TRANSIT AROUND THE GTA - JULY 2016 News

With files from CRO Contributor Kevin  Argue

Metrolinx Board Meeting - June 28th, 2016

Agenda Board of Directors June 28, 2016

http://goo.gl/Ri8SzC - metrolinx.com

GO Regional Express Rail Update

Bruce McCuaig, President and CEO - Metrolinx June 28, 2016 -

This is a full report on Regional Express Rail Infrastructure projects, new GO station recommendations, Eglinton LRT, Smarttrack, and a full report on the status of construction projects in each rail corridor. Well worth reading.

http://goo.gl/KDGE0z - metrolinx.com

Capital Projects Group Quarterly Report: June 2016

John Jensen Chief Capital Officer, Capital Projects Group

June 28, 2016

http://goo.gl/veUDr0 - metrolinx.com

GO Regional Express Rail 10-Year Program: New Stations Analysis

Board of Directors Report June 28, 2016

http://goo.gl/kQj3Fg - metrolinx.com

New GO Station Coming To Breslau, Says Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca

Ontario's transportation minister made announcement during Monday morning tour in Kitchener- Waterloo

By Kate Bueckert, CBC News Posted: Jun 27, 2016

http://goo.gl/4V5lqD - cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo

New Weekday GO Rail Service Planned Between Hamilton And The Niagara Region

June 28, 2016 1:00 P.M.- Ministry of Transportation https://goo.gl/bAmEhj - news.ontario.ca/mto

Dean Brown sent us these great shots. Check out his web site.

By Standard Staff Monday, June 27, 2016 

http://goo.gl/KeiquZ - stcatharinesstandard.ca

Ontario Building Three New GO Train Stations In York Region/Simcoe County

June 24, 2016 9:00 A.M.-Ministry of Transportation

Kirby Road in Vaughan, Mulock in the Town of Newmarket and Innisfil in Simcoe County. 

By 2024 there will be all-day, two-way, 15-minute electrified service between Aurora to Union Station, including evenings and weekends, weekday rush 30-minute service between Allandale Waterfront to Union Station and 60-minute service midday. There will be 180 trains per day with 15-minute service.

https://goo.gl/IYOtkm - news.ontario.ca/mto

Four New Smarttrack Stations Announced For Toronto's East End

June 22, 2016 6:40 pm | by Stefan Novakovic 

http://goo.gl/1fFe04 - urbantoronto.ca

 Toronto Transit Report Identifies Billions In Unfunded Projects Headed For A Council Vote

Jennifer Pagliaro City Hall reporter Tues., June 21, 2016

https://goo.gl/IzWzAm - thestar.com

 Province Announces Four New GO Stations in West Toronto

June 21, 2016 1:55 pm | by Stefan Novakovic 

http://goo.gl/oGjSor -urbantoronto.ca

 GO Lakeshore East Line To Extend From Oshawa To Bowmanville

June 20, 2016 4:25 pm | by Jack Landau 

http://goo.gl/IggYdq - urbantoronto.ca

 Smarttrack / Go RER: New Station Profiles Advance Planning

June 3, 2016 1:38 pm | by Stefan Novakovic

http://goo.gl/ArRbfh - urbantoronto.ca

 Can Transit-Oriented Development Change Travel Behavior In Cities?

Submitted Wanli Fang ON MON, 05/16/2016

http://goo.gl/cAGPj5 - worldbank.org

 

GO Transit Fleet

Diesel-Electric Locomotives-

MP40PH-3C - Tier 2

 

Series Number  - 600 - 656

Units 607 and 615 have been repainted into the new Metrolinx livery

 

MP40PH-3C - Tier 3

 

Series Number - 657 - 666 -

These units have an extra cooling radiator on the roof, behind the cab, in order to meet Tier 3 emission standards.  661 to 666 are painted in the new Metrolinx livery

MP40PHT-T4AC - New Tier 4 Model

Supplier: Motive Power Industries (Wabtec) - Boise, Idaho

Series Number          Build Date

667 - 682                   2017

Note: Tier 4, AC traction, twin Cummins QSK 60 2700 HP engines, combined horsepower rating 5400 HP

Source: Mark Ostler - Metrolinx

 Here is Tier 4 MP40PHT-T4 prototype GO 647 , at the Oshawa GO Station on Wednesday, July 22nd, 2016 trailing Tier 3 MP40PH-3C GO 666 (The Devil Engine). Notice that GO 666 has an extra cooling radiator on the roof, just behind the cab, in order to meet Tier 3 emission requirements.

