ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit

[ijmorlan]

Different flatbed for TTC (1495 mm vs. 1435 mm).

Do you know that for a fact, or do you assume from the different gauge that it is a different flatbed?

My assumption (which however is not based on actual knowledge) is that the flatbed would be able to be changed between the two gauges by changing the mounting points for the rail segments (which if I am interpreting correctly what I saw in photos are not actually rail segments as such but rather square tubes).

However, I looked up some photos and the Ion vehicle was delivered on JTTX 157639 and at least one of Toronto's streetcars on (some number might be wrong, but enough to see the number is definitely different) JTTX 158091. So they definitely have at least two flatcars used for this purpose. It still raises the question of how easy it is to re-gauge the flatcar: do they have to re-weld stuff, or can they shift the rail pieces for a particular delivery?

http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=23899
https://www.flickr.com/photos/130597773@...289696924/

[Bob_McBob]

Where did the 80km/h testing claim come from? Certain Facebook personalities are having a hard time accepting it actually happened.

[ijmorlan]

Where did the 80km/h testing claim come from? Certain Facebook personalities are having a hard time accepting it actually happened.

Is there doubt about the speed or are people just not believing Bombardier actually can make working vehicles? Just curious…

[urbd]

I saw them installing these curb and reflective pieces today on both sides of King where the spur line rail crosses. I guess it is to try and stop people from driving/walking/cycling along the rails?

Incorrect. The Region sees this portion of rail as the unofficial connection from the Spur Line Trail to the Laurel Trail (that's why it is paved now), so walking and cycling along the rails won't be prevented or discouraged during the day.

[KevinT]

However, I looked up some photos and the Ion vehicle was delivered on JTTX 157639 and at least one of Toronto's streetcars on (some number might be wrong, but enough to see the number is definitely different) JTTX 158091. So they definitely have at least two flatcars used for this purpose.

According to this post on UrbanToronto there are three transporters for the TTC cars.

Given that there are 7 cars due to ship for the TTC next month (when the second line in Thunder Bay starts to deliver), I would assume that there is at least one dedicated car for Ion that's independent of the other three.  They're a relatively simple modification of a standard TTX flatcar, so I wouldn't see any need to make a dual-gauge transporter that gets kicked back and forth between Kingston and Thunder Bay.

[Canard]

Do you know that for a fact, or do you assume from the different gauge that it is a different flatbed?

I'll have to look back through my photos, but I recall distinctly thinking about this during the offloading in February, and deciding in my head that it was very much a "fixed" design - not flexible in the standpoint that the "rails" could be adjusted.

I don't track train car numbers or anything, so I'll leave it to the experts to decide if there are more than one. I just couldn't really justify reasonably in my head that there would be, or would need to be.

[Markster]

I'll have to look back through my photos, but I recall distinctly thinking about this during the offloading in February, and deciding in my head that it was very much a "fixed" design - not flexible in the standpoint that the "rails" could be adjusted.

And to add to this, TTC guage and standard guage are so close, that it's not possible to build a dual guage flatbed, without staggering them full gauntlet-track style. And I suspect that the tracks must be centred on the bed, ruling out the gauntlet option.

[Canard]

Hrm, I always forget that. At HCRY, I think I talked to them about this and they said the 60 mm was so insignificant for "fat" tram wheels it didn't really matter there, and they could (carefully) run equipment on the wider stance.

That could very well be the case here, too - great observation. LRV's have much wider wheels than typical rail vehicles, which also makes it more tolerant to a wider gauge.

[Pheidippides]

I saw them installing these curb and reflective pieces today on both sides of King where the spur line rail crosses. I guess it is to try and stop people from driving/walking/cycling along the rails?

Incorrect. The Region sees this portion of rail as the unofficial connection from the Spur Line Trail to the Laurel Trail (that's why it is paved now), so walking and cycling along the rails won't be prevented or discouraged during the day.

