ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit

[danbrotherston]

Do these accidents become routine enough at some point that service isn't interupted (much)?

Routine yes, but not frequent, IIRC, last one was the Manulife crash (or the other one later that day), which is over a month ago now. Seems like folks might have gotten the message.

[bgb_ca]

Do these accidents become routine enough at some point that service isn't interupted (much)?

Routine yes, but not frequent, IIRC, last one was the Manulife crash (or the other one later that day), which is over a month ago now. Seems like folks might have gotten the message.

*Last reported on one.

I don't see any news articles on this one, so I am thinking either the region has been good at keeping them hush-hush, or the media stopped caring about the minor fender benders.

Or it is entirely possible the 2 for 1 day was the last one.

[jeffster]

Routine yes, but not frequent, IIRC, last one was the Manulife crash (or the other one later that day), which is over a month ago now. Seems like folks might have gotten the message.

*Last reported on one.

I don't see any news articles on this one, so I am thinking either the region has been good at keeping them hush-hush, or the media stopped caring about the minor fender benders.

Or it is entirely possible the 2 for 1 day was the last one.

If it bleeds, it leads! These accidents are no longer 'bleeding' news. And everyone has finally figured out that most drivers in the region shouldn't actually have a license.

Now, if there is a serious accident then it would make the news. But a Ford Fiesta with the front bumper cover removed, that ain't nothing. A deranged tea-cup poodle could do the same damage to that car.

[MidTowner]

GRT just posted its schedules for the autumn, and the Ion schedules have changed format- they just show the first train and last train, and frequency, not travel times or exact scheduling at each station.

Also, there is no new schedule for 301, which surprises me- the project agreement calls for 7.5 minute headways in the peak periods outside of summer. It would be disappointing if service doesn't improve next month.

It would also likely lead to overcrowding at this point.

It probably would. The train is rarely standing room only right now, but it can fill up. When the students come back in a few weeks, overcrowding may be an issue. I wonder why headways would not improve as per the agreement- or maybe the September schedule for the 301 is just delayed.

[bgb_ca]

I spotted instructions on how to open the doors on 501 this morning

[creative]

So how many people will press the sticker?

[ac3r]

Probably a few. Pushing a button to open doors seems to be a complicated process.

[jeffster]

I was at the CNE (Argo tickets meant free admission onto the grounds) on Friday. I had taken my car to the 407-ETR subway station, then the subway to Union Station, then the LRT to the CNE.

Anyway, I was amazed at how many pressed the "Stop Request" button. The LRT is stopping at all LRT stations regardless. Even for Union Station someone pressed the "Stop Request" button.

I do prefer the seat set-up to our Ion, it's a little different, and has a few more 'private seats' than our trains (as in, people not facing on another as much). Another difference, and I am not sure why this is true, but the TTC LRT is constantly honking a motorists. The Union LRT loop I don't believe shares the road anywhere, but obviously it crosses path quite a bit, and motorists can't seem to see the train. No accidents though, if the horn is going off constantly. I wonder if perhaps at intersections the Ion should start honking regardless, being that there are so many ignorant drivers on our roads.

[taylortbb]

Anyway, I was amazed at how many pressed the "Stop Request" button. The LRT is stopping at all LRT stations regardless. Even for Union Station someone pressed the "Stop Request" button.

I do prefer the seat set-up to our Ion, it's a little different, and has a few more 'private seats' than our trains (as in, people not facing on another as much). 

TTC streetcars don't make all stops, even in the LRT-like section. I agree it's unnecessary to press at Union, but generally the stop buttons are required.

The TTC vehicles are narrower than ours and only have doors on one side, which I think is a big part of why the vehicles have a different seating layout. No doors makes it a lot easier to avoid seats facing each other.

[danbrotherston]

I was at the CNE (Argo tickets meant free admission onto the grounds) on Friday. I had taken my car to the 407-ETR subway station, then the subway to Union Station, then the LRT to the CNE.

Anyway, I was amazed at how many pressed the "Stop Request" button. The LRT is stopping at all LRT stations regardless. Even for Union Station someone pressed the "Stop Request" button.

I do prefer the seat set-up to our Ion, it's a little different, and has a few more 'private seats' than our trains (as in, people not facing on another as much).  Another difference, and I am not sure why this is true, but the TTC LRT is constantly honking a motorists. The Union LRT loop I don't believe shares the road anywhere, but obviously it crosses path quite a bit, and motorists can't seem to see the train. No accidents though, if the horn is going off constantly. I wonder if perhaps at intersections the Ion should start honking regardless, being that there are so many ignorant drivers on our roads.

As someone who lives near the LRT, I can attest that it honks more than enough, many times an hour I will hear it lay on the horn, and invariably I will look over and see someone turning in front of it.

The TTC streetcars also honk a great deal, somehow, drivers in Toronto have a very cavalier attitude to rights of way, I routinely see drivers on the streetcar tracks where not permitted, and stories of drivers ending up in the tunnel to union station were routine at some point.

[KevinL]

The new paper schedule has been posted. It's... minimal?

https://www.grt.ca/en/schedules-maps/res...22-web.pdf

[tomh009]

I actually really like it. It's super simple, but contains the information you need.

But ... weren't the trains supposed to run every 7.5 minutes at peak times?

[timio]

Something about not being fully ready for that yet. ATC, etc. THere's a tweet linked from the FB group from Tom Galloway that gives more details.

[jeffster]

The new paper schedule has been posted. It's... minimal?

https://www.grt.ca/en/schedules-maps/res...22-web.pdf

I like it. Hopefully they can get their 7.5 minutes sooner than later.

[bgb_ca]

I'm sitting here at block line due to a poorly timed connection (201 left just as I got off the train. They need to fix this) and noticed the light on the pole here was flashing. Anyone have an idea what this is for?