The train arrived at 8:45pm with GO 666 idling, offline, genset shut down, with GO 647 doing all the work. Upon arrival, the crew shut down GO 647, brought 666 back online and started 666' genset.

When I talked to the crew they said GO 647 is still on test, and this procedure has been carried out every evening this week, shutting down 647 after a period of operation. Notice the wire dangling down the side of the unit from the cab window. This wire continues all the way to the rear truck and is secured to the underframe. John Jeffery photo

 

Here is another view of  Tier 3 MP40PH-3C GO 666 and Tier 4 MP40PHT-T4 prototype GO 647 on Wednesday June 22nd, 2016 at the Oshawa GO Station. GO 305 West is shown here departing at 9:08pm with GO 666 doing all the work and GO 647 shut down. Notice the wire dangling from the cab window for some sort of test. This wire extended down and along the underframe to the rear truck. John Jeffery photo

PASSENGER CAR FLEET - Updated June 24th, 2016

 

GO CEM (Crash Energy Management) Cars - Latest Version Of The Bombardier Bi-Level Coach

With files from Bryan Martyniuk

CEM design cab cars and coaches:  Supplier - Bombardier

CEM Cab cars - 67 ordered

Series number - 300 - 366

Delivered - 300 - 337

Seen in service - 300, 302,303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308, 309,310, 312, 313, 314, 315,  316, 317, 318, 319, 320, 321, 322, 323, 327, 328, 329, 332

In Transit from Bombardier -  338 (June 18th, 2016)

 Here is brand new CEM cab car GO 338 at the gate of the Bombardier plant in Thunder Bay on Saturday, June 18th, 2016.  CP will transfer this car to "E" yard downtown and then forward it to Toronto. It will be transferred to CN at Lambton Yard for final delivery to GO Transit at their Willowbrook Shops in Mimico. Bryan Martyniuk photo with permission

 

Here is Series One Bi-Level coach 2027 at the Oshawa GO station on Sunday June 12th, 2016. It is sporting a full body wrap, advertising the Union Pearson Express. John Jeffery photo.

CEM Coaches - 60 ordered

Series number - Coaches - 4000 series,

Accessibility coaches - 4500 series

Delivery Schedule - begins early summer 2016.

 Here is new CEM cab car GO 332, on June 23rd, 2016, at Oshawa North, on the Lakeshore East Corridor. This is the highest numbered CEM cab car seen in revenue service so far. John Jeffery photo           

 

Bi-Level Coach Upgrade Programs

200 Series Cab Cars

These cars are currently being retired as cab cars, as more CEM 300 series cab cars arrive from Bombardier. They are going to be refurbished and will be used mainly as  standard coaches. Some of them will also be used as stand by cab cars.

2000 Series Coaches - Upgrade Project

The 2000 series cars are now being upgraded to series V standards as well. Coach 2035 was used as the prototype for the series V upgrade program and was finally released on February 23rd, 2016.

Cars currrently in the CADRAIL shops include:

2036,2037,2048,2051,2061,2078 Source: Canadian Railway Observations - May 2016 issue, with permission.

 2400 Series Coaches - Upgrade Project

Cars in the 2400 series have now been upgraded to series V standards by CADRAIL in Lachine, PQ

2400 series cars recently released: 2415,2416,2418,2433,2430,2434,2435,2436,2442,2447,2450,2451,2452,2453, 2455

With files from Mark Ostler - Media Relations and Issues Specialist - Metrolinx

With files from Kevin Argue - CRO contributor

Network Electrification -

 Metrolinx Capital Projects Report - June 2016 - page five

 "The EA for the electrification of the GO network is ongoing and consultation with stakeholders and communities are progressing well. Metrolinx has met with several stakeholder groups, including ministries, the City of Toronto, members of parliament at the Provincial and Federal levels, First Nations communities and other stakeholder groups."  http://goo.gl/veUDr0 - metrolinx.com

GO Rail Network Electrification Transit Project

Presentation of Public Meetings in February/March

https://goo.gl/a7Y8vJ

 Electrification - Regional Meeting Display Board

Electrification Engagement Initiatives

Details of Electrification Corridor by Corridor

https://goo.gl/u1Jh6F - metrolinxengage.com

 East Rail Maintenance Facility, Whitby, ON -  http://goo.gl/ZhNqub

 Here is Tier 2 MP40PH-3C GO 654 eastbound on the GO Lakeshore East Corridor past the west servicing canopy of the East Rail Maintenance Centre in Whitby on Saturday June 25th, 2016. You can see the train storage yard and main servicing building under construction in the background. This facility will be completed in 2017 and will be equipped to service both diesel-electric and straight electric locomotives. There will be light and heavy shops to handle any train servicing, repair or rebuilding requirement. John Jeffery photo

