[Steve X]

It seems like all the Flexitys in this city are running if people don’t block the tracks. Yes, they do run on line 5. The problems have something to do with this line more than the weather.

 

[Amare]

Here we go again, no service on the entire Finch West line:

Yes the weather is absolutely horrid today, but explain how the TTC streetcar network continues to operate (for the most part), but yet this line cant. Why in the hell are we paying Mosaic, if they cant maintain the line?

Mosaic/Metrolinx I dont care if you cant get proper switch heaters, it's your job to ensure the line is functioning. Station crews at all the switch points and have them manually clear the switches every 30 mins, this excuse of "switch issues" is absolute and pure garbage, and the fact that Metrolinx is accepting this operational idiocy speaks to their ongoing stupidity and ineptitude.

Heck hire some young students to clear the switches, i'm sure they would love to for whatever the pay would be.

 

[robmausser]

Why in the hell are we paying Mosaic, if they cant maintain the line?

This is one of the biggest problems with any of the "Transit city" era projects like Line 5, 6. Its why Metorlinx and Crosslinx sued each other multiple times. The contracts were poorly written. Mosaic basically underbid everyone else because the contracts basically let them do the bare minimum and still be considered meeting their obligations.

The issue here is if you do a P3, you need to be very sure that the consortium is obligated to make sure things are operating smoothly. Not that they hit a certain level of work and say "we've reached our funding limit, cant do that, sorry. Gotta slow down the trains sorry, they are wearing out too fast to meet our funding requirements" etc etc.

Ontop of that, having a separate agency owning, maintaining and operating the line just spells trouble and finger pointing.

 

[nfitz]

Well I guess Line 6 will be closed the next few days..

Probably.

Meanwhile, this afternoon when I checked, there were no streetcar issues, except 503, which was having issues on Kingston Road - with buss! you. Right now the only problems are automobile accidents an police activity.

This is when a line like Finch West should excel - not fail.

If the TTC is only reliable in good weather, I might as well drive. It’s when the weather means I don’t want to drive that I want to take the subway, streetcars and LRTs.

Streetcars are working well today - as usual in a snow storm. This is typical, why say this? I'm glad I'm not driving today!

 

[stove]

Yeah I am just wondering, how come streetcars are tanks but the LRT is very finicky? and are the switches only like at the turning point of the yard and then possibly the terminal spots?

 

[Bordercollie]

Yeah I am just wondering, how come streetcars are tanks but the LRT is very finicky? and are the switches only like at the turning point of the yard and then possibly the terminal spots?

Missmanagement.

It could also be that the flexity's were designed for the TTC'S harsh specs given that they are probably over engineered for Toronto's climate. The Alstom cars have had problems with cab heaters in the winter (Ottawa) and may not have been designed with cold weather in mind as much.
I find that the Flexity fleet also has better heat in the passenger compartment than the Alstom cars.

 

[Jaye101]

Probably.

Meanwhile, this afternoon when I checked, there were no streetcar issues, except 503, which was having issues on Kingston Road - with buss! you. Right now the only problems are automobile accidents an police activity.

This is when a line like Finch West should excel - not fail.

Streetcars are working well today - as usual in a snow storm. This is typical, why say this? I'm glad I'm not driving today!

I was on a Line 1 train between Rosedale and Bloor earlier and the train was losing power every few seconds it wasn't long after that they halted service between Bloor and Eglinton.

The 512 was more reliable than Line 2 in the west end today, which was shut down much of the evening between St George (!!) and Kipling Station. Many people took the 512 as a detour. There was a bit of a wait and plenty a brooms were swept but none the less it did the damn thing. The supervisor along the route told the driver he was going west from St Clair W station, to which the driver replied "which way is that?" in a strong accent. I found the exchange amusing. But you could really see that it was all hands on deck today. Kudos to them. The real test will be how much of the surface sections of the subway will be open for the AM rush.

I wonder, was the TTC consulted during the planning of Line 6? And in what capacity?

Missmanagement.

