[urbanclient]

The good thing about subways (unlike trams/LRTs) is that they don't have them, and thus have higher ground clearance.

Haha, as devil's advocate, I don't know if not having magnetic brakes is objectively good, and having higher ground clearance is the main reason why they don't have magnetic brakes no? Not the other way around? (Beware those that may defend LRTs to their last breath).

Edit: apparently magnetic brakes are critical for avoiding collisions with cars and pedestrians in street-level environments. Go figure.

 

[81-717]

and having higher ground clearance is the main reason why they don't have magnetic brakes no? Not the other way around?

I'm not sure if that's a legit concern that goes into designing vehicles, but it's good to know if true.

Beware those that may defend LRTs to their last breath

lol, I sure am aware, and I personally think it's the primary driving force behind the pro-subway/anti-LRT community, they're averse to trams/LRTs because on a subconscious level they reject the tramlike vehicle design and near-0 ground clearance due to track brakes.

Edit: apparently magnetic brakes are critical for avoiding collisions with cars and pedestrians in street-level environments. Go figure.

Numerous crossings with GO/VIA & especially freight seem to think otherwise, though.

 

[urbanclient]

Numerous crossings with GO/VIA & especially freight seem to think otherwise, though.

To be fair, what is the likelihood that a pedestrian with headphones walks in front of a GO or freight train at a protected crossing. Not saying it's never happened.

Trams in Europe interact with pedestrians at a level that would induce pearl-clutching here. That's why they have magnetic brakes. Apparently a small handful of high floor and commuter rail type trains are adopting them as well.

Regarding Vision Zero / Zero Vision: dozens of people die every year in Toronto due to cars hitting each other, cars hitting pedestrians, motorcycles hitting trees etc. But god forbid a transit vehicle cause a single fatal accident. Good in theory, bad in practice. All excessively slow transit will do is push more people to drive or ride illegal e-scooters i.e. push people to riskier transportation modes https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/toronto-data-traffic-deaths-2025-9.7038262

So sick and tired of the TTC's "nanny" like behaviour towards it's riders and the people of Toronto. I even heard Jamal Myers mention during his recent press conference that "Vision Zero" was being applied to streetcars and LRTs. Really???

Meanwhile in Manchester the TfGM actually treats people like adults and operates normally with the expectation that some nutcase won't jump in front of a moving tram. And if they do, it's their own damn fault.

I dare not show this video to one of the TTC board members. They'll probably have a heart attack. I was definitely having some mild culture shock. I was constantly wondering why people were risking standing so close to a moving tram.

 

[officedweller]

Helps that the front of the Manchester LRT is painted bright yellow (rather than white and gray).

 

[christiesplits]

Fairly certain it's being unintentionally misrepresented by the Globe here. It's the automatic braking that happens if the operator exceeds the (arbitrary) speed limits in a certain section, or gets "too close" to the train ahead. Both Line 5 and 6 have these automatic failsafes programmed in the signalling system.

Worst case is the train loses signal and emergency brakes because it doesn't know where it is EDIT: apparently it might be GIDS causing the emergency braking, among other reasons.

Example from Line 5 op below, eastbound trains at Wynford cannot depart until the train ahead has departed Sloane. I would assume this bottleneck leads to bunching west of Wynford if the same restriction does not exist at Aga Khan.

I am told this is called Automatic Train Protection and ATP Enforcement braking.

View attachment 711761View attachment 711769
View attachment 711777

What will be the top speed on opening day? 10 km/h?

 

[crs1026]

The good news is, we know the brakes work. That's much more reassuring than the alternative.

The smoking gun here is, the control systems, which are IT. We aren't reading that the tracks are the wrong gauge, or the foundation is sinking, or (eyeroll) the slab somewhere is cracked. The line is fundamentally complete. But nothing fouls things up like technology glitches.

Having the brakes come on may or may not be hazardous to riders. It likely causes delays while the operator confirms there is no issue, possibly seeks authority from control to proceed, possibly has to reset on the tram or wait for some system reset from the control center. That kind of thing stops operation and creates bunching. So yeah it's an operability concern that would undermine reputation and rider confidence in the product.