 

Here is GO 319 West passing the east end of the Whitby East Rail Maintenance Centre on Saturday, June 25th, 2016. CN Oshawa West on the CN Kingston Sub is in the background with the Oshawa Yard Switcher heading west on the Oshawa Service track to do some local switching. Behind the GO train you can see the right of way for the new east yard lead being built up. This will connect the Maintenance Centre eastbound onto the GO Lakeshore East Corridor at GO Oshawa North. To the left are two new buildings (out of sight), one of which will be the Locomotive Load Testing Building. There will be a second servicing canopy constructed, once the Hopkins Street bridge and approach ramp are torn down. John Jeffery photo

 

Union Station Rail Corridor - Excerpt from Metrolinx Capital Projects Report - June 2016 - page five

"Work is continuing on the Union Station Trainshed project with a major shift in construction activity occurring at the end of June to begin rehabilitation work on a new set of tracks and platforms. This work will have major operational and customer-facing impacts as Metrolinx shifts service in the trainshed. In addition, Metrolinx has de-scoped the amount of work in the current construction contract and this work will be built into the future construction contract to electrify the Union Station Rail Corridor."

Capital Projects Group Quarterly Report - June 2016 - page five

http://goo.gl/veUDr0 - metrolinx.com

Here is West Harbour GO Station on June 13th 2016. This photo was taken from Bay Street looking towards the James Street main entrance which is now complete, including the Bus Loop. The newly completed Bay Street entrance,at the west end of the station, is in the immediate foreground. Notice that the second platform is complete but the second station track has not yet been installed. Work is continuing on the 300 car parking lot which is not yet in service. Metrolinx has announced in their June 2016 Capital Report that all construction at West Harbour will be completed by the end of 2016. Southern Ontario Railway GP9 4001 can be seen in the foreground, switching cars in their Hamilton Yard.  John Jeffery photo

Here is a view of the trackwork east of West Harbour GO Station looking toward Hamilton Junction.  Notice that two signal bridges have been constructed over the right of way where two new GO tracks will be installed. The far signal bridge has two sets of CTC signals and the one closer in to CP Stuart has three sets of signals. The CN Grimsby is on the right between The GO Station and the Southern Ontario Railway Hamilton Yard. John Jeffery photo

 

Here is a view of the ramps for the 300 car parking garage, under construction on June 13th, 2016. We are looking eastward toward Hamilton Junction, and you can also see the approach tracks to West Harbour GO Station. Metrolinx has confirmed that all West Harbour construction will be completed by the end of 2016. John Jeffery photo

 

Lewis Road Train Layover Facility - http://goo.gl/3bldjk  - gotransit.com

 Here is the McNeilly Road road crossing in Stoney Creek, under construction on June 13th, 2016. The yard lead for the Lewis Layover yard is under construction and will be the third track on this crossing. You can that a second signal bridge has now been installed, governing train movements westward toward Niagara on the CN Grimsby Sub, as well as GO train movements from West Harbour GO Station into the Lewis Ave layover yard. The other signal bridge just west of the crossing has two LED signals governing eastward train movements on the CN Grimsby Sub as well as GO train movements heading out of the layover yard, eastward to West Harbour GO Station.

A maximum of four trains will be able to lay over at Lewis Avenue instead of deadheading back to Willowbrook in Mimico. The yard has enough land to be expanded to eight tracks if needed. John Jeffery photo

 

Seasonal Niagara GO Train Service Returns

http://goo.gl/xctTM -gotransit.com 

Kevin Argue & Mark Ostler

Boost For Kitchener-Waterloo & Brampton GO Transit Service

June 14, 2016 5:06 pm | by David Brake http://goo.gl/snLCH3 - urbantoronto.ca

Excellent summary of the June 14th announcement regarding changes to GO train service on the Kitchener line. Some changes will come into effect in September, others will be more long-term:

The Kitchener line will be electrified by 2024.

CN Freight traffic between Bramalea and Georgetown on the CN Halton Sub will be moved to a new freight corridor between Bramalea and Milton using 407 Corridor land.

Two Georgetown to Union Station trains will be extended to Kitchener in September, providing a total of four morning peak trips a day from Kitchener to Union Station. There will now be four afternoon peak trips returning from Union Station to Kitchener in the evening rush hour as well. These trains will also serve Guelph and Acton,

 All day, two way express GO Bus service will run between Kitchener and Bramalea starting in September. They will be timed to connect at the Bramalea GO Station with GO trains running to and from Union Station. At Bramalea, in addition to the Kitchener trains, there is also mid-day two way GO Train service between Union Station and Mount Pleasant GO Station, which is west of Brampton GO Station.

