[EYorker]

What does CN stand to gain from working on passenger rail projects? Why would they dedicate their own time, man power to working on this project? Is MX paying them? Is this a gesture of good will? Asking out of curiosity.

On corridors that are owned by their respective owners, the host railroad calls all the shots on construction in that corridor.

That's exactly how it works. Metrolinx tells CN to do something, they come to an agreement, and then CN sends them the bill. The interesting question (if anything) is whether CN just charges them the flat cost of labour and resources (so 0 profit - covering the costs), or if there is some sort of upcharge, and if so how much?

The Auditor General of Ontario issued a rather scathing report a number of years ago of Metrolinx and their host railroad construction billing practices.

Full report: https://www.auditor.on.ca/en/content/annualreports/arreports/en16/v1_309en16.pdf

Excerpt:

For contracts with CN and CP, Metrolinx does not do work to know that it is getting what it pays for: it does not verify charged costs; it does not ensure that charged costs are reasonable; when it requests that the parts on a project be new, and pays the cost of new parts (as opposed to less expensive recycled ones), it does not require that parts be checked to ensure that they are new. It has also been paying excessively high mark-up rates charged by CN for building new rails for Metrolinx (CN’s mark-up rates are specified on its invoices,while CP’s are not as clear).

 

[Bojaxs]

On corridors that are owned by their respective owners, the host railroad calls all the shots on construction in that corridor.


The Auditor General of Ontario issued a rather scathing report a number of years ago of Metrolinx and their host railroad construction billing practices.

Full report: https://www.auditor.on.ca/en/content/annualreports/arreports/en16/v1_309en16.pdf

Excerpt:

I read on this forum a while back that the UP express cost a lot of money to construct because CP charged MX "an arm & a leg" to construct the UP express/ Kitchener line, running parallel with the MActier. I'm assuming the stretch of track from Weston to the Junction.

 

[smallspy]

I read on this forum a while back that the UP express cost a lot of money to construct because CP charged MX "an arm & a leg" to construct the UP express/ Kitchener line, running parallel with the MActier. I'm assuming the stretch of track from Weston to the Junction.

CP had no involvement whatsoever with the construction of the UPX, other than having their tracks realigned for various projects and having them replaced after.

Dan

 

[Bojaxs]

CP had no involvement whatsoever with the construction of the UPX, other than having their tracks realigned for various projects and having them replaced after.

Dan

Which I imagine CPKC didn't want to do unless they were finacially compensated. This would have been incorporated into the cost of constructing UPX.

 

[crs1026]

Which I imagine CPKC didn't want to do unless they were finacially compensated. This would have been incorporated into the cost of constructing UPX.

By traditional rights, CPKC would have been responsible for the cost of maintaining the diamond at West Toronto, as its lines were built later (1873 TGB, and O&Q, 1884) than the line they crossed ( GTR, 1859). Plus, CP no doubt benefitted from grade separation from the GO Weston Sub. So they were not necessarily opposed to the West Toronto construction......but I'm sure they drove a hard bargain over its cost.

- Paul

 

[drum118]

Aug 23
All my photos for Confederation Station is now on line

Cross post
Sept 20

Ontario Line Updates: Queen Street Road Closure Next Weekend​

Below is the latest Metrolinx Ontario Line construction taking place in Ward 14, broken down by area. You can report any issues to Metrolinx 24/7 at 416-202-5100.

Visit my website for information on additional Ontario Line construction happening in Ward 14.

Rail Bridge & Corridor Construction

Queen Street Road Closure Next Weekend for New Bridge Installation
Starting at 9 p.m. on Friday, September 27th until 5 a.m. on Monday, September 30th, a portion of Queen will be closed to traffic and pedestrians to allow for the installation of a new rail bridge deck.

Overnight work will be required to complete the bridge girder installation, with more disruptive work taking place during the day.

No traffic or pedestrian access will be permitted beneath the Queen Street bridge between McGee and De Grassi during the road closure times listed above.

Access for residents and businesses (local traffic) will be maintained between Broadview and Logan. Only local traffic will be permitted on Empire. Traffic will be diverted both ways via Logan, Eastern, Broadview and Carlaw.

The 501 Queen streetcar will be replaced with buses from Thursday, September 26th to Monday, September 30th.

