ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit

[KevinL]

Will food and drink be allowed on the Ion trains?

Keep food and drink in closed, spill-proof containers. Take your garbage and recycling with you when you leave.

https://www.grt.ca/en/about-grt/boarding...g-ion.aspx

[bgb_ca]

Google maps are now showing the stations

[danbrotherston]

Google maps are now showing the stations

I wonder how to get, and if we will ever get, the Google Maps transit maps, where they show the transit lines.

[ijmorlan]

Update on the derail at Willow St.: today it was engaged when I got home from work in the afternoon. Later in the evening I noticed it was disengaged, but upon taking a closer look I saw that the signal was showing yellow. This makes me wonder if perhaps the derail state is now interlocked with the signal.

[KevinT]

Update on the derail at Willow St.: today it was engaged when I got home from work in the afternoon. Later in the evening I noticed it was disengaged, but upon taking a closer look I saw that the signal was showing yellow. This makes me wonder if perhaps the derail state is now interlocked with the signal.

I've always assumed that the derails are interlocked to the signal state (and the state of the rest of the system, i.e. OCS power off on the shared section, gauntlet tracks switches set, etc.)  Were they not?

[ac3r]

Google maps are now showing the stations

I wonder how to get, and if we will ever get, the Google Maps transit maps, where they show the transit lines.

It would be a matter of the region/Keolis submitting transit and geospatial data to Google and ensuring it's compatible with their mapping systems, then partnering with Google Transit. From what I know, Ito World (a company in the UK) handles this for most cities that have transit data on Maps, so all parties would need to come together and enter into an agreement to get this working.

[Bob_McBob]

The Record will be running a 24 page special about ION in Friday's edition if anyone feels the urge to buy an actual newspaper.

[Rainrider22]

The Record will be running a 24 page special about ION in Friday's edition if anyone feels the urge to buy an actual newspaper.

Thanks,  I will for sure..

[ijmorlan]

Update on the derail at Willow St.: today it was engaged when I got home from work in the afternoon. Later in the evening I noticed it was disengaged, but upon taking a closer look I saw that the signal was showing yellow. This makes me wonder if perhaps the derail state is now interlocked with the signal.

I've always assumed that the derails are interlocked to the signal state (and the state of the rest of the system, i.e. OCS power off on the shared section, gauntlet tracks switches set, etc.)  Were they not?

Except during installation and testing, I had never observed the derail engaged until yesterday. Having said that, I misspoke, in that I agree it was probably already interlocked: I doubt the system would allow a non-red signal with the derail engaged. But until yesterday, it was not engaged, even when the signal was red.

Incidentally, a second point and a cute flip-up “derail” sign and blue light were recently installed. In addition to the inside point which sits on top the track and would lift the train up and pull it over the rail, there is now a second point on the outside which would push the train away from the track.

[trainspotter139]

I've always assumed that the derails are interlocked to the signal state (and the state of the rest of the system, i.e. OCS power off on the shared section, gauntlet tracks switches set, etc.)  Were they not?

Except during installation and testing, I had never observed the derail engaged until yesterday. Having said that, I misspoke, in that I agree it was probably already interlocked: I doubt the system would allow a non-red signal with the derail engaged. But until yesterday, it was not engaged, even when the signal was red.

Incidentally, a second point and a cute flip-up “derail” sign and blue light were recently installed. In addition to the inside point which sits on top the track and would lift the train up and pull it over the rail, there is now a second point on the outside which would push the train away from the track.

I believe CN insisted on the change in the original derail setup (which was sans flip-up derail sign).

[Bob_McBob]

The anti-LRT rhetoric is reaching a fever pitch with the launch tomorrow and articles all over the place on Facebook. I particularly like all the people who believe GRT cancelled bus service in the suburbs to force everyone to walk miles to reach the LRT instead. Or my favourite local idiot who thinks ION is "over two years late" and Grandlinq can just charge the region whatever they want to operate it in the future. So many people seem to think there is a massive multi-generational debt to be paid as opposed to a fixed operating cost contract.

[KevinL]

I particularly like all the people who believe GRT cancelled bus service in the suburbs to force everyone to walk miles to reach the LRT instead. 

Well, there are routes that were meandering in the suburbs that got cut back to more frequent service on more main roads; but it's not miles more to walk, and it's generally to a better bus.

[jeffster]

I particularly like all the people who believe GRT cancelled bus service in the suburbs to force everyone to walk miles to reach the LRT instead.

Technically they did in many area's. If someone is saying "miles" that is an exaggeration. 1/2 to 3/4 KM? Now that's accurate. They cancelled the service upon approval of the LRT in my neighbourhood. Frustrating for sure though, as many people don't want to walk 500-750 extra metres to get to the closest stop, especially when it is raining or -20º. Needless to say, if I wanted to use the LRT so I didn't need my car, it would be an issue many days simply because the bus stop went from being about 15m from my house to 700m.

One thing though, is that a lot of the housing changed, really almost no low-income housing in the 'hood now. We had one apartment complex that didn't renew leases so they could convert into luxury apartments maybe 2 years ago. The old tenant all used the bus, but since the LRT took that away, many moved (regardless of the lease).

But those grumbling about the GRT cancelling (or more like reducing) service is fairly truthful. As I said, in my case, the GRT is useless now.

[taylortbb]

But those grumbling about the GRT cancelling (or more like reducing) service is fairly truthful. As I said, in my case, the GRT is useless now.

I think it's not truthful at all. The June 24th changes are a massive expansion of GRT service. More buses, more service hours, etc. By every metric it's a huge expansion.

It's also a re-organization. Some people are now further from transit, some are now closer. For those that are further I understand that sucks, but that doesn't make it a reduction.

It's expected to make 70% of trips of faster. Yes, that does mean there's some that will be slower, but transit is always going to be a compromise. Not every street will have a bus route.

[Bob_McBob]

The Record couldn't resist publishing an article about cost overruns to rain on the parade.

https://www.therecord.com/news-story/944...cle-delay/