[LNahid2000]

Attempted to finally ride line 6 today to get to my parents' place in Brampton. Saw next trains in 14 and 18 minutes on the screens (with lots of people looking like they'd been waiting a while) and immediately went back down to the subway to take Zum from VMC instead since I wouldn't make it on time taking line 6. What a useless service. Maybe I'll try again on my way home.

EDIT: Rode it on the way home...it felt even slower than I thought it would be. Been on LRT and tram lines all over the world and I don't think I've experienced any line this slow.

 

[Monarch Butterfly]

Attempted to finally ride line 6 today to get to my parents' place in Brampton. Saw next trains in 14 and 18 minutes on the screens (with lots of people looking like they'd been waiting a while) and immediately went back down to the subway to take Zum from VMC instead since I wouldn't make it on time taking line 6. What a useless service. Maybe I'll try again on my way home.

14 minutes seems like American light rail headways. Metrolinx must have copied America as examples on how to run public transit.

 

[Admiral Beez]

This triggered a thought about a benefit of button-actuated doors on Line 6.

I hate those things on the streetcar. The traffic signal turns green, and just as the doors are closing and we’re about to move, someone presses that button, bringing us all to a stop while the doors cycle, the traffic signal turns red, and repeat.

 

[Monarch Butterfly]

I hate those things on the streetcar. The traffic signal turns green, and just as the doors are closing and we’re about to move, someone presses that button, bringing us all to a stop while the doors cycle, the traffic signal turns red, and repeat.

The button should only operate when the vehicle is fully stopped.

 

[evandyk]

The button should be disabled as soon as the doors start to close. Someone outside the vehicle shouldn't be able to stop the doors closing by pushing a button. The driver can re-enable it if they're waiting at a red light and there are people who'd like to get on.

It could result in more people charging the doors, but it can't result in more delays than the way it currently works.

 

[nfitz]

The button should only operate when the vehicle is fully stopped.

I've pushed those buttons many times passively aggressively after I've got the stop, as then the streetcar slowly starts to move, and not once has the door ever opened when the vehicles aren't stopped.

Where have you observed this happening? Should be reported - must be a vehicle fault.

 

[lowtrain]

I agree with evandyk that once the doors start closing people should not be able to open them. It happens so often on streetcars where it's easy for someone to run from the sidewalk to the streetcar since doors take forever to close. I don't see this being that big of an issue on line 6 though.

 

[nfitz]

I agree with evandyk that once the doors start closing people should not be able to open them. It happens so often on streetcars where it's easy for someone to run from the sidewalk to the streetcar since doors take forever to close. I don't see this being that big of an issue on line 6 though.

It's up to the driver. Invariably the car is still sitting there on the red light. Often it's ahead of schedule. There's absolutely no reason that a streetcar ahead of schedule and too close to the car in front of it, shouldn't be opening doors at every extra opportunity.

 

[afransen]

I hate those things on the streetcar. The traffic signal turns green, and just as the doors are closing and we’re about to move, someone presses that button, bringing us all to a stop while the doors cycle, the traffic signal turns red, and repeat.

Isn't this as simple as deactivating the the buttons once the 'please stand clear of the doors' announcement is made?

 

[smallspy]

Isn't this as simple as deactivating the the buttons once the 'please stand clear of the doors' announcement is made?

With the legacy fleet cars, the doors will only open if the outer circle of the buttons are lit up and a button gets pressed. Otherwise, the buttons will operate as stop request buttons, either inside or out. It's been a while, but I believe that the Flexities in Kitchener operate in the same way, other than not using the stop request system.

I would have assumed that the Finch cars would have operated on the same principle, but obviously, we know what happens when one assumes....

Dan

 

[chrisw]

Looking from the distance, it also seems that RoW and Keolis have had a pretty functional arrangement that actually mostly works compared to other public-private partnerships.

There is some rigidity in the contract. It would need to be changed if the Region of Waterloo wanted more service earlier than scheduled. That incremental cost would be quite expensive. They floated distributing rush hour service for less off peak service, and it was quite unpopular.

 

[bearcat]

With the legacy fleet cars, the doors will only open if the outer circle of the buttons are lit up and a button gets pressed. Otherwise, the buttons will operate as stop request buttons, either inside or out. It's been a while, but I believe that the Flexities in Kitchener operate in the same way, other than not using the stop request system.

I would have assumed that the Finch cars would have operated on the same principle, but obviously, we know what happens when one assumes....

Dan

Why would an outside button ever need to act as a stop request? Can not the streetcar not distinguish between an inside or outside button? Or am I misunderstanding what you said?