TheTigerMaster
Superstar
What about our other 4 new rapid transit lines?
I think what would happen is he'll try to convince Metrolinx to:
A. Prioritize Georgetown and Stouffville ahead of the Lakeshore lines
B. Possibly join the two with through-running trains
Now you have something very much like SmartTrack. Next steps:
C. Try to make it TTC fare with free transfers to TTC, add it to the TTC map. This costs operating dollars but isn't a major physical change.
Almost there..
D. Add stations within Toronto
Now the only difference with his original SmartTrack map is the Eglinton section. I think having it go to the airport instead and replace UPX is probably be the best choice.
At each step the GO RER is transformed closer to SmartTrack. Notice that not much needs to happen for him to claim that he has "built SmartTrack", even just the first 2 is probably enough for him to claim that next election.
Well let's start by figuring out the ways in which SmartTrack could potentially be different from GO RER:
1) More stations within Toronto. Not hard at all for GO RER to incorporate that, and they may already be doing that.
2) Using a TTC fare. Well we know Metrolinx is already working on a fare integration plan, so that point is probably going to happen anyway.
3) The section along Eglinton West. As many has pointed out, that's just plain dumb. No need for Metrolinx to roll that into anything except a paper shredder.
4) Potentially run by the TTC. Again, just plain dumb.
So we have two things that GO/Metrolinx is already working on, and two things they would never work on or never agree to. But if #1 and #2 happen, even if it's the SmartTrack plan that really pushes them, then I'd be all for it.
Vancouver has real rapid transit to the airport at regular prices and there is absolutely no excuse why Toronto shouldn't either.
Tory's plan using existing corridors is doable and pragmatic. It's not rocket science, he's simply using rail transit corridors for transit. He is doing exactly what GO does except they will be TTC fares which makes them affordable to the average transit user.
Toy trains smaller than the Scarborough sardine cans isn't real rapid transit.
I know Vancouver is perfect but there's no need to lie.
I know people complain about GO stations, but from what I recall riding the Paris RER their stations aren't orders of magnitude more elaborate than ours...
They would need to have higher platforms for level boarding for high platform EMU trains right?
GO RER and SmartTrack are different plans... Or that's at least what Tory wants us to believe.
What frequencies has Tory set for his SmartTrack plan? I can't find any reference to 15 min or less.
if we're saying FRA compliant bilevel 25kV AC, no there isn't. New Jersey Transit are thinking about something along those lines, but nothing in production.Is having high floor platforms really a requirement for RER though? Isn't there an EMU vehicle we could buy that fits the platforms we have now?
the only way we get "subway like" service on GO lines is with positive train control. Metrolinx have asked suppliers to weigh in, but implementation of that has expensive and difficult in US installs - we should not assume that it would slide in here. Electrification has to happen, and vehicle procurement and commissioning.Considering that DRL is 12-15 years away and that's only the 1st phase, I feel pretty strongly that we should look at using GO corridors for travel within Toronto in a subway-like manner.
I think it can serve both local trips like Union to Liberty Village, or Bloor West to West Don lands etc, as well as longer distance trips within the city like Scarborough to Downtown and even longer trips like Milton to Toronto. Longer distance trips can either operate express to Union if there's track room, or stop spacing can increase to regional levels once you leave the city like S-Bahn, or they can transfer from regional to local trains at the edges of RER if necessary.
This not only requires frequent service both ways all day, but additional stops in some places, and as ssiguy2 says, fares attractive enough so that this thing can be used like a subway, which means cheaper than current GO fares. My preference is for it to just cost TTC fare and be part of the TTC RT system.
Fares are as important as service levels. If you took the subway down to Union, and you're going to Liberty Village, if you have to pay extra to use this service, you may opt to take the King streetcar instead, since it's already paid for by your TTC fare. However, if this service is part of the TTC system, then it's faster than the streetcar and is already paid for.