ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit

[Canard]

They put out thousands of rail vehicles per year, and nobody writes articles on the ones that aren't delayed.  Nobody even cared that they've started rolling out the brand new cab cars for the GO Bilevels.  While I am concerned and worried, nobody (GrandLinq, the Region, the Rapid Transit team) has ever said what the timeline was for our vehicles, other than they should arrive at the OMSF in late 2016. I think I asked Bombardier directly about this on twitter a year or two ago and they said they thought production would start in late 2015.

[numberguy]

1) They are sending out almost weekly, very detailed updates of exactly what's going on, where (maybe you aren't subscribed to this?)
2) There has been no official word about the production of FLEXITY Freedom, and all the "doom and gloom" about delays is speculation based on the FLEXITY Outlook order for Toronto, nothing official.  The region has consistently maintained that everything is on schedule.

Check out the document that mpd618 helpfully posted the link to.    The amount of redaction would put make Homeland Security proud.   I am highly skeptical about the escalation factor, particularly the labour portion.

Also, here's an example of GrandLinq's professionalism:
http://imgur.com/KWBF8Za

Not to mention the helpful habit of putting up road closure signs that aren't actually accurate:
http://www.waterloochronicle.ca/news/fru...ion-signs/

With regards to Bombardier, the TTC brass met with them and basically got told GTFO, take your measly $50M penalty on the $1.2 billion contract.   And it's not only a TTC issue:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/transpor...order.html

Bombardier is actively looking to sell (at least part of, maybe all of) its rail division to finance its aviation division.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on...e22457908/
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on...e25075865/

[Canard]

Hokay.  I guess I just choose to put faith in things based on my own eyes and experiences, not the sensationalist media who just want the most dramatic headline.

I have full faith in Bombardier.  They're the best manufacturer out there, and I'm very proud that they're Canadian.  Our trains will be awesome.

Just so sick of negativity. I think it's pretty damn incredible the pace that these guys are working at. I have the utmost respect for construction crews. Most people just complain that they're being inconvenienced while they're out there slaving their asses off.

[tomh009]

Bombardier is actively looking to sell (at least part of, maybe all of) its rail division to finance its aviation division.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on...e22457908/
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on...e25075865/

The fact that they are looking for someone to take a stake in the rail division is really neither here nor there as far as the LRT construction goes.

[numberguy]

I put my faith in financial analysis.   I want ION to work well. However, I am not encouraged by the lack of transparency (see redacted documents), GrandLinq's lack of professionalism, and Bombardier's precarious financial situation (as well as its inability to execute on the TTC contract).

Bombardier's wish to finance their aviation division by selling all or part of its rail unit has total relevance to ION:  they are the single biggest materials vendor/supplier for the project.    When your biggest supplier changes ownership, you better do your impact analysis and due diligence. Some of us are still paying off RIM Park. Without due diligence, things like that happen. Also, Bombardier's rail unit will likely no longer be Canadian.

With regards to construction:   its a job, they chose of their own volition.   If they don't want to 'slave their asses off', they can make a choice to get another gig.    The sloppy and poorly planned signage and use thereof is inexcusable and speaks poorly to their professionalism.

[schooner77]

As I look from my balcony, sipping a good beer, I'm watching the construction at the intersection for William and Caroline. It's 5:30pm on a Saturday, and they're still digging. Last night I went for a walk and they were working away at 10:30pm. I'm not overly knowledgable with regards to construction, or what is involved in this process. The back hoe is till in the centre of the street and there is still a big hole there, so it's hard to tell whether they're making progress or not, but they are working steadily.

I am frustrated by the lack of progress on Caroline. We're going on almost eleven months, in which it has been fully or partially closed, and really is hard to see whatever progress they've made. There have been weeks pass by, in which there wasn't a soul on the premises. I do realize that it isn't nearly as important an artery as King, but that smacks me as being excessive.

[KevinL]

At any rate, work is looking good in the Huron Spur corridor south of Ottawa Street.