Noise from construction equipment including cranes, and hand tools, can be expected. Noise mitigation measures, including temporary noise barriers and noise reducing equipment, will be implemented as required.

Read Metrolinx's construction notice for more information.

 

[Allandale25]

 

[downtownordinary]

There's been a lot of visual progress on the Lakeshore East line near Queen Street E, with the upcoming closure noted above, retaining walls have been installed along the length of Jimmie Simpson and to the south of Queen as well. There are also supports going up for noise walls. Does anyone know if the noise walls are planned to be glass or panels? It seems unclear from the publicly available documents. Secondary question, will the noise walls continue on the bridge over Queen street?

 

[reinventingthewheel]

Does anyone know if the noise walls are planned to be glass or panels? It seems unclear from the publicly available documents.

Some of the transparent noise panels have been installed on the south side of the corridor’s east end, near Pape and Gerrard. These were installed early because the corridor is not widening any further to the south at that location. They are transparent but I don’t know the material and don’t have a photo.

Secondary question, will the noise walls continue on the bridge over Queen street?

There will be noise dampening but in the form of a grand station design, here’s hoping it’s not value engineered. See renders here.

For all interested, here are a couple photos I captured earlier at Eastern while waiting for construction vehicles to pass:

 

[Allandale25]

^ Is that 4.1 m height sign for the new span (raised up higher) or the old one? Looks like it may have been for the old one and they are reusing it for now.

From October 2023

 

[reinventingthewheel]

^ Is that 4.1 m height sign for the new span (raised up higher) or the old one? Looks like it may have been for the old one and they are reusing it for now.

From October 2023

View attachment 598347

Can’t say with confidence the new section looks higher but they need to keep the old clearance signage until they demolish the other half of the original bridge.

 

[Coolibop]

Some of the transparent noise panels have been installed on the south side of the corridor’s east end, near Pape and Gerrard. These were installed early because the corridor is not widening any further to the south at that location. They are transparent but I don’t know the material and don’t have a photo.

This article suggests acrylic. Can be cleaned with water + solvents, but unsure if they remain clear/transparent.

I've seen them all tagged while riding the UP express, and unsure what the point of these are if they are going to remain graffitied.

 

[generalcanada]

Aug 23
All my photos for Confederation Station is now on line

Cross post
Sept 20

Ontario Line Updates: Queen Street Road Closure Next Weekend​

Below is the latest Metrolinx Ontario Line construction taking place in Ward 14, broken down by area. You can report any issues to Metrolinx 24/7 at 416-202-5100.

Visit my website for information on additional Ontario Line construction happening in Ward 14.

Rail Bridge & Corridor Construction

Queen Street Road Closure Next Weekend for New Bridge Installation
Starting at 9 p.m. on Friday, September 27th until 5 a.m. on Monday, September 30th, a portion of Queen will be closed to traffic and pedestrians to allow for the installation of a new rail bridge deck.

Overnight work will be required to complete the bridge girder installation, with more disruptive work taking place during the day.

No traffic or pedestrian access will be permitted beneath the Queen Street bridge between McGee and De Grassi during the road closure times listed above.

Access for residents and businesses (local traffic) will be maintained between Broadview and Logan. Only local traffic will be permitted on Empire. Traffic will be diverted both ways via Logan, Eastern, Broadview and Carlaw.

The 501 Queen streetcar will be replaced with buses from Thursday, September 26th to Monday, September 30th.

Noise from construction equipment including cranes, and hand tools, can be expected. Noise mitigation measures, including temporary noise barriers and noise reducing equipment, will be implemented as required.

Read Metrolinx's construction notice for more information.

Queen East Service Diversion: Sept. 26 – Oct. 2

Metrolinx work at Queen and Degrassi Streets will require a street closure and diversion of transit service during installation of a new bridge deck for the Lake Shore East GO corridor. As part of …

stevemunro.ca

Followup from Munro about this

 

[Chris R.]

Switches, tracks are in place in Hamilton past West Harbour. I guess the rails are set beside the space and then are shifted over onto the railroad ties? I'm not incredibly familiar with the installation process.

 

[Bojaxs]

GO expansion work continues in downtown Newmarket from September 25 until mid-November

www.newmarket.ca