ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit

[KevinL]

Tracks are also across Ontario at Duke, and booted too. I didn't see ties (though it was dark and I wasn't that close) and certainly no forms.

[Lens]

First layer of the Fairview Park platform is poured and the station area is coming along slowly.

[Canard]

Wow that's at least 24 construction workers at one spot, intense!

My pictures didn't show the whole area; it was more like 50-75!

[DKsan]

Getting close to laying track in Uptown Waterloo.

[bpoland]

I notice there are a lot of left turn restrictions for drivers on Caroline and King now that the roads are reopening. Makes sense given there is only space for a single lane now but will be interesting to see how it affects traffic patterns. Here are the ones I can remember:

King NB to Allen WB (sign is currently covered since William is closed)
Caroline NB to William WB
Caroline NB to Erb WB (this will get a lot of people who aren't familiar with the area, hopefully they put something at FDB telling people to turn there)
Caroline SB to Willis Way EB and William EB (not sure what the alternatives are here if you aren't coming from Erb)
King SB to John EB
King SB to Union EB -- this one surprised me a bit, there is a dedicated right turn lane and Union is a relatively major road. There is a u turn signal at Mt hope to come back around if you're desperate.

Also, no left turns from pine onto king. They must have decided signs weren't enough because they built a concrete island to physically block it.

[KevinL]

Had a few minutes between buses at Conestoga Mall this morning; got a look at things without all the workers in the way!

The D-shaped end box is looking excellent...





...and it will serve as a last-resort backstop should a train (God forbid) come in too fast.



The station area is gaining more buildings. There's a switching box along with the operators' rest facility...



...which you must walk around to reach the steps/ramp. Hmm.



Their rooflines also look a bit curious from platform level.



I really wanted to check out the crossover, too, but I didn't want to miss my bus. Next time, perhaps.

[jgsz]

If they're not finished before winter they can put a dome over it.  

[Canard]

Kevin - the D-box at Conestoga is actually a planter!

[Canard]

We're in Denver right now, and the Light Rail system here has been great to get around. I must say, their stations are just a wee bit showy compared to ours! The 55 mph (90 km/h) speed limits outside of Downtown are pretty sweet, too.

   

   

   

They started building in 1994 and just never stopped. That's the way to do it! They have about 80 km of track on 6 lines, and are building another 200 km of track!

[Pheidippides]

There have been some great articles about that system:
http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2...wth-213905
http://www.theatlantic.com/business/arch...le/425583/

[KevinL]

That station is showy all right! Wow.

[tomh009]

A few photos from Charles this afternoon:

Some of the station hardware has arrived at the Kitchener Market station.
   

Only one weld missing at the Cameron Heights switchover, I believe.  No sign of preparing for embedding yet, though.
   

A wheel sensor? Does ION use wheel sensors at stations and induction sensors at intersections?
   

[Canard]

The wheel sensors are located just upstream of the track lubricators, to trigger the pump when to apply grease to the rail.

[tomh009]

That makes sense, thanks!

[Canard]

Is anyone going to the parade today? I'm curious how they'll make out at King/Frederick, and if GrandLinq or the Region will have any Light-Rail/Construction-related floats!