It could also be that the flexity's were designed for the TTC'S harsh specs given that they are probably over engineered for Toronto's climate. The Alstom cars have had problems with cab heaters in the winter (Ottawa) and may not have been designed with cold weather in mind as much.
I find that the Flexity fleet also has better heat in the passenger compartment than the Alstom cars.

I believe the problem is more with the switches than the vehicles, though there may be problems with the vehicles to which I'm unaware.

 

[Westey]

So I don't understand why we keep repeating the same thing and expect a different result.

The first time the switches froze due to snow that should have been the first time and last time. Measures should be put into place to prevent it from happening again.

Again it snowed and the line is down. Subway from Victoria park is also down. At least line 1 is running.

On days like this we especially need public transit to work, and when it doesn't it's such a counter productive situation.

I was on a Line 1 train between Rosedale and Bloor earlier and the train was losing power every few seconds it wasn't long after that they halted service between Bloor and Eglinton..

I wonder if it's a money-making exercise to cover/roof the subway (e.g. Yonge north of Bloor) and then build over top of it.
(in reality, I think it might make more sense to build a park over the subway and build on adjacent parkland).
Improved reliability. "Found" land. More density close to subway.

 

[ThenWhat]

This is one of the biggest problems with any of the "Transit city" era projects like Line 5, 6. Its why Metorlinx and Crosslinx sued each other multiple times. The contracts were poorly written. Mosaic basically underbid everyone else because the contracts basically let them do the bare minimum and still be considered meeting their obligations.

The issue here is if you do a P3, you need to be very sure that the consortium is obligated to make sure things are operating smoothly. Not that they hit a certain level of work and say "we've reached our funding limit, cant do that, sorry. Gotta slow down the trains sorry, they are wearing out too fast to meet our funding requirements" etc etc.

Ontop of that, having a separate agency owning, maintaining and operating the line just spells trouble and finger pointing.

At some point the provincial government will have to step in, pay whatever it takes to cancel the long-term contracts and consolidate the ownership, maintenance and operation in one organization. It doesn't really matter which organization, as long as there is one clear line of resposibility.
It should happen sooner rather than later. Until then we'll live with this three-headed monster, where every problem is always somebody else's fault.

 

[smallspy]

I wonder if it's a money-making exercise to cover/roof the subway (e.g. Yonge north of Bloor) and then build over top of it.
(in reality, I think it might make more sense to build a park over the subway and build on adjacent parkland).
Improved reliability. "Found" land. More density close to subway.

There is a known tendency for most types of third rail shoe to have issues when the snow gets higher than the rail itself. The cover helps protect the rail if the snow is falling straight, but with the blowing snow that was happening yesterday it becomes more problematic.

In most circumstances the passage of the trains - and their 12 pickup shoes per side - is enough to clear the railhead, but considering how hard the snow was coming down it just wasn't enough this time.

Dan

 

[hw621]

So no one from the Metrolinx comes out and lay out their plan to fix the line?

 

[evandyk]

CBC Traffic Report this morning: "Not surprisingly, there is no service on Line 6 and shuttle buses are running."

It's a punch line at this point.

 

[cplchanb]

CBC Traffic Report this morning: "Not surprisingly, there is no service on Line 6 and shuttle buses are running."

It's a punch line at this point.

well to be fair none of the above ground rail sections on Lines 1 and 2 are running as well. this was a large storm event that was beyond the design of any rail, even Via.

 

[reaperexpress]

I wonder if it's a money-making exercise to cover/roof the subway (e.g. Yonge north of Bloor) and then build over top of it.
(in reality, I think it might make more sense to build a park over the subway and build on adjacent parkland).
Improved reliability. "Found" land. More density close to subway.

There is a case for this, and it's been done many times before in Toronto. See for example the line between St Clair and Summerhill that used to be above ground. However that has almost nothing to do with snow - it's extremely rare for snow to fall so quickly it overwhelms the trains' ability to clear snow from the tracks and third rail. The reason to deck over the subway is just more efficient land use in a densely populated area.

 

[hw621]

well to be fair none of the above ground rail sections on Lines 1 and 2 are running as well. this was a large storm event that was beyond the design of any rail, even Via.

But most streetcars (which Finch is essentially) are running?