 The Province of Ontario will pay the $43 million cost of the new Multi-modal Transit Hub which will be part of the new ION LRT service. This hub will be located on the south side of the Kitchener line, adjacent to King and Victoria Streets. Commercial and Retail services will also be located in this hub.

 Excerpt from the article:

"The GO RER roadmap calls for:

30-minute peak-period service from Kitchener to Union in the morning and from Union to Kitchener in the afternoon

15-minute, two-way, all-day electrified service between Bramalea and Union, seven days a week

15-minute service from Mount Pleasant to Union in the morning rush hour and from Union to Mount Pleasant in the afternoon rush hour from Monday to Friday

Express service on some morning trips from Kitchener between Bramalea and Union Station, and some afternoon trips between Union Station and Bramalea"

Here is the GO Kitchener line at Jones Baseline Road, just east of Guelph on June 13th, 2016. We are looking eastward and notice that many ties have been replaced and the track has been tamped and levelled.  John Jeffery photo

 

Here is the GO Kitchener line looking eastward at the Main Street North level crossing in Rockwood on June 13th, 2016. Notice the stack of new ties waiting to be installed, as well as the stack of used ties that have already been removed. The right of way has been tamped and levelled. John Jeffery photo

 

Here is a view of the GO Kitchener line at Acton, looking westward toward the Acton GO Station and Highway 7 crossing. Notice that there is also a pile of ties at this location. There is a siding here that is presently unused but serviceable. John Jeffery photo

 

Here is CN Silver at Georgetown on June 13th, 2016 looking westward on the Halton Sub from the Georgetown VIA Station toward CN Silver. The bridge for the new third track connection from the Georgetown GO Station westward to Silver Junction, is complete, but the tracks have not yet been installed. This will allow GO trains and Goderich and Exeter freight trains to connect between the GO Kitchener line and the Halton Sub without interfering with CN freight trains. John Jeffery photo

 

Here is a view of the bridge and track construction at Georgetown looking west from the GO platform on June 13th, 2016. Notice that the contractor is busy building a retaining wall so that they can build up the right of way where the connecting trackage will be installed between CN Silver and the Georgetown south platform. The southerly GO Georgetown platform will serve GO trains on the GO Kitchener line. John Jeffery photo

 

Here is the southerly Georgetown GO Station platform on June 13th, 2016. We are looking westward toward the yard lead at the west end of the layover yard. The southerly GO platform will be served by Kitchener GO trains once the third track connecting this platform to the GO Kitchener line is completed shortly. Notice that many ties have now been replaced on the track serving this platform and the track has been tamped and leveled. John Jeffery photo

 

Shirley Ave. Storage And Maintenance (Layover) Facility- Update http://goo.gl/8PGgJT - metrolinx.com

Construction of the Shirley Ave. layover facility in Kitchener (Breslau) is in progress, and will be operational in June 2016. This yard will have the capacity to store four GO trains. There will also be a GO bus storage and maintenance facility on this site. In September, 2016 two trains that currently run between Union Station and Georgetown will be extended to serve Acton, Guelph and Kitchener. These trains will then layover at Shirley Avenue instead of Georgetown. 

 Kevin Argue and Mark Ostler- Metrolinx

 

Richmond Hill Line

Capital Projects Group Quarterly Report - June 2016

Richmond Hill line - page four and five- http://goo.gl/veUDr0  - metrolinx.com

A tender will be let in July for the new Bloomington GO Station which will become the new northern terminus of the Richmond Hill line.

 Gormley GO Station - Expansion Project - http://goo.gl/gc1kpA

 Barrie Line -

 Weekend Go Train Service To Return To Barrie Line

CTV Barrie Published Friday, June 10, 2016 

http://goo.gl/vs3ZjE - http://barrie.ctvnews.ca

 Capital Projects Group Quarterly Report - June 2016

http://goo.gl/veUDr0 Barrie Project - page four metrolinx.com

 Phase One - Six kilometres of second track between York University and the Rutherford GO station.

 Phase two -Full double track expansion of the Barrie corridor, between Parkdale Junction on the GO Kitchener line and Allandale GO station in Barrie. Phase 2 will start later in 2016 and will be completed in the first half of 2017.

