[crs1026]

So what caused all this and what is the solution?

Micro picture - likely some combination of super cold weather, equipment that is only just breaking in, perhaps maintenance staff stretched to the limit given the holiday season. Not really a surprise nor a significant issue as a one-of event in this season.

Macro picture - that's what can happen when one runs two way service on a single track railway with a minimal number of passing sidings. I did notice at least one meet at Kirby instead of Rutherford, so there is at least that flexibility to keep northbound trains close to schedule if a southbound train falls down. But the true solution is to continue adding track on this line. The recent double tracking project performed pretty well on schedule. So if more were contracted quickly, it could be here in three years. ML may not be on the shortest road, however. If this happens frequently, and becomes a general issue, ML can't say the risks were unforeseen or unavoidable.

- Paul

 

[TransitBart]

Micro picture - likely some combination of super cold weather, equipment that is only just breaking in, perhaps maintenance staff stretched to the limit given the holiday season. Not really a surprise nor a significant issue as a one-of event in this season.

Macro picture - that's what can happen when one runs two way service on a single track railway with a minimal number of passing sidings. I did notice at least one meet at Kirby instead of Rutherford, so there is at least that flexibility to keep northbound trains close to schedule if a southbound train falls down. But the true solution is to continue adding track on this line. The recent double tracking project performed pretty well on schedule. So if more were contracted quickly, it could be here in three years. ML may not be on the shortest road, however. If this happens frequently, and becomes a general issue, ML can't say the risks were unforeseen or unavoidable.

- Paul

I don’t think I realized that short of the Davenport Diamond that the rest of the double tracking would take three more years. There is plenty of room for regular foul ups along the way here. GO operations may be holding their breath regularly.

 

[crs1026]

I don’t think I realized that short of the Davenport Diamond that the rest of the double tracking would take three more years. There is plenty of room for regular foul ups along the way here. GO operations may be holding their breath regularly.

IIRC the contract for the recent doubletracking was awarded in 2015, and just got finished this year. That was under the old procurement strategy.
The RFQ for double tracking the rest of the line to Aurora (except for Davenport) went out in June 2017. The RFP is scheduled for "Winter 2018". It's going to be dicey to have that close before mid year. The Davenport RFQ was issued August 2017, no RFP on the horizon.

- Paul

 

[Allandale25]

I wonder if the third track between Bayview Junction and West Harbour would have helped avoid this service disruption today? Mark may know.

Disabled freight train caused long delays on Lakeshore West Tuesday morning
GO passengers experienced delays well over an hour this morning
CBC News Posted: Jan 02, 2018 9:28 AM ET Last Updated: Jan 02, 2018 9:30 AM ET

Go Transit says the freight train blocking tracks on the Lakeshore West line is now moving after causing severe delays earlier this morning.

The freight train was stopped just before West Harbour GO.

With the blocked tracks, the train was running from Aldershot station and GO buses were being used to transport people instead.

Six trains were impacted as a result, says Kim Johnson, media relations and issues specialist with Metrolinx. "What we're doing for our passengers is that we've enabled Go buses to pick up passengers to get them to their next destination point," said Johnson. Although the train has been removed, commuters are still experiencing slight delays.

 

[smallspy]

I wonder if the third track between Bayview Junction and West Harbour would have helped avoid this service disruption today? Mark may know.

It entirely depends on where the train broke down. That it affected trains from both Hamilton GO and West Harbour suggests that the train may have been fouling the plant(s) at Bayview and/or at Snake - and therefore no amount of additional track may have helped.

Dan
Toronto, Ont.

 

[crs1026]

It entirely depends on where the train broke down. That it affected trains from both Hamilton GO and West Harbour suggests that the train may have been fouling the plant(s) at Bayview and/or at Snake - and therefore no amount of additional track may have helped.

Better still. It was stalled across Hamilton Jct, routed to the "Cowpath" and onwards to Brantford.

So no, the new track would have been blocked also at Hamilton Jct.

- Paul

 

[Allandale25]

^ Any any talk of a grade separation here is years away or not part of any active plan, right?

 

[crs1026]

^ Any any talk of a grade separation here is years away or not part of any active plan, right?

Nothing has been announced officially, although some knowledgeable people say it is being planned.

I can't imagine that anyone would be in a hurry to tear up what is only just being finished. But stranger things have happened.

- Paul

 

[Allandale25]

^ Thanks!

 

[innsertnamehere]

My understanding is that Metrolinx looked at it in early RER planning, but it's got a pretty high pricetag. I think they are waiting to build it until RER service goes to Hamilton. Hourly service will make due without.

 

[dowlingm]

I find it interesting that CBC chose not to name the freight company involved, while posting tweets shelling GO.

 

[Allandale25]

I find it interesting that CBC chose not to name the freight company involved, while posting tweets shelling GO.

Good point. Maybe they didn't even bother asking?

 

[mdrejhon]

My understanding is that Metrolinx looked at it in early RER planning, but it's got a pretty high pricetag. I think they are waiting to build it until RER service goes to Hamilton. Hourly service will make due without.

Metrolinx intends to extend 15min electrified RER to Hamilton by year 2041, so that's the timeline a rail-to-rail grade separation will occur.

Hourly diesel RER will not have a grade separation.

 

[smallspy]

I find it interesting that CBC chose not to name the freight company involved, while posting tweets shelling GO.

GO has a long-standing rule that they will not name the host railway or publicly blame them for delays.

Dan
Toronto, Ont.

 

[Megaton327]

Maybe with Metrolinx owning more and more of the track they should change that policy...

They're getting fleeced badly enough by CN/CP per the recent auditor general's report. If you want them to keep on owning more and more track, it seems like a bad idea to throw gasoline into a fire.