If we are down to that one issue, it's a good thing. All we can do is be patient. And there better not be any misalignment between vendors, contractors, and transit agencies in finding a solution. Definitely all hands on deck, work out any contractual issues later, just get it done.

- Paul

 

[toronto647]

Is this line opening on Feb 8?

 

[Chaplinurbex]

The good news is, we know the brakes work. That's much more reassuring than the alternative.

The smoking gun here is, the control systems, which are IT. We aren't reading that the tracks are the wrong gauge, or the foundation is sinking, or (eyeroll) the slab somewhere is cracked. The line is fundamentally complete. But nothing fouls things up like technology glitches.

Having the brakes come on may or may not be hazardous to riders. It likely causes delays while the operator confirms there is no issue, possibly seeks authority from control to proceed, possibly has to reset on the tram or wait for some system reset from the control center. That kind of thing stops operation and creates bunching. So yeah it's an operability concern that would undermine reputation and rider confidence in the product.

If we are down to that one issue, it's a good thing. All we can do is be patient. And there better not be any misalignment between vendors, contractors, and transit agencies in finding a solution. Definitely all hands on deck, work out any contractual issues later, just get it done.

- Paul

I like this positive thinking and rational analysis.

 

[pleaseLRT]

Is this line opening on Feb 8?

Apparently maybe per WearyInspection5396's comment:

"As of right now that’s what we’re preparing for, however we’ve been told in no uncertain terms that they can pull the plug on that any minute if there’s a new problem, or if the weather is going to be bad. Management is currently working on revised scheduling to see how much they can water down the service to minimize the number trains on the line to reduce the chance of some ongoing issues creating negative PR on launch day."

 

[Northern Light]

Apparently maybe per WearyInspection5396's comment:

"As of right now that’s what we’re preparing for, however we’ve been told in no uncertain terms that they can pull the plug on that any minute if there’s a new problem, or if the weather is going to be bad. Management is currently working on revised scheduling to see how much they can water down the service to minimize the number trains on the line to reduce the chance of some ongoing issues creating negative PR on launch day."

Watering down the service, ie. reducing the frequency, more great publicity incoming.

Public comment: "Train was a great ride, except for the 1/3 of the line where it didn't operate, and the 20 minute wait for a tram"

 

[urbanclient]

At this rate, most likely not. I think it can still open in February but you would probably be looking more towards later in the month. Like I still think we are very close to it opening, it's just now a matter of them fixing it.

From the perspective of your typical, less informed Toronto resident, them talking about potentially scrubbing another launch is par for the course for the last 3 to 6 years...

Apparently they've had 2 full years of 'software' problems. Who were they hiring to fix the software? And would they have had these problems if full grade-separation was chosen? To think this line was reported as having a capital cost of $5.5 billion as of 2021, and is now easily $10+ billion in capital costs alone.

Without context, every excuse, every delay just sounds like same sh**, different day:

Feb 2020: "an unpredictable, but safe, defect was found under the TTC station box at Eglinton-Yonge station"
https://www.metrolinx.com/en/discov...elay-of-eglinton-crosstown-light-rail-project

Dec 2021: "The line is now scheduled for completion in September 2022 – one year after the $5.5 billion light rail system it was originally scheduled to open. [...] Under a $325 million settlement between Metrolinx, Infrastructure Ontario and Crosslinx Transit Solutions (CTS) have agreed to settle a number of outstanding claims which have impacted the 19-kilometre project. Among them, the impact COVID-19 has had on the project schedule and an existing structural defect at Eglinton Line 1 station."
https://toronto.citynews.ca/2021/12/22/eglinton-lrt-completion-sept-2022/

Sep 2022: "The Eglinton Crosstown, which was originally supposed to be open in 2020, has been plagued by various delays, including COVID-19, supply chain issues, labour union strikes. Complex and unforeseen construction-related issues also impacted timelines."
https://toronto.citynews.ca/2022/09/23/eglinton-crosstown-lrt-delay-metrolinx-crosslinx-toronto/