Source - Mark Ostler and Urban Toronto.ca

Stouffville Line: Double Tracking Project

 Capital Projects Group Quarterly Report - June 2016

Stouffville Project - page five

http://goo.gl/veUDr0 - metrolinx.com

 Here is the view of the construction for the second track of the Stouffville line, taking place at Havendale Road in Agincourt, looking northward. The first phase is to double track the section from Agincourt Go Station to Unionville GO Station. John Jeffery photo

 

Here is the Stouffville line, looking southward from Havendale Road toward the Agincourt GO Station on June 13th, 2016. You can clearly see the extensive work that has taken place to widen the right of way to allow for a second track. The Agincourt and Kennedy GO Stations will be expanded as well, to allow for second track construction to proceed southward from Agincourt GO Station to Kennedy GO Station on Eglinton Avenue in phase two. Kennedy Station is a Multimodal Hub for Rail ,Bus and Subway services for GO, TTC, and in future for the Eglinton Crosstown LRT. John Jeffery photo

 

Here is Tier 2 MP40PH-3C GO 624 with cab car 257 departing northbound from the Milliken GO Station with an afternoon Stouffville line train on June 8th, 2016 headed for Lincolnville, the northern terminus of the Stouffville line. Milliken GO Station is part of phase one of the double tracking project, and negotiations are underway between Metrolinx ,the City of Toronto, and York Region to decide what to do about this busy level crossing on Steeles Avenue East. John Jeffery photo

 

GO Lakeshore East Corridor -

Capital Projects Group Quarterly Report - June 2016 - page four

http://goo.gl/veUDr0 - metrolinx.com

Guildwood GO Station - Station Upgrade - http://goo.gl/Yo5zPw

Community Notice - April 11th, 2016 -  http://goo.gl/cDgDOJ - gotransit.com

Bowmanville Extension To Lakeshore East Corridor Service

GO Extending Service To Bowmanville By 2024

Premier Wynne said the plan is to serve four more stations by then two in Oshawa with a stop in Courtice, and making Martin Rd. the eastern end of the Lakeshore line.

By Keith Leslie The Canadian Press Mon., June 20, 2016

https://goo.gl/djMvh9 - thestar.com

Bowmanville Extension - Plans Of Tracks To Be Built - from GO Transit Environmental Assessment Report - Jan 2011

http://www.gotransit.com/public/en/docs/ea/oshawabowmanville/AppendixH_PlansandProfiles.pdf

Here is the old Knob Hill Terminal at Ritson Road in Oshawa on Monday June 20th, 2016. It will become the new Central Oshawa GO Station by 2023. Ritson GO Station will also be a Multi-Modal hub with a bus loop on the north side of the CP Belleville Subdivision to serve GO Transit and Durham Region Transit busses. There will also be a kiss and ride loop and the loop will be connected to the main station on the south side of the CP Belleville Sub with tunnels under the main line. This will involve extensive road and neighbourhood revisions to Gibb Street , Simcoe St South and Olive Avenue in Oshawa.

All day two-way rail service from Aldershot and Union Station will only operate as far east as Ritson GO station. Additional service will be provided to Union Station from Bowmanville in the morning rush hour, and returning from Union Station to Bowmanville in the afternoon rush hour. There will be an eight track train layover and servicing facility in Courtice between Solina Road and Rundle Road, on the south side of the CP Belleville Subdivision. John Jeffery photo

 

Here is the Bowmanville GO Bus Station at Martin Road and Highway 2 in Bowmanville on Monday June 20th, 2016. This will be expanded into a full rail-bus GO station by 2023. This will become the eastern terminus of the Lakeshore East GO Rail Regional Corridor. The CP Belleville Sub is immediately south of this Station. John Jeffery photo

 

Walter Pfefferle sent us these photos from June 24th 2016.

GO 639 the last Hamilton train heads through Bayview Junction. The area to the right is where the new 3rd track will be. Hamilton Ontario June 24th 2016

Here we see GO 655 at the Burlington GO Station.

GO 660 blows through Burlington West.

Could The TTC End Up Running The UP Express?

