ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit

[kitborn]

I have a vantage point to see the north bound train leave Frederick Station. I notice that once the train has a bar at Duke Street, soon after the lights are in it's favour at Queen and then Ontario in quick succession.

[ijmorlan]

I observed another incorrect signal setting today. An ION train came north past Waterloo Town Square. The no-right-turn signs on Caroline southbound south of Erb came on. Those control movements that only conflict with the southbound track, not the northbound one.

[jason897]

I observed another incorrect signal setting today. An ION train came north past Waterloo Town Square. The no-right-turn signs on Caroline southbound south of Erb came on. Those control movements that only conflict with the southbound track, not the northbound one.

That no right turn light even comes on when the nightly chemtrain comes up northbound. Evidently for simplicity they just treated north and southbound movements the same through Erb & Caroline (& pretty much everywhere else both tracks cross). And seems that no right turn light is hard wired to that intersection

[ijmorlan]

I observed another incorrect signal setting today. An ION train came north past Waterloo Town Square. The no-right-turn signs on Caroline southbound south of Erb came on. Those control movements that only conflict with the southbound track, not the northbound one.

That no right turn light even comes on when the nightly chemtrain comes up northbound. Evidently for simplicity they just treated north and southbound movements the same through Erb & Caroline (& pretty much everywhere else both tracks cross). And seems that no right turn light is hard wired to that intersection

Sloppy.

Although to be fair, the no-right-turn is a smaller concern than the fact that Caroline doesn’t get a (mostly) green when only a southbound train comes through. At rush hour I think that would make a noticeable difference to congestion around that intersection.

[Canard]

[KevinL]

Yup, quite sure that's the spot (as well as the other side of the shelter, presumably).

[Bob_McBob]

I thought they at least had the rail signals sorted out at the University Ave crossing, but this morning I watched a train approach the intersection on a red light, then have stop and wait for a while until the arms eventually went down. It passed through the intersection, which then went into the usual error cycle of being stuck on red for several minutes. Traffic backed up all the way to Westmount. There was a police car at the intersection for some reason, not sure what they were up to.

[trainspotter139]

I thought they at least had the rail signals sorted out at the University Ave crossing, but this morning I watched a train approach the intersection on a red light, then have stop and wait for a while until the arms eventually went down. It passed through the intersection, which then went into the usual error cycle of being stuck on red for several minutes. Traffic backed up all the way to Westmount. There was a police car at the intersection for some reason, not sure what they were up to.

They were doing FIE testing on the Waterloo Spur so they put the crossings at Columbia and University in Island-Only mode so they wouldn't interfere with the testing being done. Part of that testing involves parking a vehicle in the "island" of the crossing which for University and Columbia would require police escort.

[ijmorlan]

They were doing FIE testing on the Waterloo Spur so they put the crossings at Columbia and University in Island-Only mode so they wouldn't interfere with the testing being done. Part of that testing involves parking a vehicle in the "island" of the crossing which for University and Columbia would require police escort.

What is “Island-Only mode”?

[trainspotter139]

They were doing FIE testing on the Waterloo Spur so they put the crossings at Columbia and University in Island-Only mode so they wouldn't interfere with the testing being done. Part of that testing involves parking a vehicle in the "island" of the crossing which for University and Columbia would require police escort.

What is “Island-Only mode”?

It is a mode where the crossing only activates when a vehicle enters the crossing island (the space that covers the width of the crossing) rather than by using its track circuits to gauge approach timing.

[ijmorlan]

What is “Island-Only mode”?

It is a mode where the crossing only activates when a vehicle enters the crossing island (the space that covers the width of the crossing) rather than by using its track circuits to gauge approach timing.

Thanks, that makes sense. So I assume they would have to creep up to the intersection until the protection triggers, wait for it to be fully enabled, and then enter the crossing?

Given that, why would police be needed? Whenever a vehicle is in the crossing won’t the arms be down?

[trainspotter139]

It is a mode where the crossing only activates when a vehicle enters the crossing island (the space that covers the width of the crossing) rather than by using its track circuits to gauge approach timing.

Thanks, that makes sense. So I assume they would have to creep up to the intersection until the protection triggers, wait for it to be fully enabled, and then enter the crossing?

Given that, why would police be needed? Whenever a vehicle is in the crossing won’t the arms be down?

because during testing the crossings may act funny.

[Bob_McBob]

Somewhat better tonight. Still feels like the signals are triggering way too early. At least the traffic lights didn't get into a knot this time.

[plam]

On a completely different note, I noticed that there was a contractor applying salt to the Waterloo Park station platform on Tuesday. I guess it's still a slip and fall liability to probably GrandLinq even if marked closed.

[danbrotherston]

On a completely different note, I noticed that there was a contractor applying salt to the Waterloo Park station platform on Tuesday. I guess it's still a slip and fall liability to probably GrandLinq even if marked closed.

This boggles the mind, the justification they gave for closing them was that they weren't going to be winter maintained.  So now they're closed just for spite?

Out of curiosity, was the contractor parked outside of a bike lane this time? I complained to Grandlink/Region a few weeks back when the bike lane (which was actually plowed) was blocked by grandlinq contractor.