ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit

[jamincan]

Do the decals signify something like the vehicle passing some sort of burn in testing, or is it just something of interest?

[Bob_McBob]

I don't think anybody knows. Just another example of the region's almost total lack of transparency and public engagement about ION.

[CuilTard]

Do the decals signify something like the vehicle passing some sort of burn in testing, or is it just something of interest?

This would make sense, though, Wouldn't it? I think I read in a council agenda pg 47/8 that the trains are still technically Bombardier's until they've completed Preliminary Acceptance and Burn-in/Final Acceptance, at which point the region/GrandLinq take ownership. So they wouldn't want to brand it an ION train until it was actually ours... Maybe?(some speculation)

[trainspotter139]

514 is out testing and looking all spiffy as if nothing happened to it. Just saw it heading North through Waterloo Park

[KevinT]

I heard on the radio that they were running under "full schedule adherence" so I ducked out to R&T Park Station for a look-see.  I caught three simultaneous meetups about 8 minutes apart, the second of which I filmed:

[ijmorlan]

I don't think anybody knows. Just another example of the region's almost total lack of transparency and public engagement about ION.

Very true! My guess is that updated decals = vehicle accepted = Region officially owns vehicle but, as you say, no information from those who know and could trivially inform the public. A wasted opportunity to help the population feel like the transit system is truly ours.

[ijmorlan]

Ion Wins

No LRT by Canada Day, Ottawa city confirms

I’m happy that we’ll be first, but not happy that Ottawa will be delayed yet more.

New race: Ion Phase 2 vs. Ottawa Phase 2!

[KevinL]

Ion Wins

No LRT by Canada Day, Ottawa city confirms

I’m happy that we’ll be first, but not happy that Ottawa will be delayed yet more.

New race: Ion Phase 2 vs. Ottawa Phase 2!

That one, Ottawa might win. They're farther along in their planning/procurement.

[Square]

Does this mean simulated?, like as the final test for the vehicles? "demonstrated service operations," https://www.therecord.com/news-story/940...-roadways/

[jamincan]

I’m happy that we’ll be first, but not happy that Ottawa will be delayed yet more.

New race: Ion Phase 2 vs. Ottawa Phase 2!

That one, Ottawa might win. They're farther along in their planning/procurement.

I think I read somewhere that they will actually be starting work on the tunnel along Richmond Rd/the Parkway this year.

[Bob_McBob]

Does this mean simulated?, like as the final test for the vehicles? "demonstrated service operations," https://www.therecord.com/news-story/940...-roadways/

Relevant old post:

Right, this was all supposed to be done before substantial completion.

(iii) Demonstrated System Operation – Stage 1 LRT

A. After completion of the Operating System Acceptance Tests, and as a prerequisite of Certification of Substantial Completion for the Stage 1 LRT System, Project Co shall conduct a full demonstration of the LRT services.

B. This demonstration shall be called the "Demonstrated System Operation – Stage 1 LRT System" and shall involve day-to-day operation of the System in accordance with the Region-approved System Operations Plan. During the DSO, the System shall be operated continuously (without interruption), as though in passenger service (without passengers), in strict accordance with all operations and maintenance policies and procedures, until the System Service Availability specified in the Schedule 15-3 Article 3 Section 3.6 has been achieved over a consecutive 5-day operating period. Furthermore, the "Demonstrated System Operation - Stage 1 LRT System" shall include the demonstration of all routine and emergency procedures associated with operation of the Stage 1 LRT System. 

3.6 System Service Availability Levels for Substantial Completion Certificate
(a) As a prerequisite to the issuance of the Substantial Completion Certificate for the System, the DSSPF, computed in accordance with this Article, shall average at least 0.9200 for a period of 5 consecutive weekdays of demonstration train service during the System Demonstration. 

(ii) The Daily Scheduled Service Performance Factor (DSSPF) is determined by the following formula. DSSPF = (Actual Train in Service Points/Scheduled Train in Service Points).

(iii) Where:

A. Since Train in Service points are assigned for on time departure and on time arrival, the total number of points that can be earned per train trip is two points.

B. DSSPF shall be calculated on a daily basis and the daily totals shall be summed up and divided by the number of days in the Scheduled Service Plan for the month to determine the overall SSPF for the month.

C. Actual Train in Service Points are the summation of the daily Earned Departure Time Points and Earned Arrival Time Points earned by each train as per the tables below.




D. Any train trip that is canceled prior to entering revenue service or is taken out of revenue service earns no Departure or Arrival Time Points. Any train which fails to complete any part of its normal scheduled service train trip, such as missing an LRT Stop, earns no Departure or Arrival Time Points.

E. Project Co is required to provide train service at any time when service is scheduled and at least partial service, when possible, even if no points are earned for that train trip. 

[tomh009]

Ion Wins

No LRT by Canada Day, Ottawa city confirms

I’m happy that we’ll be first, but not happy that Ottawa will be delayed yet more.

However … for everyone who has been beating up on Bombardier, it would be informative to look at the delays on the Alstom trains in Ottawa. We had delays due to the "specialized equipment" (thanks Metrolinx) but it actually seems like the equipment problems in Ottawa are more severe than what we have seen here. Certainly not better than here.

Maybe Siemens or Skoda would be better … or maybe not ...

[KevinL]

Yeah, I'd always thought the differences in delays were the trains for us, the stations for Ottawa. To hear they have significant train issues as well is sobering.

[KevinT]

Oddly enough we're running Bombardier trains with an Alstom signalling system, and Ottawa is running Alstom trains with a Thales signalling system. Would things have gone better if we'd sole sourced Bombardier equipment and they had sole sourced Alstom? The software integration of disparate systems must be a nightmare, I'd imagine that each vendor does a fair share of finger pointing at the other which goes through several rounds before any actual problem gets solved. :-(

[trainspotter139]

Oddly enough we're running Bombardier trains with an Alstom signalling system, and Ottawa is running Alstom trains with a Thales signalling system.  Would things have gone better if we'd sole sourced Bombardier equipment and they had sole sourced Alstom?  The software integration of disparate systems must be a nightmare, I'd imagine that each vendor does a fair share of finger pointing at the other which goes through several rounds before any actual problem gets solved.  :-(

Funny enough, their problems are with doors getting jammed and nothing to do with the signalling system