ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit

[Bob_McBob]

Not sure.  What did you observe?

Signal arms stuck down for 10+ minutes with no train in sight. Typically backups here are caused by the traffic lights getting stuck on red, so it was a little different. Perhaps weather-related? In any case it's a huge pain in the ass as soon as it gets backed up past Seagram because there's nowhere else to go in that stretch of road.

[timc]

And yes, they do ask the LRV operators to carry a shovel and broom on board, and they get out and shovel off the switches when they go by!

Aren't the switches heated?

[trainspotter139]

And yes, they do ask the LRV operators to carry a shovel and broom on board, and they get out and shovel off the switches when they go by!

Aren't the switches heated?

I know the ballasted track sections are but the embedded track sections have indicator lights that get buried in the snow easily.

[kps]

   

Kitchener PUC (assuming the date is correct) had a snow sweeper.

Source, with larger image.

[timc]

I know the ballasted track sections are but the embedded track sections have indicator lights that get buried in the snow easily.

Oh, yeah, I guess I only think about the ballasted track because that is what I see the most. Where are the embedded switches?

[trainspotter139]

I know the ballasted track sections are but the embedded track sections have indicator lights that get buried in the snow easily.

Oh, yeah, I guess I only think about the ballasted track because that is what I see the most. Where are the embedded switches?

One near Cameron Street and another near Green Street

[JJTL]

[trainspotter139]

[ijmorlan]

Oh, yeah, I guess I only think about the ballasted track because that is what I see the most. Where are the embedded switches?

One near Cameron Street and another near Green Street

Two of them at each location, one at each end of the crossover.

Why are there indicator lights near the ground? Aren’t there signals higher up? Most switches don’t have indicator lights in addition to the regular signals, and it seems imprudent to put any sort of light that is meant to be interpreted where it could get covered in snow. Plus isn’t it redundant to have two sets of lights?

[trainspotter139]

One near Cameron Street and another near Green Street

Two of them at each location, one at each end of the crossover.

Why are there indicator lights near the ground? Aren’t there signals higher up? Most switches don’t have indicator lights in addition to the regular signals, and it seems imprudent to put any sort of light that is meant to be interpreted where it could get covered in snow. Plus isn’t it redundant to have two sets of lights?

it's a requirement to have redundant indicators because the interlocking signals may not reset properly while the switch may be in the correct position. the switch point indicators are also required to be on the ground by the switch points

[plam]

And yes, they do ask the LRV operators to carry a shovel and broom on board, and they get out and shovel off the switches when they go by!

Aren't the switches heated?

I heard on the radio, I think Railterm was talking about installing heaters at various points. Perhaps at switches?

[danbrotherston]

Aren't the switches heated?

I heard on the radio, I think Railterm was talking about installing heaters at various points. Perhaps at switches?

I don't know about embedded switches, but the other ...ballasted, and non-embedded track switches all have heaters, I've seen/heard them running past while.

[trainspotter139]

Aren't the switches heated?

I heard on the radio, I think Railterm was talking about installing heaters at various points. Perhaps at switches?

They had to put auxillary heaters in the some of the signal huts because they were too cold for the backup battery systems

[Bob_McBob]

Apparently the freight train went up the spur around noon today...? I thought they only used the track at night.

[ijmorlan]

Apparently the freight train went up the spur around noon today...? I thought they only used the track at night.

While walking in to work this morning (around 09:00) I noticed the gauntlet tracks and corresponding signals were still set for freight.

I also thought the rule was freight at night only.

Although in truth with the signalling system they have, combined with the nature of the traffic, there is really no danger worth considering of a collision. But I thought there was an inflexible agreement with Transport Canada regarding the operating rules. It’s possible it’s not fully strict yet, since the LRT isn’t in passenger service.