ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit

[robdrimmie]

Great Canadian Coaches do all kinds of different runs, scheduled and chartered. Since Google isn't in the Tannery any more, I suspect it's not them. My guess is that's it's most likely a delegation visiting the Hub, Velocity, or D2L.

[timc]

I saw a train with no numbers at all at around 6:15 AM today. Could this have been 501? Or are there other trains that are missing numbers? (It did have the usual larger "testing" decals, though.)

I saw one at lunch time today that had no number on the front, but there was a number on the side. It was not 501, but I can't remember which one it was.

[kps]

Pretty sure this is Google's shuttle coach service.

It's not. Google uses the same bus company, but this is the wrong location, wrong time of day, and lacks the route sign in the window.

[tomh009]

I saw a train with no numbers at all at around 6:15 AM today. Could this have been 501? Or are there other trains that are missing numbers? (It did have the usual larger "testing" decals, though.)

I saw one at lunch time today that had no number on the front, but there was a number on the side. It was not 501, but I can't remember which one it was.

Paying more attention this morning, I notice that 502 has no number on the front but it does have numbers above the cockpit (?) windows.

I thought the one I saw didn't have those either but I may be mistaken on that ...

[urbd]

Great Canadian Coaches do all kinds of different runs, scheduled and chartered. Since Google isn't in the Tannery any more, I suspect it's not them. My guess is that's it's most likely a delegation visiting the Hub, Velocity, or D2L.

Pretty sure this is Google's shuttle coach service.

It's not. Google uses the same bus company, but this is the wrong location, wrong time of day, and lacks the route sign in the window.

I know GCC does other runs. As for the location, I was under the impression that still or until very recently Google had some staff on the ground floor and basement of the Tannery - this is what friends that work at Google told me a few months ago, maybe by now they have all moved to Breithaupt.

[urbd]

Also, it feels lonely here without Canard. It's pretty sad that he left this forum mere weeks before launch date. It would be nice to hear his thoughts at this stage of the project and after opening.

[tomh009]

Also, it feels lonely here without Canard. It's pretty sad that he left this forum mere weeks before launch date. It would be nice to hear his thoughts at this stage of the project and after opening.

I think he has even stopped posting to the LRT group on FB.

[tomh009]

Some Canard content for the day:

[KevinL]

The crossing lights at Northfield clearly still need some work. They activated before a northbound train has finished pulling into the station, and when it stopped at the platform and didn't proceed, they turned off. So a full cycle of lights and arms for nothing.

[Acitta]

Also, it feels lonely here without Canard. It's pretty sad that he left this forum mere weeks before launch date. It would be nice to hear his thoughts at this stage of the project and after opening.

He posts regularly on Twitter. Canardiain

[ijmorlan]

The crossing lights at Northfield clearly still need some work. They activated before a northbound train has finished pulling into the station, and when it stopped at the platform and didn't proceed, they turned off. So a full cycle of lights and arms for nothing.

Unfortunately I have an idea this may be intentional. I believe the reason one would get if one asked (and got anything but crickets, so I’m not talking about asking @rideIONrt on Twitter) would relate to the case of the train overshooting, but I think this is basically safety paranoia. We don’t make vehicles approaching a green light stop, and then proceed only when traffic coming the other way has stopped. An LRV approaching the road (but not intending to cross yet) is no different from a large truck or bus approaching a red light.

[taylortbb]

The crossing lights at Northfield clearly still need some work. They activated before a northbound train has finished pulling into the station, and when it stopped at the platform and didn't proceed, they turned off. So a full cycle of lights and arms for nothing.

Unfortunately I have an idea this may be intentional. I believe the reason one would get if one asked (and got anything but crickets, so I’m not talking about asking @rideIONrt on Twitter) would relate to the case of the train overshooting, but I think this is basically safety paranoia. We don’t make vehicles approaching a green light stop, and then proceed only when traffic coming the other way has stopped. An LRV approaching the road (but not intending to cross yet) is no different from a large truck or bus approaching a red light.

Yep, my understanding (from forums, I'm no expert) is this is intentional behaviour required by regulations. If the arm didn't come down, and the LRV didn't stop at the station, then by the time the LRV was past the station the crossing arms wouldn't be able to come down far enough in advance of the LRV's arrival at the crossing as the regulations require. Technically there's no signal there telling trains to stop, and they're free to skip Northfield station and proceed directly onto Northfield. I'm not sure if putting a signal there for the train, that was red until the LRV stopped at the station, would change the rules (probably not, because railway regulations are ancient).

[KevinL]

Yikes. Nobody will want to drive eastbound on Northfield ever again...

[timio]

This happens at train stations next to roads as trains pull in. When the train stops, the arms go up until it's time to move again.

[jeffster]

Also, it feels lonely here without Canard. It's pretty sad that he left this forum mere weeks before launch date. It would be nice to hear his thoughts at this stage of the project and after opening.

I think he has even stopped posting to the LRT group on FB.

Does anyone have any reason why?