ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit

[Canard]

It's so weird.  They must have saved it right off the ION Tracker website, since it's the same, there:

http://rapidtransit.regionofwaterloo.ca/...racker.asp

Curiously, they've added to that webpage a link to the following PDF:

http://rapidtransit.regionofwaterloo.ca/...ignals.pdf

[ijmorlan]

It's so weird.  They must have saved it right off the ION Tracker website, since it's the same, there:

http://rapidtransit.regionofwaterloo.ca/...racker.asp

Weird. I’m pretty sure the signs out on the street are all right. At least, I can’t remember seeing one that had one of the rails out of position like that one.

[Canard]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/Markster3000">@Markster3000</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CBCKW891">@CBCKW891</a> Oh my god <a href="https://t.co/xNL46YmWeT">pic.twitter.com/xNL46YmWeT</a></p>&mdash; iain (@Canardiain) <a href="https://twitter.com/Canardiain/status/846399873213775873">March 27, 2017</a></blockquote>

[ijmorlan]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/Markster3000">@Markster3000</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CBCKW891">@CBCKW891</a> Oh my god <a href="https://t.co/xNL46YmWeT">pic.twitter.com/xNL46YmWeT</a></p>&mdash; iain (@Canardiain) <a href="https://twitter.com/Canardiain/status/846399873213775873">March 27, 2017</a></blockquote>

I stand corrected!

But most of them are correct, right? If they’re all mis-printed like that I need to look more carefully. I don’t think I’ve been down to the pictured location.

[Markster]

Canard is taking us for a ride.

See here, the ones in the wild are correct:
http://www.waterlooregionconnected.com/s...n#pid33805

[Canard]

Aww, you're no fun.

[Viewfromthe42]

You got me for a moment, I doubled over at work trying to hide my laughter and disgust.

[jeffster]

Canard is taking us for a ride.

See here, the ones in the wild are correct:
http://www.waterlooregionconnected.com/s...n#pid33805

I liked Canard's better. lol....

[Pheidippides]

Clearly that is a new sign for Bombardier's newest technology, LRT/Monorail hybrid.

King at William today (note that the main wire is through this intersection and isn't flagged despite the use of some heavy equipment that could easily pull it down):
   

[boatracer]

A note on backup power for the Eglinton Cross Town LRT.  They will be creating a battery based system instead of natural gas generators.  Will be able to power the system for up to 4 hours.

http://renewcanada.net/2017/eglinton-cro...y-back-up/

I don't think our system has any backup power.  I guess if power goes out and there is a vehicle stuck in an intersection they would dispatch equipment to tow it to a safe place.  The Eglinton line has a lot of underground areas making backup power more of a necessity.

[trainspotter139]

A note on backup power for the Eglinton Cross Town LRT.  They will be creating a battery based system instead of natural gas generators.  Will be able to power the system for up to 4 hours.

http://renewcanada.net/2017/eglinton-cro...y-back-up/

I don't think our system has any backup power.  I guess if power goes out and there is a vehicle stuck in an intersection they would dispatch equipment to tow it to a safe place.  The Eglinton line has a lot of underground areas making backup power more of a necessity.

The LRVs themselves have a backup battery on them which would give them enough juice to get to the nearest station. I believe the specs on the battery is for 60 minutes of operation.

[KevinT]

A note on backup power for the Eglinton Cross Town LRT.  They will be creating a battery based system instead of natural gas generators.  Will be able to power the system for up to 4 hours.

http://renewcanada.net/2017/eglinton-cro...y-back-up/

I don't think our system has any backup power.  I guess if power goes out and there is a vehicle stuck in an intersection they would dispatch equipment to tow it to a safe place.  The Eglinton line has a lot of underground areas making backup power more of a necessity.

Per the project document on the region's site (http://rapidtransit.regionofwaterloo.ca/...eement.asp), each Traction Power Substation (TPSS) has two independent 13.8 kV AC feeders from the grid so there is redundancy in the supply.  The DC system is designed so that even if a TPSS goes down, it's neighbours can handle the maximum load while still delivering the minimum required DC voltage to an "ultimate train" (two five-module Ion vehicles coupled) that's loaded to capacity:

Under contingency conditions of one substation out of service, one ultimate train should be able to start at any passenger station in the affected area and maintain its rated acceleration as if the system was operating with all substations on-line. However, under these same conditions, two ultimate trains shall be able to start simultaneously at a reduced acceleration and operating level. Under these operating conditions the TES [Traction Electrification System] design shall be shown to operate successfully within the required design parameters and the voltage at the trains shall not fall below 525 Vdc.

I know that the Ion vehicles have some battery capacity, but my understanding based on conversations with staff during the last OMSF open house was that it was for the purpose of maintaining signalling and communications only.  Of course I would love to be wrong!

[Canard]

Makes sense, Kevin. There is no way they are putting 1hr worth of traction battery on every train.

[notmyfriends]

Happened to be at Breithaupt and Waterloo today and got a look at the lay of the land with the TPSS in place.

This is just not where this should be.  Ugh.

[Pheidippides]

Re-work at Allen station: