ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit

[bgb_ca]

https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/11-of-14-io...-1.5016817
"11 of 14 ION LRT trains need repairs under warranty; no safety concerns"

The FB comments are the usual shit from the usual suspects.

That's why I don't read the FB comments for the Record or CTV News.

This was part of the welding defects that were identified with the TTC. At least they are going to fix ours here instead of shipping them away like they are for the TTC.

[Bytor]

This was part of the welding defects that were identified with the TTC. At least they are going to fix ours here instead of shipping them away like they are for the TTC.

The TTC's cars were Flexity Outlooks, ours were Flexity Freedoms. All but one of ours were made in Kingston with some help from La Pocatière whereas the TTC's were welded in Mexico, so I'm not really sure that this is "part of the welding defects that were identified with the TTC".

[jeffster]

This was part of the welding defects that were identified with the TTC. At least they are going to fix ours here instead of shipping them away like they are for the TTC.

The TTC's cars were Flexity Outlooks, ours were Flexity Freedoms. All but one of ours were made in Kingston with some help from La Pocatière whereas the TTC's were welded in Mexico, so I'm not really sure that this is "part of the welding defects that were identified with the TTC".

But it is a welding defect, to put in nicely. More bluntly, piss poor welding. But I think most of us knew this was coming at some point.

[tomh009]

The TTC's cars were Flexity Outlooks, ours were Flexity Freedoms. All but one of ours were made in Kingston with some help from La Pocatière whereas the TTC's were welded in Mexico, so I'm not really sure that this is "part of the welding defects that were identified with the TTC".

But it is a welding defect, to put in nicely. More bluntly, piss poor welding. But I think most of us knew this was coming at some point.

Given that it's all 11 (of the early) vehicles, I suspect it's not sloppy welding, but, rather, a specification/design error resulting in the "lack of fusion" that BBD has admitted to.

For example, it's possible that the filler metal alloy was not correct for the duplex-type steel used in the Flexity frames.

[Bob_McBob]

Local media are really not on their LRT hating game anymore. We discussed all this more than two weeks ago!

[clasher]

For example, it's possible that the filler metal alloy was not correct for the duplex-type steel used in the Flexity frames.

Ya, with that kind of stuff, one can make a nice looking weld with the wrong filler metal that would be a hit on instagram but it could look like an aero bar on the inside. I'm sure in the case of the LTR welds they aren't full of holes or anything like that since there's a few different and fast ways to do NDT on weldments, I'd guess it's more to do with the weld design than anything the actual welders did.

[jeffster]

Local media are really not on their LRT hating game anymore. We discussed all this more than two weeks ago!

I guess they have bigger fish to fry. When they had the story, I was surprised it was a 20 second spot, if that.

[Bytor]

In the latest council of the whole agenda for the Wednesday the 16th they will be discussing TES-TRS-20-19 about restoring GRT & ION service.

https://calendar.regionofwaterloo.ca/Cou...3#page=154

[timc]

Is there any update on when transit will be open for non-essential trips?

[tomh009]

That will be discussed at Wednesday's meeting.

The main services being restored are:
• ION train (301) and bus service (302) increase to 10 minutes weekday 7:00am to 7:00pm
• All iXpress routes increase to 15 minute service
• Service frequencies increased on Routes 1, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 16, 19, 20, 57, 203
• Route 10/110 frequencies increased weekdays 7:00am to 6:00pm
• BusPLUS service on Routes 73, 76, 901 reinstated

Conventional services not restored and/or removed are:
• Extra peak trips serving the universities and college – Routes 7, 12, 13, 10, 19, 29, 31, 61, 201, 202
• Reduced evening service - Routes 3, 4, 22, 56, 57, 60
• Services with trips removed after midnight –ION bus (302), Routes 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 16, 19, 201
• Route 55 will continue with reduced frequency but will operate in both directions

ION services not restored and/or removed
• Weekday, Saturday and Sunday - trips removed after midnight will not be restored
• Weekday service after 10:30pm reduced to 30 minutes from 15 minutes
• Weekday service before 5:00am will not operate and service frequency before 6:00 will reduce to 30 minutes from 15 minutes
• Saturday - Southbound service before 5:25am will not operate and Northbound service before 6:00am will not operate
• Sunday – Southbound service before 6:20am will not operate and Northbound service before 7:00am will not operate. Southbound service frequency before 7:40am will reduce to 30 minutes from 15 minutes. Northbound service frequency before 8:30am will reduce to 30 minutes from 15 minutes.

[jeffster]

That will be discussed at Wednesday's meeting.

The main services being restored are:
• ION train (301) and bus service (302) increase to 10 minutes weekday 7:00am to 7:00pm
• All iXpress routes increase to 15 minute service
• Service frequencies increased on Routes 1, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 16, 19, 20, 57, 203
• Route 10/110 frequencies increased weekdays 7:00am to 6:00pm
• BusPLUS service on Routes 73, 76, 901 reinstated

Conventional services not restored and/or removed are:
• Extra peak trips serving the universities and college – Routes 7, 12, 13, 10, 19, 29, 31, 61, 201, 202
• Reduced evening service - Routes 3, 4, 22, 56, 57, 60
• Services with trips removed after midnight –ION bus (302), Routes 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 16, 19, 201
• Route 55 will continue with reduced frequency but will operate in both directions

ION services not restored and/or removed
• Weekday, Saturday and Sunday - trips removed after midnight will not be restored
• Weekday service after 10:30pm reduced to 30 minutes from 15 minutes
• Weekday service before 5:00am will not operate and service frequency before 6:00 will reduce to 30 minutes from 15 minutes
• Saturday - Southbound service before 5:25am will not operate and Northbound service before 6:00am will not operate
• Sunday – Southbound service before 6:20am will not operate and Northbound service before 7:00am will not operate. Southbound service frequency before 7:40am will reduce to 30 minutes from 15 minutes. Northbound service frequency before 8:30am will reduce to 30 minutes from 15 minutes.

Not liking the changes. You want us who can to get rid the of the car, well, you guys made it much harder to do so.

[panamaniac]

These are permanent changes?

[tomh009]

These are permanent changes?

I don't think so, although it wasn't explicitly stated. We're still in COVID-19 (recovery) mode.

[taylortbb]

https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/region-of-w...-1.5073339

The region says it will receive liquidated damages of $2.2 million and Bombardier will also be providing one additional LRT vehicle at no extra cost.

As expected, this means the loaner vehicle we're getting while they do welding repairs will become a permanent part of the fleet.

The one additional train is enough to improve peak service from every 8 minutes to every 7 minutes.

[KevinT]

Glad we get to keep it, a 'loaner' really didn't make sense. They'd have needed to swap a cab and rewire the video and automation systems to sell it to the Eglinton Crosstown, or add modules, rewire, and refurnish it for Edmonton. I can't imagine that would be any cheaper than just building new.