Queens Park Committee asked Metrolinx to investigate whether TTC could operate the train

By Shaun Jeffords, Political Bureau Chief - June 25th, 2016

http://goo.gl/kb9vVS - torontosun.com

Royal Coach On The UP Express Includes Commoners

Prince Edward and Countess Sophie requested that they be taken from Pearson Airport to Union Station on the Union Pearson Express. They did not want to get stuck in a traffic jam and rode in the regular coach with ordinary travellers aboard. Alex Ballingall News Tues., June 21, 2016 https://goo.gl/cqXnmG -thestar.com

 Crews Make Great Progress On Lansdowne Bridge Replacement

Tweet by Anne Marie Aikins on Twitter - pictures of progress https://goo.gl/1sLjjR

 Union Pearson Express - Latest News https://goo.gl/e8P2nm  - UPExpress.com

 Here is Union Pearson Express type "A" car 1010, on June 8th, 2016, leading a three car Union Pearson Express train westbound under the Spadina Avenue bridge. You can see the Rogers Centre and CN Tower in the background. This train will shortly enter the Kitchener line at Bathurst St., headed for the Union Pearson Express terminal at Pearson International Airport Terminal One. John Jeffery photo

 

Here is Union Pearson Express Type C UPX 3001 leading Type A UPX 1007 eastbound at Spadina Avenue, on June 8th, 2016. This train has been eastbound on the GO Kitchener line from the Union Pearson Pearson International Airport terminal,and will shortly cross over to the north side and pull in to the Union Pearson Express terminal at Union Station. John Jeffery photo

 

Here is Union Pearson Express Type A - UPX 1001 leading Type C UPX 3005 westbound along the three kilometre Airport Spur at American Drive in Malton. Shortly this train will arrive at the Union Pearson Express terminal at Pearson International Airport - Terminal One. John Jeffery photo

 

 Here is Union Pearson Express Type A 1012 leading Type C 3004 and Type A 1011 eastbound on the Airport Spur at American Drive in Malton. This train will traverse the GO Kitchener line for the twenty-five minute journey to the Union Pearson Express terminal at Union Station.  John Jeffery photo

 

Capital Projects Group Quarterly Report - June 2016 - page two and three

http://goo.gl/veUDr0 - metrolinx.com

 AECOM Awarded Transit Contract From Metrolinx With CA$100-Million Maximum Value

 Metrolinx has awarded AECOM a contract to provide technical advisory services on the Hurontario Light Rail Transit (LRT) project in Mississauga and Brampton, Canada, and the Hamilton LRT project in Hamilton, Canada.

AECOM Media - Brendan Ranson-Walsh, April 14th, 2016 http://goo.gl/tdWbJ1

 Crosstown Eglinton LRT - Toronto  http://www.thecrosstown.ca

The west tunnels are now complete and the east tunnels will be completed by the end of this year. Construction has begun on Keelesdale Station which is the first of 25 to be built.

Eglinton Crosstown Updates as of June 24th, 2016-  http://goo.gl/S5SmAU

Finch West LRT

Map of Finch West LRT

FinchWestLRT Project @ finchwestlrt on Twitter https://goo.gl/loAAB1 - June 3rd, 2016

Project outline - http://goo.gl/9BZyW0 - www.metrolinx.com

Hurontario - Main LRT - Mississauga

Hurontario LRT Project - Project Overview

http://goo.gl/kYC0Cg - metrolinx.com

Environmental Project Report - Executive Summary

http://goo.gl/WP8zHQ - metrolinx.com

ION LRT- Region of Waterloo -

ION - Latest Construction Updates -

Monthly ION Update June 24th, 2016  http://goo.gl/dzA8uZ - rideion.ca

ION Interactive Route Map - http://goo.gl/2PI4km

http://goo.gl/zWH0xM - rapidtransit.regionofwaterloo.ca

Hamilton LRT -

Capital Projects Group Quarterly Report - June 2016 - page four

http://goo.gl/veUDr0 - metrolinx.com

LRT Fact Sheets & Renderings

Home, City Initiatives, Priority Projects, LRT Fact Sheets & Renderings

June 21st, 2016 https://goo.gl/pVY7VB - hamilton.ca

The Real LRT Choice: Leadership Or Anti-Leadership

By Ryan McGreal Published June 03, 2016

https://goo.gl/30dyBG - raisethehammer.org

 City of Hamilton LRT website -

Procurement for the LRT will start in 2017, with construction starting in 2019.  

https://goo.gl/m2vUVq

Ottawa LRT - Confederation Line

Map of What was Funded on June 3rd, 2016

Chris Drew on Twitter https://goo.gl/oEiXsj

http://goo.gl/BQeI9S - News and Events - June 21st, 2016

http://goo.gl/0KcLys - Construction Updates -June 22nd, 2016

TTC - APRIL 2016 NEWS - with files from Kevin Argue

Chief Executive Officer’s Report - July 2016 Update

Report for TTC- Board Meeting of July 11th, 2016 - Not available at press time. Click on this link after July 9th and click on the CEO Report link on the Home page to see a copy of the CEO Report

http://goo.gl/EYRuIl  ttc.ca

SUBWAYS:

