ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit

[tomh009]

The upside is that they are moving some of the work out of the backlogged Thunder Bay facility, so that should reduce the risk of further delays.

Perhaps, but it will be some time before Bombardier re-establishes any credibility in this regard.

Oh, agreed, yes.  Which is why I said "reduce the risk of" rather than "prevent!"

[JoeKW]

Does anyone know if there are any penalties for late delivery?  Also, will the 10 year operating contract apply even if there are no trains to operate?

[chutten]

The document also said the region was reviewing its legal options "to recover any damages from Bombardier."

This is the second delay in train car production by Bombardier. An earlier delay had the train cars arriving in October, two months later than initially expected, with the final rail cars arriving in May 2017 – four months behind the original schedule.

I'm not sure what "reviewing legal options" means. Seems like odd phrasing to use for the process of checking the wording on the (likely present) late delivery penalty portion of the contract...

So, first train is now four months delayed. Last train is now nine months delayed. (and, as previously noted, all trains in the middle assumed to have a linear distribution of progressive delay). Eurgh.

[KevinL]

Given that regional transit changes usually come into effect in September, will early 2018 become Fall 2018?

Emphasis on the 'usually' there. They'll make the change when Ion is ready, I'm sure.

[KevinL]

  Also, will the 10 year operating contract apply even if there are no trains to operate?

It's a 30-year contract, and I can't see that changing for a few months' delay.

[tomh009]

The document also said the region was reviewing its legal options "to recover any damages from Bombardier."

I'm not sure what "reviewing legal options" means. Seems like odd phrasing to use for the process of checking the wording on the (likely present) late delivery penalty portion of the contract...

It's pretty typical phrasing for "we're talking to our lawyers about enforcing late-delivery penalties."

[JoeKW]

  Also, will the 10 year operating contract apply even if there are no trains to operate?

It's a 30-year contract, and I can't see that changing for a few months' delay.

According to my googling it's a 10 year operating contract and a 30 year maintenance contract.
http://www.rideion.ca/about-grandlinq.html

[Canard]

There is a $1500/day/vehicle penalty to Bombardier.

Upshot: opening ceremony will be in warm, nice spring weather, rather than cold fall/winter. So I'm ok with this.

Edit: the Eric Drozd show this morning on 570 news was, pardon my French, a shitshow. I wrote in and they read my message, which Eric didn't like, and then he tore a strip off me for a minute and a half. Which was a minute and a half he wasn't trolling more callers to call in and revel in this, so, mission accomplished. It's disgusting to me that so many people enjoy watching the difficulties of others. Very un-Canadian, in my mind. We should be optimistic and helping each other up, not getting excited when we fall.

[chutten]

There is a $1500/day/vehicle penalty to Bombardier.

Upshot: opening ceremony will be in warm, nice spring weather, rather than cold fall/winter. So I'm ok with this.

$1500/day/vehicle? Good golly.

So, assuming 30-day months and my previously-mentioned linear interpolation between the 14 vehicles, we're looking at... just under $4M (avg of $284,464 per vehicle)

Nice. But I'm guessing just a drop in the bucket on this scale.

[dunkalunk]

There is a $1500/day/vehicle penalty to Bombardier.

Source?

[Canard]

It was all over the news today - multiple sources. 570 news.

[dunkalunk]

It was all over the news today - multiple sources. 570 news.

I'm asking since I haven't seen this number in any text articles from CBC KW, The Record, or 570 News.

[Canard]

I think Eric said they had a phone conversation with the region's representative to Bombardier.

[KevinL]

Very un-Canadian, in my mind. We should be optimistic and helping each other up, not getting excited when we fall.

On talk radio? Good luck.

[ijmorlan]

We should just cancel the Bombardier order and get bog-standard LRVs from Siemens or Skoda or anybody who is willing to bid on the basis that they will actually deliver when promised. Is it really impossible to get vehicles in less than two years?