[numberguy]

The fact that they are looking for someone to take a stake in the rail division is really neither here nor there as far as the LRT construction goes.

If Bombardier wants to continue to have Mexico in their supply chain, they are going to have to teach the Mexicans how to get the job done properly. They can't afford to have layoffs in Thunder Bay because the Mexican plant has screwed up.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-ba...-1.3127363

Exactly why I am concerned.

Bombardier is competing against giants in the aerospace industry. They need cash to buy time to get their new planes out for successful sales (hopefully). The way they are doing this is by selling part/all of its rail unit and by cutting costs.

This has a direct impact on ION. What assurances/penalty clauses are in place? Byford and the TTC found out the hard way that on a $1.2 billion contract, a $50 million penalty clause gets them a morning meet and greet and a GTFO from Bombardier.

[panamaniac]

At any rate, work is looking good in the Huron Spur corridor south of Ottawa Street.

I wonder how long before the old factory beside the Mill station will be redeveloped?  When we were kids, we used to play for hours in the lumber yard behind the plant (when we weren't hiking down the train tracks to look for golf balls at Rockway).  The site seemed quite large back then, although it would probably seem much smaller if I were to see it now.

[Canard]

That is such a nice long straight section of track - hope they hit top speed here!

[Smore]

Probably my favourite part of this thread is Canards undying love of all things railway!

As I look from my balcony, sipping a good beer, I'm watching the construction at the intersection for William and Caroline.  It's 5:30pm on a Saturday, and they're still digging.  Last night I went for a walk and they were working away at 10:30pm.  I'm not overly knowledgable with regards to construction, or what is involved in this process.  The back hoe is till in the centre of the street and there is still a big hole there, so it's hard to tell whether they're making progress or not, but they are working steadily.

I am frustrated by the lack of progress on Caroline.  We're going on almost eleven months, in which it has been fully or partially closed, and really is hard to see whatever progress they've made.  There have been weeks pass by, in which there wasn't a soul on the premises.  I do realize that it isn't nearly as important an artery as King, but that smacks me as being excessive.

Not sure about Caroline and William, but I think that whole stretch may have been deterred by high groundwater and/or the Laurel Creek crossing which cannot have been a simple task.  For high water, Granlinq applied for a Permit to Take Water:


This proposal is for a new category 3 permit to take water servicing Grandlinq Contractors, as follows:

Source Name: Section 1B
Purpose: Dewatering
Maximum rate per minute: 10,000 L/min.
Maximum number of hours of taking a day: 24
Maximum volume per day: 1,065,000 L/day
Typical volume per day: 355,000 L/day
Maximum number of days of taking in a year: 365
Earliest calendar date of taking (mm/dd): 03/01
Latest calendar date of taking (mm/dd): 03/17
Duration: 2 years

Source Name: Section 3
Purpose: Dewatering
Maximum rate per minute: 10,000 L/min.
Maximum number of hours of taking a day: 24
Maximum volume per day: 491,100 L/day
Typical volume per day: 163,700 L/day
Maximum number of days of taking in a year: 365
Earliest calendar date of taking (mm/dd): 03/01
Latest calendar date of taking (mm/dd): 03/17
Duration: 2 years

Source Name: Section 4
Purpose: Dewatering
Maximum rate per minute: 10,000 L/min.
Maximum number of hours of taking a day: 24
Maximum volume per day: 8,719,800 L/day
Typical volume per day: 468,300 L/day
Maximum number of days of taking in a year: 365
Earliest calendar date of taking (mm/dd): 03/01
Latest calendar date of taking (mm/dd): 03/17
Duration: 2 years

Source Name: Section 5
Purpose: Dewatering
Maximum rate per minute: 10,000 L/min.
Maximum number of hours of taking a day: 24
Maximum volume per day: 838,800 L/day
Typical volume per day: 279,600 L/day
Maximum number of days of taking in a year: 365
Earliest calendar date of taking (mm/dd): 03/01
Latest calendar date of taking (mm/dd): 03/17
Duration: 2 years

