DSCToronto
Superstar
There is no doubt it does (and always has) crept along the elevated section @ Pearson. It is a 'design error' and we are stuck with it.
dob467
Active Member
That's actually a "design error" that can't be fixed?
DSCToronto
Superstar
So they have said - of course they do not use word 'error' as 'we do not make mistakes' :-> (The problem is,, I assume, that the curve is too sharp and the incline too steep.)
nfitz
Superstar
Yes. EMUs would ameliorate that somewhat - though with electrification delayed for decades, and suggestions of moving from DMU to locomotives, would make it worse.
If Pearson ever goes for that new main terminal east of Airport Road, that might be an opportunity to improve the alignment, and build a bigger station.
txlseries4
Active Member
The Trillium | Metrolinx weighs removing UP Express luggage racks to add standing room: leaked document
Agency also considered raising ticket prices, skipping stops between Union and YYZ to add capacity: draft reportA few sections pulled:
An increase in ridership is prompting Metrolinx to consider luggage rack removals and seating "reconfiguration" to increase standing room, according to a February draft of Metrolinx’s GO Rail Fleet Strategy obtained by The Trillium.
Plans for the UP Express “remain fluid” but are based on the agency’s understanding that “there is a near term need to increase passenger capacity” in the existing diesel trains, before the agency replaces them with an electrified fleet — which will happen “in the late 2030s at the earliest,” the draft report reads.
…
The plan to fit more people on the UP "starts immediately” with a transition to only three-car trains, the document reads. The trains can run in two- and three-car configurations.
Once the agency can “reliably deliver” five sets of three-car trains, the “modification programs” can start, the draft strategy reads.
“These modifications involve removal of luggage racks and some seating reconfiguration to increase standing space and alleviate crowding, adding 15–18% capacity” to each three-car train, the document states.
…
Other options to reduce crowding were considered, including raising ticket prices, making the UP Express a “dedicated airport service (not calling on intermediary stations)” and running additional GO trains on the Kitchener line, which runs parallel to the UP Express until Weston Station, the document reads.
More in the article.
generalcanada
Senior Member
Was it 2 years ago when the government proposed cutting the intermediary stops. Its no longer exclusively an airport line, its a commuter train.
The idea of buying more trains is a bit suprising though
The idea of buying more trains is a bit suprising though
txlseries4
Active Member
Almost exactly 2 years ago, ya: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/up-express-changes-ontario-1.7175895
ssiguy2
Senior Member
Why not just buy a few more trains and have the problem resolved immediately?.............what am I missing?
facepalming_brooklynite
Active Member
This would be incredibly stupid as it would reduce airport access for people transferring from lines 2 (at Bloor) or 5 (at Mt Dennis). There are many people traveling to and from the airport who have no need to go all the way to Union!
nfitz
Superstar
Or fix it with higher pricing for those not going to the airport. They could do that tomorrow (well, if Presto was competent they could do it tomorrow ...
)generalcanada
Senior Member
because we would buy trains for like 13-15 years then we sell 2nd hand. thats before production and shipping times. realistically like 10 years by the time new trains get delivered
lastcommodore
Active Member
As far as I am aware Nippon Sharyo, the DMU manufacturers for the UPX, have left the NA market. Any new stock would have to be new stock, with the normal lead times for acquiring and training.
From what the previous Trillium leak for MX stated, MX/Ontario is trying to coax manufacturers to build a new plant in Ontario for heavy passenger rail. So I suspect any new rolling stock will only be announced alongside new GO rolling stock.
Amare
Senior Member
It's apparent that Metrolinx is trying to be extremely cheap about it.
To be clear, all the options that Metrolinx is considering are all highly idiotic except for increasing Kitchener line service.
The 2 obvious and most beneficial options to addressing the issue would be:
a) Purchasing additional trains sets (which would be difficult, but not impossible. They would need to pay Nippon Sharyo premium $$ to even restart to production, and they would likely be shipped from overseas adding more to the cost)
b) Increasing Kitchener Line serivce (the most obvious solution, but Metrolinx has been playing games with the service levels). They would also need to take into account equipment impacts (locos and coaches), and we all know how woeful their planning has been around that.
Metrolinx is about to screw the UPX in very unfortunate ways.
urbanclient
Active Member
Very unfortunate, as in my opinion it's the hidden gem, if not crown jewel of Toronto transit. The only part of the system that is world class. It accelerates quickly (compared to GO trains), it has high top speeds, it's on-time. It's time competitive with driving. It even has two stations with platform screen doors.
And it was built very inexpensively by Toronto standards.
I've always enjoyed park-and-ride from Weston to the airport or downtown.
drum118
Superstar
Where are you going to get then as they are no longer built in NA as the manufacture has left NA?. Why a few cars when they will be fully be replace in the coming years??
Does ML have enough cars for service to run 3 car sets??
The current fleet can be sold to the US west coast system considering the UPX fleet was piggyback onto their order.
ML vision at the time of ordering them was to convert them into EMU's at $1 million per car. On opening day, the manufacture and ML were doing inspections on the cars and the the list I saw was long and I saw a large number of issues with the cars.
Battery power cars will work for the replacement