop to try avoiding cyclist and passengers of all ages get thrown around the train, could certainly result in injuries I would think (although not to the extent the cyclist endured). Just a thought.

That is a fair point. Overall I hope the most vulnerable people on an LRV are seated, but an emergency stop still does have the potential of causing injury. Incidentally, does anyone know how fast an emergency stop is? I mean, is it like a bus stopping suddenly or more sudden than that?

[taylortbb]

Incidentally, does anyone know how fast an emergency stop is? I mean, is it like a bus stopping suddenly or more sudden than that?

The LRVs have magnetic track brakes, where the vehicle magnetically attaches itself to rail to bring itself to a pretty rapid stop. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Track_brak...ack_brakes

I don't know the exact stopping speed, but my understanding is that it's somewhat faster than a bus. The drivers get on the intercom and make sure the passengers are okay after every use, so there's definitely an expectation of injuries.

[MidTowner]

That is a fair point. Overall I hope the most vulnerable people on an LRV are seated, but an emergency stop still does have the potential of causing injury. Incidentally, does anyone know how fast an emergency stop is? I mean, is it like a bus stopping suddenly or more sudden than that?

Even without causing injury to others, if a person on a bicycle collides with an LRV there are significant costs. At minimum you disrupt the travel of the people on that train, maybe throughout the whole system for some period of time, use time of the LRV driver, potentially the police and medical services.

Don't get me wrong, it's senseless that someone on a bike who crashes into a train receives a more significant charge than someone in a motor vehicle who kills somebody, but some charge should be laid, and there is a potential cost associated with infractions even when on a bike.

[danbrotherston]

Incidentally, does anyone know how fast an emergency stop is? I mean, is it like a bus stopping suddenly or more sudden than that?

The LRVs have magnetic track brakes, where the vehicle magnetically attaches itself to rail to bring itself to a pretty rapid stop. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Track_brak...ack_brakes

I don't know the exact stopping speed, but my understanding is that it's somewhat faster than a bus. The drivers get on the intercom and make sure the passengers are okay after every use, so there's definitely an expectation of injuries.

I have been on a TTC streetcar that braked very hard to avoid a collision, I don't know if he used the emergency brake, but the braking was hard enough that people fell down and I thought we had actually hit the car.

[robdrimmie]

The trauma the driver of the ION suffers having just hit an unprotected human being with a very large machine is also no doubt significant, and I think should be considered.

[Bob_McBob]

I have been on a TTC streetcar that braked very hard to avoid a collision, I don't know if he used the emergency brake, but the braking was hard enough that people fell down and I thought we had actually hit the car.

I was on a GRT bus that had to brake hard for a dangerous driver on Weber about 20 years ago, and because the floors were wet I slipped and stumbled from sitting in the rearmost middle seat, down the stairs, all the way to the rear exit before I could stop myself.

[Bob_McBob]

So did we figure out what actually happened this morning? I see people mentioning a train was stopped dead and had to be towed away by a tractor, that there were ambulances and fire trucks, mentions of knives and machetes on the radio... so what was it?

[panamaniac]

I haven't seen anything about it in any of the local media.

[danbrotherston]

I haven't seen anything either, but I've heard multiple contradicting stories right now.

[ZEBuilder]

I saw a couple of these signs between the tracks near Columbia Street. I was curious about their meaning, but Google tells me nothing.

I can only think of two things: Only single line (so no crossover) until past the next transfer point. Or down slop up ahead. I'm going with the single line though.

I saw these signs too between Mill and blockline station. Where they are situated it looks as if it is signaling a bridge or culvert ahead. These signs are only on the sections of the track where it is just trains. So my theory is that it has something to do with maintenance in regards to the bridges and culverts.

Edit: These signs are now up on both sides of the mill crossover and both sides of the expressway underpass. Now I'm thinking that it has something to do with possible obstructions or ATP.

[Bob_McBob]

https://www.reddit.com/r/waterloo/commen...s_off_the/

[timc]

I can only think of two things: Only single line (so no crossover) until past the next transfer point. Or down slop up ahead. I'm going with the single line though.

I saw these signs too between Mill and blockline station. Where they are situated it looks as if it is signaling a bridge or culvert ahead. These signs are only on the sections of the track where it is just trains. So my theory is that it has something to do with maintenance in regards to the bridges and culverts.

Edit: These signs are now up on both sides of the mill crossover and both sides of the expressway underpass. Now I'm thinking that it has something to do with possible obstructions or ATP.

I have seen more of them in the last few days along the spur line. I took a closer look and they seem to be temporary signs. So I guess that they are likely for maintenance work, as someone else suggested, rather than operations.

[ijmorlan]

I saw these signs too between Mill and blockline station. Where they are situated it looks as if it is signaling a bridge or culvert ahead. These signs are only on the sections of the track where it is just trains. So my theory is that it has something to do with maintenance in regards to the bridges and culverts.

Edit: These signs are now up on both sides of the mill crossover and both sides of the expressway underpass. Now I'm thinking that it has something to do with possible obstructions or ATP.

I have seen more of them in the last few days along the spur line. I took a closer look and they seem to be temporary signs. So I guess that they are likely for maintenance work, as someone else suggested, rather than operations.

I’ve seen one that is just a post on a base, weighed down with sandbags, but the others I’ve seen are attached to OCS poles in a way that looks permanent to me.

In related news, my speculation is disproven: Between University and Seagram, there is an up arrow followed in the same direction by a down arrow. So we know they aren’t indicating direction on the line.