April 2023: "Days after CityNews reported construction crews were ripping up Sloane station on the yet-to-be-opened Eglinton Crosstown LRT, provincial officials have confirmed there are approximately 260 deficiencies to be dealt with along the line."
https://toronto.citynews.ca/2023/04/27/eglinton-crosstown-opening-construction-caroline-mulroney/

March 2024: "The software is so problematic that, come June [2024], it will already be on its seventh iteration, Verster said. [...] What concerns me most, though, is the software defects in the signalling and train control system and the rectification of those defects by CTS and Alstom,”
https://globalnews.ca/news/10382637/eglinton-crosstown-lrt-software-issues-continue-delay/

Nov 2024: "The head of Metrolinx says a full revenue service demonstration for the Eglinton Crosstown LRT is expected to happen in early 2025 as crews work to fully address yet another software issue that affected train operations."
https://toronto.citynews.ca/2024/11/28/eglinton-crosstown-lrt-signalling-system-issues/

Oct 2025: "Eglinton Crosstown LRT revenue service demonstration ‘paused’ after ‘incident:’ minister’s office"
https://toronto.citynews.ca/2025/10/21/eglinton-crosstown-revenue-service-demonstration-paused/

Jan 29, 2026: "Ontario’s Metrolinx agency and the Toronto Transit Commission were at odds over a small number of incidents in which the vehicles’ automatic emergency brakes appeared to activate for no reason."

Emergency brake issue adds to uncertainty over Eglinton LRT opening

TTC recently identified the problem as a potential safety issue, sources say

www.theglobeandmail.com

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-eglinton-crosstown-lrt-railway-project-wrong-toronto/ ; https://archive.ph/0MKJb

 

[thettctransitfanatic]

Jamaal Myers was just saying that the emergency brake issues have been fixed and resolved by Metrolinx, and I believe I heard him say that the line is still on track to open

 

[Chaplinurbex]

Jamaal Myers was just saying that the emergency brake issues have been fixed and resolved by Metrolinx, and I believe I heard him say that the line is still on track to open

Great, can you link to where I can read this?

 

[ShonTron]

I rode the 32 and 34 buses last week (before the last snow dump) to see what the travel times were like. I went in both directions between Kennedy and Mount Dennis during a day without any major disruptions and just the usual traffic congestion.

I went back to take some photos and videos on the Scarborough segment, and it’s so far looking a bit better than Finch West; I even saw a traffic light hold the green a few seconds longer for a light rail train to glide through Warden at a reasonable speed.

Can the Eglinton LRT outrun the bus?

The Eglinton-Crosstown LRT will soon open, finally, and it should be significantly faster than the local buses it replaces. There are reasons to be hopeful that this project will be more successful…

seanmarshall.ca

 

[81-717]

Not having to think about the schedule is a great benefit and can make a big difference in trip planning and deciding whether to take transit at all

Actually, believe it or not it often has the opposite effect too. If I'm walking to a station, check transsee and see that the next train is arriving in 1 min, while the one behind it is in 8 mins, it creates the added stress of having to frantically run to the station while trying to pull out your presto card at the same time, then frantically running up/down the stairs. Alternatively, if you keep checking transsee while you're still several minutes away from the station, you'd likely have to decide to speedwalk/jog your way there to make it in time, which then leaves you sweating & uncomfortable after you get on. Same with having to make a run for it when changing lines, because far too often your train & your connecting train arrive at the exact same time. The horrible accuracy of transsee really doesn't help (you can refresh multiple times in a row and it always resets to 1:00, until it finally refreshes straight to 0:00, at which point you assume you won't make it, only to find out that the train actually arrives a good 30 seconds after transsee shows 0:00). At least with GO, if you know the train is scheduled to be at your stop at exactly 10:25, you can rest assured that that's exactly when it'll be there, and plan your trip to the station accordingly without the added stress.