Yonge Line - Finch - Richmond Hill Extension

Province Pledges $55 Million For Yonge Subway Extension Planning

June 2, 2016 11:05 am | by Stefan Novakovi http://goo.gl/tHPPkd - urbantoronto.ca

Downtown Relief Subway line - New line planned

Relief Line: Preferred Alignment Now Includes Unilever Stop

June 1, 2016 3:42 pm | by Stefan Novakovic  http://goo.gl/fGcfof - urbantoronto.ca

Homes Along Pape Won't Be Expropriated

 Jennifer Keesmaat acknowledges that some houses will eventually have a subway running underneath

CBC News Posted: Jun 03, 2016  http://goo.gl/UYql1t - cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto

Reliefline.ca - New Website

This is a joint effort between the City of Toronto and the TTC. Keep up to date with the developments on this project by joining the mailing list. http://goo.gl/jJUyhu

Yonge Subway Line - Richmond Hill Extension proposal

Yonge - University-Spadina-York Subway Extension - Line 1

 Scarborough Subway Cost Rises By $900-Million

Oliver Moore - Urban Transportation Reporter Friday, Jun. 17, 2016 -

http://goo.gl/vG74wk - theglobeandmail.co

Rails Complete For The TTC Subway Extension To Vaughan

June 6, 2016 3:33 pm | by David Brake  http://goo.gl/Q1FAwj -urbantoronto.ca

http://goo.gl/0b1xZN - TTC project updates

Bloor-Danforth Subway - Scarborough extension - Line 2

Toronto Rocket (TR) Subway Cars 5381 - 6176

This article provides a full description of the new TR group of cars, currently under construction by Bombardier in Thunder Bay. These cars are all based at Wilson Yard in Downsview. Six-car trainsets operate exclusively on line 1 (Yonge-University-Spadina-York extension) because they can operate on the new ATC signal system on that line.

Six - four-car trainsets operate only on line 4 (Sheppard).

http://goo.gl/ipBgwV - wikipedia.com

 Scheduled Subway Closures

 July 2016 - http://goo.gl/PmFTXm -ttc.ca

Line 2 Bloor-Danforth: Broadview to Main Street closure on July 9

Line 4 Sheppard: Sheppard-Yonge to Bayview closure on July 16 and 17

Line 2 Bloor-Danforth: Pape to St George opening late on July 24

 Here is TR Rocket  subway car 6101 leaving the Bombardier plant in Thunder Bay on a specially equipped low bed trailer on June 8th, 2016. Bryan Martyniuk photo with permission.

 

Here is TR Rocket Subway Car 6102, on June 8th, 2016 leaving the Bombardier plant in Thunder Bay. The police provide an escort to the outskirts of Thunder Bay because of several tight turns on the way out of town. Bryan Martyniuk photo with permission

 

STREETCARS

 Bombardier Finalizes Contract To Deliver 204 Streetcars For City Of Toronto

Here is the original press release from Bombardier in 2009, describing the main features of these cars.

June 30, 2009 BerlinTransportation,  Press Release

http://goo.gl/589Sfz - bombardier.com/en/media/newsList

Source: - urbantoronto.ca Flexity Forum - TTC: Flexity Streetcars Testing & Delivery (Bombardier) | Page 572

http://goo.gl/b8ja4I - urbantoronto.ca/forum

TTC Starts Streetcar Service On Cherry, Updates Bus Routes

June 17, 2016 5:30 pm | by David Brake

On a personal note, this article contains a picture of TTC 4421 that I contributed to the UT Flexity Forum.

http://goo.gl/YzJgRd - urbantoronto.ca

TTC Streetcar Track Plans 2016 - 2020

http://goo.gl/EQTG5Y  - stevemunro.ca

Flexity Outlook LFLRV- fleet.  - 4400 - 4603

Flexity Outlook Production Units In Revenue Service:

4401 - Prototype unit -To be replaced with a new Flexity Tram.

4402 - Prototype unit- To be replaced with a new Flexity Tram. 

4400 and 4403 to 4421 - In revenue service on the 509 Harbourfront line, 510 Spadina line, and 514 Cherry line.  

4421 - The 20th Flexity Tram - Entered revenue service on the 510 Spadina line on Friday, June 10th, 2016. 