Source Name: Section 6
Purpose: Dewatering
Maximum rate per minute: 10,000 L/min.
Maximum number of hours of taking a day: 24
Maximum volume per day: 3,296,930 L/day
Typical volume per day: 1,098,977 L/day
Maximum number of days of taking in a year: 365
Earliest calendar date of taking (mm/dd): 03/01
Latest calendar date of taking (mm/dd): 03/17
Duration: 2 years

Source Name: Section 7
Purpose: Dewatering
Maximum rate per minute: 10,000 L/min.
Maximum number of hours of taking a day: 24
Maximum volume per day: 8,719,800 L/day
Typical volume per day: 2,906,600 L/day
Maximum number of days of taking in a year: 365
Earliest calendar date of taking (mm/dd): 03/01
Latest calendar date of taking (mm/dd): 03/17
Duration: 2 years

Source Name: Section 8
Purpose: Dewatering
Maximum rate per minute: 10,000 L/min.
Maximum number of hours of taking a day: 24
Maximum volume per day: 800,400 L/day
Typical volume per day: 266,800 L/day
Maximum number of days of taking in a year: 365
Earliest calendar date of taking (mm/dd): 03/01
Latest calendar date of taking (mm/dd): 03/17
Duration: 2 years

Source Name: Section 9
Purpose: Dewatering
Maximum rate per minute: 10,000 L/min.
Maximum number of hours of taking a day: 24
Maximum volume per day: 1,002,600 L/day
Typical volume per day: 334,200 L/day
Maximum number of days of taking in a year: 365
Earliest calendar date of taking (mm/dd): 03/01
Latest calendar date of taking (mm/dd): 03/17
Duration: 2 years

Source:
http://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEB-Externa...anguage=en

[Canard]

When we were walking by the Waterloo Park bridge yesterday and saw all the pumping equipment (and temporary dam), I was thinking about that - that those pumps/generators/equipment are going to have to work continuously, 24/7, until the new bridge is built!  Sort of like a heart/lung machine during surgery; it just has to work.  I wonder what the Waterloo Park Bridge will look like?  I am perfectly fine with a very simple concrete design, but I wonder if the Region had any say in what kind of design or look the bridge will have to it.

Probably my favourite part of this thread is Canards undying love of all things railway!

Hey, I'm an urban rail enthusiast (ok, all trains, really) - and I get my very own system right in my backyard. Of course I'm going to be excited about it.

[ookpik]

Why Canada has fallen so far behind on public transit  

"There was this consensus that the majority of transportation planning and funding should be oriented toward accommodating more cars," Litman says, adding that there is clearly growing demand for alternatives, particularly public transit, and policy has largely failed to reflect that. 

"What it boils down to is that it's much easier for local governments to get funding for a highway improvement or new bridge than it is for a public transit project, even if public transit is the more rational investment."...

But political wrangling has stifled smart transit planning in Canadian cities says Murtaza Haider, an associate professor at the Ted Rogers School of Management at Ryerson University.

"Just look at the Conservatives right now. There's an election on the horizon and if somebody proposed a transit system based on flying monkeys and it happened to serve a contested area, they'd help fund it," he says, only half-jokingly. 

"The result is that often we are not supporting the transit we need, but projects that advance electoral alliances and political gains."...

Moscrop argues that our inability to think on long time scales hampers decisions around public transit. These effects were likely on display during Metro Vancouver's transit plebiscite. 

[Canard]

The good thing to take away here is Kathleen loves trains. And for that, I love Kathleen.

[timio]

Excavation of Laurel Creek started today after all the water was drained. There was a sizeable trench dug across the channel when I walked by around 5. The signs suggest the trails in the area are closed for 3 weeks.

Also, they were installing the concrete cover of a newly installed duct bank across the west side of William at Caroline.