ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit

[Viewfromthe42]

Is that where all (including our LRVs) welding is done for Bombardier?

[Canard]

Yes. However Bead Ross (TTC) confirmed that was actually re-stating the news from last fall, not new news. So disregard.

[JoeKW]

Prepare for the worst, hope for the best

[Canard]

Underpromise and over-deliver!

[ijmorlan]

Underpromise and over-deliver!

Hmm, seems they’ve got this backwards!

By the way, I’ve been meaning to thank you for asking Bombardier on Twitter about the LRVs. I have not been surprised to see no response from them, but you’re still right to ask the question. It really seems like a quick response wouldn’t tax their staff too much. Unless they’re too busy drafting the next excuse for delay on the Toronto order.

[Markster]

The rather detailed discussion of all different kinds of LRVs was getting a little off topic, and has been split into its own thread so that discussion can flourish on its own!
Light Rail Vehicles - LRT, ICTS, Monorail, and more

[Canard]

Construction progresses on the temporary shelter.

   

   

   

[DKsan]

I know that's the temporary dome, but wouldn't King-Victoria Terminal look gorgeous with a cylindrical station covering?

[REnerd]

I know that's the temporary dome, but wouldn't King-Victoria Terminal look gorgeous with a cylindrical station covering?

YES.  Driving up King Street today, I thought the dome shape looked really nice there.

[DHLawrence]

It's part of the artist's concepts; if we lobby enough at the next public information sessions it might become reality.

[jamincan]

The ION facebook page has me thinking about how RT might evolve in the region. I think the next step I would like to see is a bit more of a regional rail system, probably using DMUs on mostly existing tracks.

First line would use the existing tracks between New Hamburg and Guelph with stops at New Hamburg, Baden, Boardwalk, Belmont, King&Vic, Lancaster, River, Lackner, Breslau, Imperial Rd, Guelph Stn, Victoria Rd.

Frequency 15 min peak periods, dropping down to 30-60 min off-peak.

[Canard]

I would like to see our second line (East/West) be Bombardier INNOVIA Monorail 300, running from Boardwalk out to the airport, along Victoria. There would also be PRT circulators (ULTra) operating at Boardwalk, Sportsworld, and R&T Park.

[Canard]

Interesting article:

MINNPOST - The psycology of light rail safety

[clasher]

I would like to see our second line (East/West) be Bombardier INNOVIA Monorail 300, running from Boardwalk out to the airport, along Victoria. There would also be PRT circulators (ULTra) operating at Boardwalk, Sportsworld, and R&T Park.

Or we could just the same trains and stuff we already have... might be able to use the existing car barns and the same people for maintenance. The eastern half of Victoria has lots of room to run LRT tracks and the western part of Victoria where it's two lanes doesn't seem to have room for LRT or a monorail track without some serious modification of the entire street taking place. I think it will be a long while before this corridor has enough transit use to justify any kind of trains.

[MidTowner]

[quote pid='16088' dateline='1453468302']
Or we could just the same trains and stuff we already have... might be able to use the existing car barns and the same people for maintenance. The eastern half of Victoria has lots of room to run LRT tracks and the western part of Victoria where it's two lanes doesn't seem to have room for LRT or a monorail track without some serious modification of the entire street taking place. I think it will be a long while before this corridor has enough transit use to justify any kind of trains.

[/quote]

It was reported in the Record last month that, after only a couple of months of service, there were about 2,140 riders a day on the new 204 Victoria service. A tenth of expected ridership on Ion. You're right then that it will likely be a while, and I can't really envision development that will promote transit growth in the near term.

Connecting the airport to downtown might be desirable one day. That would add 50% more distance over a Victoria line running between the Boardwalk and the river (near where there is no logical, though).

Part of me thinks that Victoria is the logical next line, and that ridership from the suburbs would be attracted to higher-order transit. But ridership is much more proven elsewhere, and it's hard to see how the other municipalities could be convinced to support a Kitchener-only line when it's so easy to point to the utilization of the 201 and 202.

Edit: on the other hand, the investment in the station might make a Victoria line more logical. Where would a line on University meet the King line?