ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit

[jason897]

Just out of curiosity, do we have a complete list of what vehicles have been spotted out and about on the line since they all arrived?

It looks to me like we’ve had 502, 508, 510, 511, 512, 513, 514 out since they’ve all arrived. Yesterday I also saw 503 peeking out around the OMSF so maybe it’ll be coming out soon

[Lens]

I've photographed 502, 504, 506, 507, 508, 509, 511, 512, and 514 for what it's worth

[ijmorlan]

Also noticed that the transit signal bar and no right turn sign triggered on southbound Charles at Benton/Frederick when a northbound train was turning onto Frederick and no southbound train in sight.

On a related note, I’ve noticed the no-right on Caroline south of Erb (into the closed entrance of the CGI parking lot, and onto Father David Bauer) triggers well before the crossing protection at Erb and Caroline starts. Also, most of the crossing protection at Erb and Caroline is spurious when the southbound track is the one triggering it: the lights could perfectly safely go into a green-for-Caroline mode, except with turns onto westbound Erb and the west side pedestrian crossing stopped by the protection.

[timc]

On a related note, I’ve noticed the no-right on Caroline south of Erb (into the closed entrance of the CGI parking lot, and onto Father David Bauer) triggers well before the crossing protection at Erb and Caroline starts. Also, most of the crossing protection at Erb and Caroline is spurious when the southbound track is the one triggering it: the lights could perfectly safely go into a green-for-Caroline mode, except with turns onto westbound Erb and the west side pedestrian crossing stopped by the protection.

I think there are optimizations like this at other points along the route. I can imagine that the programming is a bit complicated, but I wonder if adjustments will be made in the future. Or if they are even allowed to be done, given regulations.

[Canard]

Having fun today, cycling up and down the Laurel Trail, alongside the testing trains!

[Canard]

While chasing trains today I tried my best to take some notes of radio calls (and spotting) to try and plot some data points for trip times between knowns.

I'm sure someone much smarter than me could do something useful with this.  

9:12-508 NB Fairway
9:13-513 NB Borden
9:14-513 NB Cameron
9:16-512 NB Borden (requested to hold)
9:19-513 Debris at Duke/Queen
9:21-513 Resuming NB
9:21-512 NB Borden
9:23-512 NB Cameron
9:26-508 NB Borden (15 minute break request)
9:27-513 NB Green
9:32-513 NB WPS
9:37-513 NB UW
9:40-508 NB Borden
9:42-508 NB Cameron
9:44-508 Exiting cab to remove an orange peel from tracks
9:48-5xx NB R&T
9:49-513 SB Conestoga
9:59-512 SB Conestoga
10:12-508 NB Seagram
10:13-513 SB Green
10:17-512 SB Seagram
10:26-512 SB Green

Things to keep in mind:

• Timing of signals etc. not yet optimized
  
• FIE (Which may enable speed savings/optimization) not available or enabled on all vehicles
  
• Vehicles are still limited to no faster than 50 km/h
  

[danbrotherston]

@Canard  Thanks!  Great summary.

Also keep in mind, operators still seem extremely cautious at intersections, I saw LRVs crawling through a few, even though they had right of way.

Was out walking the line today, showing my sister from Calgary, I was amazed how much testing there was on a Sunday.

[ert86]

Optimizing crossings is definitely needed because if it stays the way it is I can see Wilson Ave being a nightmare for traffic, especially at peak frequency. Currently the arms start to come down somewhere by Sleep Country or before and the train took a bit to get across. On it's way out of the station I've seen the arms come down and the train sit at the station for over a minute (i had an obstructed view so a car might have been blocking the tracks.) Another time the operator waited for the arms to be fully down before it left. Does the operator triggers them before leaving the station?

[MidTowner]

@Canard  Thanks!  Great summary.

Also keep in mind, operators still seem extremely cautious at intersections, I saw LRVs crawling through a few, even though they had right of way.

Was out walking the line today, showing my sister from Calgary, I was amazed how much testing there was on a Sunday.

Cautious everywhere, and for good reason! I saw a train stopped (with abundant room) for a parent and a few kids crossing the tracks in front of King Edward school yesterday morning.

[welltoldtales]

Having fun today, cycling up and down the Laurel Trail, alongside the testing trains!

Biggest thing I find about this video, I know we mock Waterloo for the Gold Share the Road standard but it's pretty special that we have all that trail right beside the LRT. That's pretty unique in Ontario and I think the only other non-big 3 city so on top of alternative transportation has to be Ottawa. Our community really is turning into something special.

[Spokes]

@Canard  Thanks!  Great summary.

Also keep in mind, operators still seem extremely cautious at intersections, I saw LRVs crawling through a few, even though they had right of way.

Was out walking the line today, showing my sister from Calgary, I was amazed how much testing there was on a Sunday.

Cautious everywhere, and for good reason! I saw a train stopped (with abundant room) for a parent and a few kids crossing the tracks in front of King Edward school yesterday morning.

Not trying to make this a train vs pedestrian issue, but are pedestrian crossings timed to give LRVs priority to avoid this?

[Canard]

@ert86: they are still having all sorts of problems sending trains out of Fairway. It seems about 50% of the time, they can’t properly set the route, and they ask the LRV operator to proceed to the intersection very slowly, triggering the gates and arms via the backup inductive loops placed right there. Then the LRV must wait for the arms to come down and be fully down before proceeding.

[MidTowner]

I'm not sure I understand the question. This was not at a crosswalk, anyway (though very close to one with a beg button).

[Spokes]

Oh I thought this was at the cross walk.

So essentially my question is that if at the crosswalk, the button is pushed and a train is coming, will the lights know this and wait until the train has passed to activate the crossing lights?

[trainspotter139]

Oh I thought this was at the cross walk.

So essentially my question is that if at the crosswalk, the button is pushed and a train is coming, will the lights know this and wait until the train has passed to activate the crossing lights?

At an actual crossing yes.