[Amare]

I've not seen streetcars stopping at every switch in Toronto. Where are you seeing this? Nor do I see them slowing down at most intersections - I've seen many streetcars ripping through intersections above the speed limit late at night.

Yes, they slow down at a switch; they don't stop.

Take a ride on the 501 and you'll see exactly what I mean. Streetcars are required (mandated by the TTC) to stop at every switch and then proceed. This is part of the reason streetcars crawl through the King-Queen-King-Roncesvalles intersection.

Additionally at ROW intersections you'll frequently see streetcars speeding throughout the actual ROW until they get to an intersection. Once they get to an intersection they will slow down dramatically and proceed to crawl through the intersection.

To be perfectly honest you dont even have to take a ride on a streetcar to see all this. Stand outside an intersection such as College and Spadina and you'll see all this at play even with no one boarding or exiting the streetcar.

 

[nfitz]

Take a ride on the 501 and you'll see exactly what I mean. Streetcars are required (mandated by the TTC) to stop at every switch and then proceed. This is part of the reason streetcars crawl through the King-Queen-King-Roncesvalles intersection.

Additionally at ROW intersections you'll frequently see streetcars speeding throughout the actual ROW until they get to an intersection. Once they get to an intersection they will slow down dramatically and proceed to crawl through the intersection.

To be perfectly honest you dont even have to take a ride on a streetcar to see all this. Stand outside an intersection such as College and Spadina and you'll see all this at play even with no one boarding or exiting the streetcar.

I normally ride at least 4 streetcars a day. I see slowing at switches sure - but stopping? Though most are at stops, so they stop anways, but take my example above at Connaught - which being right in front of the yard, would I think have the most compliance.

And though I certainly see slowing at switches, I've never seen slowing at intersections. Take Queen East and Greenwood for example - they'll rip right through there are speed if the lights are green, and there's no one at the stop.

I've missed far too many streetcars at intersections, that I wouldn't have missed, if they slowed, let alone stopped!

 

[smably]

I normally ride at least 4 streetcars a day. I see slowing at switches sure - but stopping? Though most are at stops, so they stop anways, but take my example above at Connaught - which being right in front of the yard, would I think have the most compliance.

I thought it was a well known fact that streetcar drivers are required to stop and proceed at every switch? Every time I pass Dundas and College eastbound, stop and proceed. Queen and King westbound, same thing. At intersections where the switch is far away from the cross street, drivers will either stop at the switch to let passengers board, or stop at the switch and proceed to the stop line. I very rarely, if ever, see this policy violated. Don't know what to say about Connaught, but that sure isn't representative of my experience.

 

[Steve X]

It really depends on location, the time of the day and the driver. On Spadina, they'll usually stop but in the outskirts of the system, some drivers slowly roll through. Especially at night. It's a well know fact that they should fully stop, just like cars at a stop sign. BUT hey, look how many people fully stop at a stop sign? Even with the Dundas westbound switch approaching Victoria (City TV building) most driver slowly roll through as traffic never stops there, just the streetcars are suppose to.

Unless you ride every piece of the system frequently at all hours, I wouldn't make a statement claiming they stop every single time. The rule is even more likely to be violated overnight. (I not claiming they do as I don't ride night cars that often). In the day time, there are more supervisors out, so rule adhesiveness is much higher.

 

[TheTigerMaster]

That's interesting. I don't always ride streetcars, but I can say for certain I saw that violated a few times last week -- I commented to a friend that the A's make a ton of noise and rumble because they were speeding through a particular switch.

I'll definitely be looking out for violations next time.

 

[Napoleon]

How do double point switches impact operations?

I'm actually wondering what, for example, Amsterdam does. Do they have single or double point switches? They're the other city I think of that has lots of complicated and intersecting streetcar routes. There drivers definitely are not stopping at each switch.

The premise of LRT is operating like subway: shut the doors, accelerate, go full speed to the next station, brake, open the doors, repeat.

Anything that disrupts that cadence - track switches, u-turn lanes, red traffic lights - is a recipe for slower service and a 'streetcar mentality'.

On Crosstown, track switches ought to be a non-issue - there are fewer of them, and dual point on a segregated row should be navigable without a stop. (Will Crosstown have traffic control, like the subway? If so, the operator will comply with a signal, versus worrying about the switch points per se)

Agreed that this is essential that they operate the line properly. The combination of the TTC and the city have proven streetcar ROW's do nothing to speed streetcar speeds without sensible TSP and stop spacing. I can always feel my blood pressure rising every time I ride Spadina. Stops that are barely 100 meters apart, hitting every red light, a left turn arrow for 3 single occupant cars getting priority, and then stopping at every intersection even when the light is green because they can't build switches that are reliable.

 

[crs1026]

I'm actually wondering what, for example, Amsterdam does. Do they have single or double point switches? They're the other city I think of that has lots of complicated and intersecting streetcar routes. There drivers definitely are not stopping at each switch.

If you want some light reading....

http://www.modernstreetcar.org/pdf/circulator_trackway_report_final_3_30_07.pdf

http://www.apta.com/resources/standards/Documents/APTA-RT-ST-GL-001-13.pdf

EDIT: And http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/tcrp/tcrp_rpt_155.pdf

- Paul

 

[someMidTowner]

East extraction shaft from this afternoon:

 

[Tulse]

How long front-to-back is the front face of a TBM? The shaft seems rather narrow east-west.

 

[cplchanb]

How long front-to-back is the front face of a TBM? The shaft seems rather narrow east-west.

The machine comes in sections so i would imagine they will dismantle each section at a time as it emerges from the tunnel

 

[Tulse]

The machine comes in sections so i would imagine they will dismantle each section at a time as it emerges from the tunnel

Sure, I was just wondering how big the front cutter section was.

 

[Steve X]

Sure, I was just wondering how big the front cutter section was.

http://thecrosstown.ca/sites/default/files/tbm-fact-sheet-jan2016.pdf

 

[jcam]

http://thecrosstown.ca/sites/default/files/tbm-fact-sheet-jan2016.pdf

That back halfof that 10m part, what's called the Stationary Shield (very good names I know), is probably the longest part of the front pieces. They'll seperate the shells for removal, unlike at Cedarvale, where they kept them all together because they didn't want to have to reassemble them.

The trailing gantry carts are longer, but they can theoretically be disassembled.

 

[Steve X]

Here is the Bathurst Station presentation: http://thecrosstown.ca/news-media/whats-new/forest-hill-station-open-house

 

[salsa]

Here is the Bathurst Station presentation: http://thecrosstown.ca/news-media/whats-new/forest-hill-station-open-house

TTC should relocate the northbound Bathurst bus stop to the north side of Eglinton so that it's right in front of the main entrance to the station. And also so that waiting bus passengers have more room to stand compared to the existing cramped bus stop.