4422 - Arrived at Hillcrest Shops on Friday June 17th, 2016 

4422 Moved To Leslie Barns Before Bathurst/College Intersection Closes 

4422 was moved to Leslie Barns on Sunday morning, June 19th, 2016, being pulled by another Flexity. It had not yet been fully inspected so could not operate under its own power yet. The Bathurst/College intersection was closing the next day, on Monday June 20th, 2016, so it was either move it now or have it sit at Hillcrest Shops for several weeks.

Click on the link below to see a picture of 4422 being towed down Bathurst Street.

http://goo.gl/bBrYzh - urbantoronto.ca Flexity Forum page 571

 Here is TTC 4421, the 20th Flexity tram, on its second day of service on Saturday, June 11th, 2016. It is northbound on the 510 Spadina line and is approaching the northbound Front Street platform. John Jeffery photo

New - Route 514 - The Cherry Streetcar Line

514 Cherry Opening Ceremonies June 18, 2016 by Steve

This is an excellent summary of the 514 Cherry Route opening ceremonies on Saturday, June 18th, 2016 by transit guru Steve Munro. I had the pleasure of meeting Steve while he was taking the pictures for this article, and again on June 19th on the first day of revenue service. https://goo.gl/iee9qa - stevemunro.ca

 New Toronto Streetcar Route Touted As Solution To King Car's Congestion

514 Cherry car will run every 8 minutes during rush hour, every 15 minutes when it's less busy

CBC News Posted: Jun 19, 2016 

http://goo.gl/xt57Do - cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto

Here is the 20th Flexity tram, TTC 4421, getting ready to make the inaugural run on the 514 Cherry line on Saturday, June 18th, 2016 from Distillery Loop on Cherry St., to Dufferin Loop and back with dignitaries and media. You can see four heritage streetcars in the background which were on display in the loop. John Jeffery photo

 Here is Distillery loop on the new 514 Cherry Route, on Saturday, June 18th, 2016, with five streetcars on display; Peter Witt car 2766, PCC car 4500, rebuilt CLRV 4150, rebuilt ALRV 4225 and Flexity tram 4421 which is at the rear of the display, having just returned from Dufferin Loop on its inaugural run. The Cherry Street Tower of the Toronto Terminals Railway is in the background. John Jeffery photo

 

Here is TTC 4421 on Sunday, June 19th, 2016, the first day of regular service on the 514 Cherry Route. The 20th Flexity tram is eastbound on King Street from Dufferin Loop and is turning south onto Cherry St. headed for Distillery Loop. Steve Munro, a well known Toronto transit guru, advised that 4421 was running as an extra on this day and therefore was not showing up on Nextbus.com. John Jeffery photo

 

Other Streetcar Infrastructure

Buses Replace Streetcars On St. Clair, While Bathurst-College Shuts Down

by News Staff Posted Jun 17, 2016

Complete description of project and TTC Video explaining why the work is needed and giving details.

http://goo.gl/ZR2QBL - 680news.com

Streetcar Track Construction Update: Spring 2016

Steve Munro - May 9th, 2016 - information and photos

https://goo.gl/TSHzCI - stevemunro.ca

College And Bathurst - Streetcar Track Reconstruction And Intersection Improvements
June 20 to July 22, 2016

https://goo.gl/rpE3Vi - ttc.ca/ServiceAdvisories

AMTRAK PHOTOS

(Edited by William H Baird)
editor@canadianrailwayobservations.com

Walter Pfefferle caught Lakeshore Limited with AMTRAK P42 #24 as it blew through North East PA June 14th 2016

Here we see the Lakeshore Limited the next day with AMTRAK #133 as it cruises through Erie PA June 15 2016

Lakeshore Limited AMTRAK #206 Erie PA on another sunny day. June 16th 2016

Last time he caught it was AMTRAK Lakeshore Ltd #180 Franklin Street Erie PA June 17th 2016

On June 3rd, 2016 Nike Burgess shot Amtrak spiffiness with #14 at CP James Street in Kent. This is the NB Coast Starlight. The train is usually running on the other track (Main 1) here. Last night for whatever reason it ran on Main 2, making for a much nicer angle and a pretty shot in the evening sunshine.

On June 7th, Dennis Weber clicked Amtrak-8, with a quartet of Engines AMTK 57, 172, 121, and 46 passing though Donehower, MN at12 Noon. Seven private cars adorned the tail end explaining why 4 locomotives were needed on the heavy train.

Dean Brown caught VIA 98 Maple Leaf with AMTRAK 184 P42DC Heritage unit at CN Clifton on the Grimsby Sub in Niagara Falls ON May 21 2016

 

AMTRAK VIGNETTE

  Please submit your AMTRAK IN CANADA photos directly to William H. Baird

 

 

Copyright CRO July 2016