[Thaboss]

Another day, another Metrostinx story, apparently if GIDs is disabled to prevent unnecessary emergency braking "triggered by leaves and plastic bags ... on windy days", then the tunnel section and/or platform will be restricted to 15 km/h. Yesterday, TTC Chair Myers said 'the issue has been resolved':
View attachment 712071

Yikes

Metrolinx enhances platform safety on Eglinton Crosstown LRT

Story on rider safety when designing and constructing the Crosstown LRT.

www.metrolinx.com

Platform screen doors anyone ?... nvm..too expensive

 

[urbanclient]

Platform screen doors anyone ?... nvm..too expensive

Is it too expensive? Would it've been too expensive?

Speculation: all that money for a customized Cityflo 650 ATC implementation, plus GIDS, it’s fair to ask whether all of that GIDS budget could’ve gone towards platform screen doors instead, solving the intrusion problem at the source. I don't know 100% if PSDs could've been done with the same budget, but in my earlier post, I linked news going back 2+ years talking about software and signalling problems due to the needlessly over-customized system.

IMO, if they had stuck with off-the-shelf Cityflo 650 instead of reinventing the wheel, and dropped GIDS as redundant, they probably would have had enough money for Platform Screen Doors for the 15 stations. GIDS is not installed at the 10 surface stops. There is precedence with the Seville Metro running low floors with PSDs.

 

[Thaboss]

Is it too expensive? Would it've been too expensive?

I was being fully sarcastic.

The bottom line is that we spend money on what we priotize.


Metrolinx probably deemed platform screen doors a luxury toronto didnt need and as such couldn't afford...

Hindsight being 20/20 the costs would've been a footnote and totally worth it long term.

 

[Steve X]

I’ll just wait till a raccoon sets off the intrusion system!

 

[nfitz]

I’ll just wait till a raccoon sets off the intrusion system!

Given the number of pigeons you see on Toronto subway platforms, this could get interesting.

 

[Burnt creek]

Sunday Feb 8th would be a very odd date for an opening. From a PR perspective, you couldn't pick a worst date in calendar because the public and media focus will be elsewhere on that date. for example:

1) Its Super Bowl Sunday. Game usually starts around 6PM and last until 10. That plus the halftime show will gobble up the lead and be the main story of the news feeds.
2) Its the first weekend and second day of competitions for the Milan Cortina Olympics. This is usually a busy days for events and medal so there will very likely be Canadian medal stories to talk about. Most of these stories will evolve in late morning and into the afternoon.
3) Nobody including media (the ones who covers public affairs) and PR staff for public officials (e.g.: Mayor, Premier etc.) likes to have to work on Sunday.

So if you want people to know about this, they should pick a different date. A week day date

 

[Monarch Butterfly]

Without platform screen doors, expect to see kids putting pennies on the tracks...

...oh wait. Pennies aren't circulating now.

 

[T3G]

1) Its Super Bowl Sunday. Game usually starts around 6PM and last until 10. That plus the halftime show will gobble up lead and be the main story of the news feeds.

2) Its the first weekend and second day of competitions for the Milan Cortina Olympics. This is usually a busy days for events and medal so there will very likely be Canadian medal stories to talk about

So?

If anything, choosing this date would be genius, because of this particular reason. Any issues that may crop up would get a hell of a lot less screen time and controversy than they would if it happened on a regular weekend. They may even get to bury the lede if the speed of the line does not match up to the promises they made post Finch opening.

3) Nobody including media (the ones who covers public affairs) and PR staff for public officials (e.g.: Mayor, Premier etc.) likes to have to work on Sunday.

Also not a factor, every time the TTC begins a new board period (i.e. the first day of a new or modified service, including new lines), it's always on a Sunday. They can either show up, or not get their PR - it's as simple as that.

So if you want people to know about this, they should pick a different date. A week day date

On a weekday, you want the line not to be bogged down with extra vehicles giving demonstrator rides to politicians and media, or those same people taking up space on a platform that will be a lot busier on a weekday than a Sunday.

