On what was that statement based?

GO is implementing ETCS. However, ETCS has levels - simply “implementing ETCS” does not mean full automation is part of all such implementations, especially in a system like GO’s where it doesn’t own all the trackage it operates on. Under ERTMS, automatic operation is split out from the train...

then you are relying on the different manufacturers delivering their products in similar timeframes so that consists could be fully operational. A bunch of sleepers would not be of much use if the other coaches types were late and the HEP fleet could not interoperate with them in the meantime

Explicitly tethering VIA to an Amtrak order basically means choosing to buy a product which largely benefits American companies. https://railroads.dot.gov/legislation-regulations/buy-america/buy-america-fras-high-speed-intercity-passenger-rail-program Exo identified a seat manufacturer for...

Potentially - look at how both VIA and Amtrak mix and match coach types now. But ideally it would be doable without messing around with transition cars (as on Ocean with Renaissance cars) to work around differing couplers, and having a train management system which talks to all cars would...

It didn’t - but the conditions would still have to be met by the package offered.

What a bloody moan. Complaining about fare evasion on the GO. let’s compare subsidy per passenger / per passenger mile even with evasion and see who is the burden on whom.

I assume that crossing on the northwest end of the platform will likely not be grade separated given the tight turns at both sides?

Mmm. The difference though is that if a freight operator wants to start in Europe tomorrow it can acquire rolling stock, find customers, and bid for track time. It doesn’t get stymied merely because the route is physically owned by a competitor. The freight routes that do exist happen in spite...

I’m not clear on how that constitutes a helpful comparison. This is an intercity order for a company which already operates power and coaches from differing manufacturers. Is a trainset an advantage for manageability? Most likely. But Siemens were the only manufacturer who could not only make...

With an RFP which made it difficult for others to win, demanding as it did the provision of power and coaches, and that said power could be converted to electric.

I mean there are people (cheeky side-eye at one UTer who is also on Twitter) who think that UPX should be in the TTC co-fare. I guess it could be raised by the same amount as a current TTC fare and then put it in the co-fare :D

There was a reason Metrolinx wanted to do this. We have speculated on what it was, but presumably it was felt to be necessary, and that there was at least some expectation of pushback. We should have a mechanism to find out what it was, but with a Ford majority at Queens Park we are unlikely to...

*cough* Northlander *cough*

If you have a good reserve it means you’re less likely to be absolutely screwed when your new stock supplier turns out to be a dud, as SEPTA is finding out.

Yeah, “the public”

Someone in Metrolinx planning is getting a sharp lesson tonight about how you “don’t ever take sides against the Family”.

I think that is excessively optimistic, given historical procurement and that VIA have indicated they will rebuild the F40s. I can't see VIA committing until they see what Amtrak ends up with and can potentially piggyback as they did the corridor fleet.

If I was to put myself in Westoners shoes, the one true differential between UPX and GO is operating hours. UPX operates an all day schedule whereas GO's inevitably tails off. But, as I noted previously, Westoners also have other no-change options to reach Pearson, and at the same time Mount...

CityNews (Twitter) says Alstom is restricting GO personnel vacation for the remainder of the year