ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit

[jeffster]

Yeah, I called the Hotline, but gave up after being on hold for over 15 minutes. GRT showed up to direct traffic shortly thereafter. The arm at Erb failed to lift.

Also, it looks like someone broke into the LRV. The one door was busted open and rattling. So, there you go. I’m wrong, you’re right.

It really is a shame that you'd have to be wrong on this one. I was hoping you were right, as probably was everyone else. But Lancaster yard is a horrible place to store a multi-million dollar vehicle without some sort of paid security. Hopefully the region will learn its lesson about trying to save a few hundred dollars on a billion+ dollar project. Somehow I doubt though the the boneheads at the region will clue in, even if what you saw is true. They all be stubborn as hell.

[ijmorlan]

Yeah, I called the Hotline, but gave up after being on hold for over 15 minutes. GRT showed up to direct traffic shortly thereafter. The arm at Erb failed to lift.

Also, it looks like someone broke into the LRV. The one door was busted open and rattling. So, there you go. I’m wrong, you’re right.

That doesn’t make me happy! Actually I wasn’t even thinking of vandalism as such, just graffiti (arguably also vandalism, but in my mind painting something is different from breaking it).

[danbrotherston]

Yeah, I called the Hotline, but gave up after being on hold for over 15 minutes. GRT showed up to direct traffic shortly thereafter. The arm at Erb failed to lift.

Also, it looks like someone broke into the LRV. The one door was busted open and rattling. So, there you go. I’m wrong, you’re right.

It really is a shame that you'd have to be wrong on this one. I was hoping you were right, as probably was everyone else. But Lancaster yard is a horrible place to store a multi-million dollar vehicle without some sort of paid security. Hopefully the region will learn its lesson about trying to save a few hundred dollars on a billion+ dollar project. Somehow I doubt though the the boneheads at the region will clue in, even if what you saw is true. They all be stubborn as hell.

Is it actually on the region though?  Or Bombardier.  AFAIK they wouldn't have transferred ownership until delivery is completed.

It is a shame though.

As for the rail crossing, it really is unacceptable that the hotline would have such a long wait time...  I didn't know that GRT would direct traffic?

[bgb_ca]

Are you basing this "break in" by the blue tape/missing white tape? If so, I just went back to the picture of it in Belleville on facebook a few weeks ago and I saw that there as well.

[jeffster]

It really is a shame that you'd have to be wrong on this one. I was hoping you were right, as probably was everyone else. But Lancaster yard is a horrible place to store a multi-million dollar vehicle without some sort of paid security. Hopefully the region will learn its lesson about trying to save a few hundred dollars on a billion+ dollar project. Somehow I doubt though the the boneheads at the region will clue in, even if what you saw is true. They all be stubborn as hell.

Is it actually on the region though?  Or Bombardier.  AFAIK they wouldn't have transferred ownership until delivery is completed.

It is a shame though.

As for the rail crossing, it really is unacceptable that the hotline would have such a long wait time...  I didn't know that GRT would direct traffic?

For one, we're assuming that the LRT was actually damaged. As for who's actually on the hook if the vehicle is damaged, I'm not sure if Bombardier would be to blame, but they could be. Could be a shared responsibility too (with the region, or even the delivery agent).

Either way, though, a proactive approach should have been taken. If it is Bombardier's fault, most likely this would be an insurance claim, so no loss to them, and it gives them an easier out if things aren't ready on time. If it is the regions fault, then it's another black-eye for these politicians. Personally I think they should have spent the money on some security regardless who's responsibility it was. The City of Kitchener still has plenty of part-time security officers or bi-law officers that probably would have appreciated the hours. Assuming 50 hours were needed, this would have cost about $2,300 ($35/hour add 30% for benefits, OMERS, etc * 50 hours). Very small price to pay to keep the trains in pristine condition.

[ijmorlan]

It really is a shame that you'd have to be wrong on this one. I was hoping you were right, as probably was everyone else. But Lancaster yard is a horrible place to store a multi-million dollar vehicle without some sort of paid security. Hopefully the region will learn its lesson about trying to save a few hundred dollars on a billion+ dollar project. Somehow I doubt though the the boneheads at the region will clue in, even if what you saw is true. They all be stubborn as hell.

We don’t know where whatever happened happened. Lancaster may not be the only problematic location, especially with the length of time this vehicle took getting here. With a shortest-likely trip, it would spend very little time parked and there wouldn’t be much of an opportunity for damage.

[highlander]

According to today's Daily Bulletin

Beginning Tuesday and continued to Friday, May 4, GrandLinq will be testing the ION Light Rail Vehicle (LRV) between the Conestoga Mall stop and the Erb/Caroline intersection. This work will require the LRV to travel at its design speed, up to 70 km per hour.

[jamincan]

Most likely the shipment would have some sort of insurance on it that would cover the damage.

[tomh009]

It really is a shame that you'd have to be wrong on this one. I was hoping you were right, as probably was everyone else. But Lancaster yard is a horrible place to store a multi-million dollar vehicle without some sort of paid security. Hopefully the region will learn its lesson about trying to save a few hundred dollars on a billion+ dollar project. Somehow I doubt though the the boneheads at the region will clue in, even if what you saw is true. They all be stubborn as hell.

Is it actually on the region though?  Or Bombardier.  AFAIK they wouldn't have transferred ownership until delivery is completed.

If this happened while in transit, I would really expect it to be the carrier's responsibility -- and likely covered by insurance. The region/Grandlinq would be purchasing the trains on CIF (cost + insurance + freight) terms, and BBD would contract with CN/CP to deliver the trains safely to the region. This is really no different than shipping something by FedEx/UPS (except that FedEx/UPS actually have service levels that they meet).

[KevinT]

Passed 507 running up Northfield on my drive in this morning, and the 506 offload is happening now. It's a different flat car than last time too, so they can potentially turn around shipments faster than we thought!

[bgb_ca]

Maybe we can see a dual delivery? That would be awesome to see 2 for 1 coming up the spur.

[Canard]

Are you basing this "break in" by the blue tape/missing white tape? If so, I just went back to the picture of it in Belleville on facebook a few weeks ago and I saw that there as well.

I’m basing it on the door being open about 10 cm and flapping around the whole way up the Spurline Trail. I’d be very surprised if it did this by itself, because to open the door when there is no power, you have to pump the door open with a mechanical handle.

   

[bgb_ca]

Are you basing this "break in" by the blue tape/missing white tape? If so, I just went back to the picture of it in Belleville on facebook a few weeks ago and I saw that there as well.

I’m basing it on the door being open about 10 cm and flapping around the whole way up the Spurline Trail. I’d be very surprised if it did this by itself, because to open the door when there is no power, you have to pump the door open with a mechanical handle.

Ok. So yes, there are signs of it being opened. (I did not see that side of the train last night). And maybe someone did go in and fiddle with stuff. But that does not mean it happened at Lancaster. As previously stated, there are signs this may have happened at either Kingston or Belleville according to some of the other pictures, or maybe even somewhere in between. In the end, lets just hope the damage is minimal, or non-existant. Maybe the door did not properly close due to the train having no power, and when it gets power, it will close properly.

[Canard]

The door would have been closed, locked, and taped up in Millhaven. It’s not like they just “didn’t close it” and then shipped it.

[kps]

Back in my day, it was safe to leave our streetcars unlocked.