ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit

[jeffster]

Still waiting for the next cartoon from the Woolwich Observer with more negativity towards the Ion, cuz, you know, them taxpayers helped pay for something they didn't get.

[KevinT]

Looks like this Danish company has the solution.  Wire de-icing system.  So why did they not consider this when building the system.

We have no idea what they did or didn't consider. It's entirely possible that it was investigated and found to be more costly than just running trains overnight to prevent buildup and fitting 'ice-cutter' pantos to some of the fleet when necessary. It's entirely possible that it was never even mentioned. We just don't know.

Also, it's easy to put a price tag on materials and talk yourself out of buying them in order to ensure your proposal will pass a vote. It's far harder to put a price tag on future service interruptions and then successfully argue to voters that it's cheaper in the long run to spend the money on materials up front. That almost never works, and as a result we rarely even try anymore.

[Bob_McBob]

Still waiting for the next cartoon from the Woolwich Observer with more negativity towards the Ion, cuz, you know, them taxpayers helped pay for something they didn't get.

Don't worry, he decided to do a "neither side cares about the public good" comic about the OSSTF collective bargaining process instead.

[Coke6pk]

Re: Fare Inspectors

Fare inspectors don't need to be uniformed.  They are there to insure that a fare is paid. 

In Hungary, they use plain clothes inspectors that board the train or bus and then put on an arm band indicating they are there to check fares. They have the power to issue tickets.

Police don't need to be uniformed either.  There is no law saying their vehicles need to be identifiable.

But, the uniforms presence has the effect of deterring crime, as do frequent passes of a marked vehicle... something we would lose if they were al undercover.  There is a time and place for plain clothed officers, but the majority need to be identifiable.  They also serve as a beacon for assistance to tourists, lost children, etc.

Fare Inspectors are similar.  The majority of their job is likely assisting with issues other than fares, and are goodwill ambassadors as well.  The only difference is, as licenced security guards in the province of Ontario, they are mandated by law to wear a uniform.  

Coke

[robdrimmie]

The majority of their job is likely assisting with issues other than fares, and are goodwill ambassadors as well.

Anecdotally, this does not reflect my experience or interactions with ION fare collectors. They've all been pleasant, but very much specifically about whether or not a fare has been paid, and until that question is answered they don't appear to be interested in other conversation. I've seen them transition between trains only a couple of times, but in each case they got off a train and immediately got on the next one to arrive. In stations that service both directions, they've gotten on a differently directed train.

I agree that their jobs involve more than fares and they should be goodwill ambassadors, but fare validation is the bulk of the visible work that they do, in my experience.

[ijmorlan]

The majority of their job is likely assisting with issues other than fares, and are goodwill ambassadors as well.

Anecdotally, this does not reflect my experience or interactions with ION fare collectors. They've all been pleasant, but very much specifically about whether or not a fare has been paid, and until that question is answered they don't appear to be interested in other conversation. I've seen them transition between trains only a couple of times, but in each case they got off a train and immediately got on the next one to arrive. In stations that service both directions, they've gotten on a differently directed train.

Well of course they want their question answered first, especially on board a train where the fare is supposed to be already paid. I remember a video of some sovereign citizen doing their usual self-destructive thing with a very patient officer, and one of the comments pointed out hilariously that you “cannot filibuster a traffic stop”.

The question is the extent to which they will answer other questions after checking your fare, or if you meet them on the platform.

I’ve encountered them on the platform and they both helped us with the fare payment machines and answered a few general questions about the system.

[KevinT]

I tuned in to the radio scanner this morning on my drive to work and there was some sort of incident at the Seagram Dr crossing. Power was off for the southbound track with a maintenance crew working on it there, and they'd reduced service frequencies to 20 minutes so the northbound track could handle both directions between the Perimeter Institute and Northfield. They were setting up the bus bridge between Northfield and Waterloo Public Square / Willis Way when I tuned in but then called it off and went with the reduced service plan instead, and power was back on with the first train let through on the southbound track just as I arrived at work and tuned out.

Anyone know what the trigger incident was?

In my opinion they did an excellent job of keeping the service running, although being hopscotched up the line from station to station as 10 minute frequencies reduced to 20 must still have been frustrating for passengers. It was pretty fascinating and I'm glad I got to listen in, extreme professionalism was evident in every voice I heard.

[bgb_ca]

I tuned in to the radio scanner this morning on my drive to work and there was some sort of incident at the Seagram Dr crossing. Power was off for the southbound track with a maintenance crew working on it there, and they'd reduced service frequencies to 20 minutes so the northbound track could handle both directions between the Perimeter Institute and Northfield. They were setting up the bus bridge between Northfield and Waterloo Public Square / Willis Way when I tuned in but then called it off and went with the reduced service plan instead, and power was back on with the first train let through on the southbound track just as I arrived at work and tuned out.

Anyone know what the trigger incident was?

In my opinion they did an excellent job of keeping the service running, although being hopscotched up the line from station to station as 10 minute frequencies reduced to 20 must still have been frustrating for passengers. It was pretty fascinating and I'm glad I got to listen in, extreme professionalism was evident in every voice I heard.

I only got delayed by 5 mins but the person next to me said they were stuck at Mill station for 45 mins before a NB train showed up.

[trainspotter139]

[JoeKW]

How does that even happen?

[timc]

How does that even happen?

My guess is wind.

[KevinL]

There was very strong wind this morning, yes.

My slightly-delayed train crossed Seagram at about 11:45, they were just finishing setting up the replacement arm.

[bgb_ca]

How does that even happen?

My guess is wind.

If the wind did that, they must have used the cheapest wood they could find for that.

[trainspotter139]

My guess is wind.

If the wind did that, they must have used the cheapest wood they could find for that.

The arms themselves are for the most part aluminum. However, there are 2 points along the longer arms where they can shear off from torsion or where the rivets holding them together can pop.

[Bob_McBob]

A bunch of wonky behaviour at the University Ave crossing this afternoon. Train went through, signal arms went back up, then down a bit, then up, etc. Lots of cars hesitantly going through, then the arms eventually dropped again and another train came through.