 

[youngblood]

Sunday Feb 8th would very an odd date for an opening. From a PR perspective, you couldn't pick a worst date in calendar because the public and media focus will be elsewhere on that date. for example:

1) Its Super Bowl Sunday. Game usually starts around 6PM and last until 10. That plus the halftime show will gobble up lead and be the main story of the news feeds.
2) Its the first weekend and second day of competitions for the Milan Cortina Olympics. This is usually a busy days for events and medal so there will very likely be Canadian medal stories to talk about. Most of these stories will evolve in late morning and into the afternoon.
3) Nobody including media (the ones who covers public affairs) and PR staff for public officials (e.g.: Mayor, Premier etc.) likes to have to work on Sunday.

So if you want people to know about this, they should pick a different date. A week day date

Sounds like a perfect date to bury the news of a massive transit failure!

Also, line 6 opened on a Sunday.

 

[yrt+viva=1system]

With the amount of leaks and concerning issues that are arising and becoming public within the last 10 days. It almost seems that Metrolinx and the TTC are trying to drive down the high public expectations of the line.

Can we say they are trying to PR their way out of an even worse PR event?

At this point, it’s looking as if everyone is throwing their hands up and giving up. Too bad heads won’t be rolling.

 

[ssiguy2]

Seeing the system isn't working, can they not just "turn off" the entire emergency breaking system and just go back to the tried and true practice of just letting the drivers drive? Seriously,, outside of the switches, none of these things are issues that would arise if you simply gave the drivers back control of the vehicles. Even signal priority can be done with almost no input from the vehicle..

What exactly are all these systems suppose to do that a driver can't? Streetcars have been running for 150 years without these stupid system by just allowing the drivers to do their damn job. They wouldn't be having all these disruptions if they just canned the whole system and let the drivers drive just like they ALREADY do thousands of times a day on the buses.

 

[A.Malik.77]

I think this was a bit of broken telephone in the reporting. The TTC was always the operator, at least since the P3 contracts were signed.

However there was a specific contractual document that clarified the exact roles and responsibilities of TTC as the operator, and this was not finalized until veryyyy late in the process. TTC had minimal involvement in the Eglinton Line P3 project until the tail end of the project - at which point they realized how much needed to be fixed/changed to be able to properly operate the line to their standards.

You’re correct. The LRT Master Agreement 2012 was the supreme document until the New Deal and subsequent 2023 TOFA were signed. Technically the TTC was only confirmed to be the operator upon the TOFA signing.

LRT Master Agreement: “It is intended that TTC will operate for Metrolinx as owner, the LRTs pursuant to a contract to be entered into between them.”

 

[nfitz]

Sunday Feb 8th would be a very odd date for an opening. From a PR perspective, you couldn't pick a worst date in calendar because the public and media focus will be elsewhere on that date. for example:

Their mistake with Finch was publicizing a soft opening. Personally I think they should wait until May - at least overground - once they complete theTSP. But if they want to tempt fate, I'd do it as quietly as possible.

If they sent the message that they are now testing with passengers, but not to expect regular service, they would have saved themselves much bad PR.

Still if they delay because of sports on the boob-tube ... then it would give a fantastic news headline. "TTC cancels Eglinton opening so staff can watch TV".

 

[Steve X]

Their mistake with Finch was publicizing a soft opening. Personally I think they should wait until May - at least overground - once they complete theTSP. But if they want to tempt fate, I'd do it as quietly as possible.

If they sent the message that they are now testing with passengers, but not to expect regular service, they would have saved themselves much bad PR.

Still if they delay because of sports on the boob-tube ... then it would give a fantastic news headline. "TTC cancels Eglinton opening so staff can watch TV".

They are just opening themselves to lawsuits if any injuries occur onboard. The public can believe the trains are unsafe if they are still “testing”. Real testing riders would have to sign an agreement.

 

[nfitz]

They are just opening themselves to lawsuits if any injuries occur onboard. The public can believe the trains are unsafe if they are still “testing”. Real testing riders would have to sign an agreement.

Lawsuits don't disappear if they don't call it a soft open or testing. The sudden braking sounds like potentially massive lawsuits.

Heck, could be worse if the low-key approach keeps some of the more vulnerable clientele off the vehicles. And less passengers to be whiplashed/concussed. Seems to be ambulance chasers devoted to suing the TTC - https://www.sil.lawyer/posts/ttc-bu...-the-toronto-transit-commission-for-injuries/