ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit

[GtwoK]

Which hopefully means it's accommodating the track installation too.

[Markster]

On the topic of track installation...
It sure is slow going on Charles St.

I walked through the Manulife underpass last night, and sure enough, there's now track there. But at the current rate, it's clear they're not able to do very much track at a time. It's going to be weeks before they're past Ontario St.

Looking into the tent, I could see that they are still prepping the rebar base.

[timio]

I saw a robin this morning, which means that spring is coming, and with it warmer temperatures which should speed things up a bit.

[Canard]

Trackwork is slower in the winter.  Remember, they have one crew come in, pour the curbs, then ~10 days of warmed curing. Then they pour the side filler blocks, then ~10 days of curing. Then lay and align the track, pour, 10 more days. In the summer with steady weather, this can happen in parallel at different staggered sections.  In the winter, limitations on building a reasonably sized tent for warming mean they happen serially, on the same section.

The "Manulife" track was exposed on February 18, or earlier - so they are making progress a little faster than you think.

[Markster]

Oh I know how "fast" it's going. And fully understand why.

I'm just impatient.

[Canard]

Me too! But sometimes I go out and look at where they're at and have a minor panic attack - like it's all happening too fast, and I can't keep up!

I am really going to miss all of this once it's all built and running. Like that Lisa D'Amoto article says, this is so exciting to witness and it's a once-in-a-lifetime transformation we're getting to see, and be a part of. I am so proud to live here!

[KevinL]

I took these Monday morning but some issues with my PC meant I couldn't get them posted till now.

Practical details of a concrete pour, with the tarp-tent situation: Just go in through the roof.

[DHLawrence]

(aside from the UTDC rrrrrRRRRRRRRR chopper noise)

I always hear a gas lawn mower when I hear them.

[timc]

I noticed a couple of new poles on the platform at R&T Park. These new ones are round, one at either end of the platform.

[KevinL]

I guess the nicer poles get put into more visible locations like platforms.

[timc]

I guess the nicer poles get put into more visible locations like platforms.

I don't actually know if those poles are for the catenary. They may be for lighting.

[Canard]

Pretty sure they are for both.

[gomesjustin]

Looks like they're only for OCS. But some might attractive poles they are. Lol. I found it in the old Rapid Transit Docs on the Region's website.

http://rapidtransit.regionofwaterloo.ca/...ncepts.pdf

<img src="https://monosnap.com/file/57VSysimbRVZ670C2Zra9gkXbHuOTy.png">

[Canard]

i don't mean to be argumentative, but I don't think the concept renderings (which are done by architecture folks who don't usually get technical details of anything other than buildings correct*) are accurate.  Other concept photos show them being both for OCS and lighting.  A lot has changed between concept and detail design.  Here is a graphic from another document, to show what I mean:

   

All that being said, after thinking about it some more, I don't think there will be any lighting on the platform OCS poles.  The lighting is far more likely to be integrated into the canopy structure of the platform itself, which is at a much lower level, which would afford a much better atmosphere for waiting passengers.

* - After being a roller coaster for 20+ years, you wouldn't believe the absolute garbage renderings I've seen of coasters integrated with buildings put out by architectural rendering firms.  The buildings always look amazing, since that's their core competency, but then it looks like someone strung out Christmas wrapping ribbon randomly around it.  It drives me nuts!

[timc]

While driving past, I also noticed there are poles in place in the platform on Caroline. But while the ones at R&T Park look like they're painted grey, the ones on Caroline look shiny, like new galvanized steel.