That may be true between King and Regina, but between King and Caroline the designated route is south of the Ion rails on the brand new MUT that looks like a wide sidewalk.

[Canard]

Yeah, I was just about to ask. That post was the first I'd ever heard about any official word either way on what the deal was with the "paved" section of tracks there. It's very confusing as to what is "allowed" and what isn't.

[trainspotter139]

I agree that for the number of trains that need to be delivered on a regular basis at the moment they only need flatbed is needed one.

But if it takes 10 days to get here presumably it takes 10 days to get back. So 20 days total between deliveries which is greater than the 14 days between LRV completions. That would mean at least 50 days until #2 gets here (10 days to here, 10 days back, 10 days to here, 10 days back, 10 days to here).

After the ION order that won't necessarily be true. there are a lot of vehicles that need to be delivered for Metrolinx in a short period of time and the Edmonton order goes a much longer distance than here or Toronto so only having 1 makes absolutely no sense to me.

[ijmorlan]

I saw them installing these curb and reflective pieces today on both sides of King where the spur line rail crosses. I guess it is to try and stop people from driving/walking/cycling along the rails?

Incorrect. The Region sees this portion of rail as the unofficial connection from the Spur Line Trail to the Laurel Trail (that's why it is paved now), so walking and cycling along the rails won't be prevented or discouraged during the day.

Unofficial? The Laurel trail runs down parallel to the track through Waterloo Park, across Erb and Caroline, then parallel to the track to King, between the buildings to Regina, then next to the track until it crosses the creek (where it meets the Spur Line trail), and continues north parallel to the creek. Furthermore it has done so for many years. Check the City trail map. The space between the buildings has had snow cleared during the winter for at least the last several years. I don’t think there is anything unofficial about it.

That’s part of why I think the detailed design through the mall parking lot is such a screw-up. There is no obvious sign the designers even understood there is a trail going through there. To be fair, that was already true the last time it got a minor re-design a few years ago and they replaced part of what I think was supposed to be the trail with plants.

[Coke6pk]

No ultra-circuitous route this time, eh?

Surprised that will stil take 10 days... but, I guess that's how freight goes.

Maybe it'll sit in Toronto for a couple of days? Should make for easy spotting.

If you can see it from the edge of the yard! MacMillan yard is huge! However there is the highway 7 overpass which I think has a pretty good view from the sidewalk. Looking forward to this! Good to hear it’s been driving. Maybe we really will have an operational system soon.

Taking the VIA to Ottawa on Monday.... hopefully I pass by Train #2 for that advance peek!

Coke

[GtwoK]

The placement of this crossing at just north of Father David Bauer at Caroline will forever be horrible, but at least they are making VERY slow progress on fixing the lack of curb cuts. First they painted the place to cut the curb. A few months later they cut the curb. A few months later they have removed the dirt and are preparing a to frame the space for a concrete pour:


I saw them installing these curb and reflective pieces today on both sides of King where the spur line rail crosses. I guess it is to try and stop people from driving/walking/cycling along the rails?

Thank GOD. So sick of seeing this:



Why is the freight portion of this so wide, anyway? Or paved, for that matter? Freight doesnt need that much room, and people doing this wouldn't have been possible if they had made the freight ROW just as wide as the LRT ROW

[Canard]

Thank GOD. So sick of seeing this:



Why is the freight portion of this so wide, anyway? Or paved, for that matter? Freight doesnt need that much room, and people doing this wouldn't have been possible if they had made the freight ROW just as wide as the LRT ROW

Sorry, I just... why are you so sick of seeing that?  I mean, I don't like seeing people break the rules, either, but... the rules are absolutely not clear here. There is no signage there, at all. For all we know, this could be a perfectly allowed manoeuvre!

The only sign in the area is off of King, which is a massive "NO TRESSPASSING" sign. Which everyone (cars, pedestrians, and cyclists) all ignore.