ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit

[KevinL]

Saw work on the signals at Gaukel and Charles today - they're not turned on but they are all uncovered and correctly oriented. Could well be activated soon (today?).

I was right - signals are now active in this intersection! Hopefully Ontario will soon follow.

[Markster]

From the photo, I'd assume there isn't even 10 spots.  Guarantee at least two of those spots fall within 3 m of that fire hydrant.  Those spots really should be X'd out, or maybe its just a sneaky way to increase city revenue...

Coke

They have done just that, for the spots that they deem are too close.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">All the effort to retain street parking, and then they go and put in a hydrant which knocks one space out of commission forever. <a href="https://t.co/JJSqNkz6RZ">pic.twitter.com/JJSqNkz6RZ</a></p>&mdash; Mark Jackson-Brown (@Markster3000) <a href="https://twitter.com/Markster3000/status/804100390933381121">November 30, 2016</a></blockquote>

[KevinL]

Some photos from midday today!

As noted above, signals are active at Gaukel and Charles.


Just around the corner, we can see things are doing well at Victoria Park station. Canopy with glass is up, feature-wall frame is done, approach sidewalk is fully poured.


Reverse angle. (Yes, that taxi parked on the rails while I came through.)


The platforms are designed for canopies over their full length, but initial install is only half (as that's one trainset). For now, the unused canopy bases will get these luminaires, at least.


The platform level is notably lower than the approaching sidewalk, a sure sign that the final surface is not yet on.

[KevinL]

Progress is also evident nearby.

Speaking of sidewalks - they had just poured the length from Benton to the Queen platform before I came by. That apron will be for the plaza's new entrance - squeezed between retaining wall and platform.


Frederick station starting to take shape.


A base pad has been poured for the replacement stairs.


And finally, the track curve from Frederick to Duke slowly cures.

[Canard]

Yeah, there's a final layer goes on top at the platforms - which includes the tactile edge.

Darshpreet is leaving for Metrolinx:

http://www.therecord.com/news-story/7009...metrolinx/

Sad to see him go but understandable given the commute. Maybe he can convince Metrolinx to give us the first two Pilot LRV's so we can bump opening back to 2017.

[Canard]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here it is! <a href="https://twitter.com/Metrolinx">@Metrolinx</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FLEXITY?src=hash">#FLEXITY</a> Freedom No. 1, on-site at <a href="https://twitter.com/BombardierRail">@BombardierRail</a> in Millhaven for testing! Photo by my dad. Cc: <a href="https://twitter.com/chrisjamesdrew">@chrisjamesdrew</a> <a href="https://t.co/qVjgtBhy45">pic.twitter.com/qVjgtBhy45</a></p>&mdash; iain (@Canardiain) <a href="https://twitter.com/Canardiain/status/806905651867828225">December 8, 2016</a></blockquote>

[KevinL]

Saw work on the signals at Gaukel and Charles today - they're not turned on but they are all uncovered and correctly oriented. Could well be activated soon (today?).

I was right - signals are now active in this intersection! Hopefully Ontario will soon follow.

And it did follow! That's all Charles signals active from Victoria to Benton. 

Unless Cedar is running already, but I haven't been down to check.

[Canard]

Here's a trip down Caroline, Allen, and King, now that it's more-or-less fully reopened.

[KevinT]

Maybe he can convince Metrolinx to give us the first two Pilot LRV's so we can bump opening back to 2017.

Maybe he can convince them to give us two way all day GO Train service, so he can come back.  

[Canard]

Bombardier completes expansion at Millhaven Test Facility

Note: CN rail spur was included in this, solving the online debate about how the LRV's get from Thunder Bay to Millhaven, and from Millhaven to Toronto (and Waterloo Region).

[KevinL]

Lots of concrete work on Charles today - mainly dark-grey boulevards in the Ontario-Queen secton, but I also saw a cement truck in the median beyond Benton.

[Canard]

I wish I could be out there today Kevin - you're so lucky!  Stupid work...  Also heard they've already pulled the contact wire past GRH?!

[KevinL]

I'm working too - I just get to work downtown.

[Canard]

Well, thanks to a supplier screw-up on a part I designed, I got to go up to Waterloo today mid-day, along Colby Drive! It was great, getting to see the crews out working along the OCS at Conestoga. I can't believe how far they've come in just a few days. The catenary is so delicate... and there's so much of it.

I'm still amazed that people are so OK with OCS, but were all poo-poo on Monorail or any other elevated system because of the "visual obtrusion". To me, it's very cluttered... but oh well.

[ijmorlan]

Well, thanks to a supplier screw-up on a part I designed, I got to go up to Waterloo today mid-day, along Colby Drive!  It was great, getting to see the crews out working along the OCS at Conestoga.  I can't believe how far they've come in just a few days.  The catenary is so delicate... and there's so much of it.

I'm still amazed that people are so OK with OCS, but were all poo-poo on Monorail or any other elevated system because of the "visual obtrusion".  To me, it's very cluttered... but oh well.

I agree that people are excessively down on elevated items of any sort. Given the number of wide roadways in our cities, which are hideous to my eyes, the idea that a monorail would make the place uglier seems a bit weird. I’m nowhere near the monorail fan you are but I think they look great and I will definitely have to make a point of riding if I visit a city that has one.

Incidentally I went through Erb and Caroline this afternoon and was wondering what the extra wire I was seeing was — then realized it was the new OCS.

I also wanted to say I appreciated your video of the ride down Caroline and King. For some reason I enjoy seeing those videos even if it’s a place I’ve been. I hope you’ll be able to shoot one from an LRV before too long.