Honest question here: What would be the cost of having Bombardier produce custom train sets for the SRT, so that no guideway modifications are required (ie: the Ellesmere tunnel)? Is that extra cost of creating custom vehicles > buying "off the shelf" Mark IIs or Mark IIIs and modifying the guideway to suit them? Bombardier owns the technology, after all.
I mean, the Toronto Rockets were a pretty custom job too. Creating an updated Toronto/GTA-specific ICTS train may open it up again as an option for other RT lines. I'm thinking the Kipling corridor in particular.
Great question, great discussion, shows how dynamic transit planing can be, and I believe Nfitz has pointed to the right data that answers much of this.
Specific to the size/dimension of Mk1 and whether it can be reproduced (with or w/out LIM)...I think a lot of that depends on who you ask. The City says no (and IIRC even from last week's transit powwow Keesmaat was asked a similar question, with the answer being '
no, the trains and their parts are not made anymore, case closed'). I don't want to quote Michael Schabas since I generally don't care much for his expert opinions, but in the past he said otherwise. And that trains can be reproduced and made-to-order by manufacturers upon request - which is a common practice worldwide. I tend to agree with this, since it seems logical.
I don't think we should use LIM or hardcore proprietary components. But rebuilding trains with Mk1's dimensions and standard 3rd rail seems like something many companies would bid on if given the opportunity. And yes it would open a political can of worms if we decided to explore this option. But I think it really should've been shortlisted when we had the chance. Standard LRT used for TC is great too, since it allows for future in-median sections or sharing of parts/shops. But there's obviously drawbacks when used for something like the SRT, or on a fully grade-separated line. Costly vehicles, heavier vehicles, costly conversion of infrastructure, low floor (which in an of itself may give the appearance of less-rapid / non-subway like service), lower capacity...etc.
But no doubt the concept is great, and Ontario was fairly smart when it designed these medium-capacity vehicles as a solution for subways and RER-like commuter rail.
Sadly rob fords interlining makes more sense than this one stop plan. Wish we could revert and make eglinton east grade seperated.
Exactly. And there were affordable options to allow for this Laird-Kennedy grade-separation. But this was doomed to fail since all the per km costing was done for underground-only.
There are a few subway projects I'd question, but if the option of TYSSE or YNSE was presented with no stations between Downsview-VMC or Finch-RHC - I'd obviously support the addition of stations. It's absurd to bypass so many people and such busy corridors. This new station-less SSE leads me to believe that it's purposefully being pushed so that it will fail. Obviously we'll demand a Lawrence station. But if it's included, then concluded the project is now too expensive and unbuildable, then we'll be right back to square one. Which is perhaps the hoped-for endgame?