[robmausser]

It all sounds very dissapointing. So many people will opt to use Uber instead of using these trains if they're as slow as many are claiming.
I was considering taking a trip up to Ottawa to check this out, but it doesn't sound worth it. Maybe I'll wait till the eastern extension of the Confederation line is completed.

Disappointing but easily fixable. At least every problem has a solution that is an add-on to the line, not a ripping up and starting fresh kind of thing

Hopefully soon they will decide to double track every segment possible and allow Line 4 to go straight down to Bayview, and allow a faster Line 2. Eventual electrification would solve the other issues.

 

[OCCheetos]

On the brand-new lines in the greenbelt they created several tight curves just to save a bit on construction costs even though they are in the middle of nowhere and there are no physical contrains. For example between Limebank and Bowesville trains are limited to 60 km/h halfway between stations, where they could otherwise be going 100 km/h.

- The maximum speed anywhere on the line is 80 km/h, even on the 4.8 km of dead-straight track between South Keys and Leitrim. OC Transpo's FLIRT trains are certified up to 120 km/h.

I don't think it's as obviously clear how much of a benefit a higher track speed would be in the southern extension, both because it is not the main bottleneck in end-to-end travel times or headways, and also because there are infill stations planned throughout that section anyway.

The "tight curve" exists because of the floodplain along Mosquito Creek.

 

[reaperexpress]

I don't think it's as obviously clear how much of a benefit a higher track speed would be in the southern extension, both because it is not the main bottleneck in end-to-end travel times or headways, and also because there are infill stations planned throughout that section anyway.

"The least significant item in this list is less significant than the other items in this list"

The "tight curve" exists because of the floodplain along Mosquito Creek.

If only there were some way for a railway to cross a floodplain...

Image by Matt Prosser

 

[Kyle Campbell]

"The least significant item in this list is less significant than the other items in this list"

If only there were some way for a railway to cross a floodplain...

Image by Matt Prosser

Given the expense of building that kind of bridge for minor benefit, it's not worth it. Removing the worst single track choke point at Walkley would be a far more useful use of that kind of money. And the curve really isn't that tight, it's nowhere near the kind of curves line 1 crawls through.

 

[Kyle Campbell]

It all sounds very dissapointing. So many people will opt to use Uber instead of using these trains if they're as slow as many are claiming.
I was considering taking a trip up to Ottawa to check this out, but it doesn't sound worth it. Maybe I'll wait till the eastern extension of the Confederation line is completed.

To be honest, it's better than I was expecting. The original plans and renderings were a masterclass in cheapness.. The stations, trains and experience ended up a fair bit better than that. It depends on what you use as a reference point. Line 2 operates like a frequent commuter rail line. It's got regional style trains, and runs far out into the hinterlands. If you look in it that light, it's quite pleasant compared to GO or Exo. If you compare it to a subway, then you'll be disappointed. It's just the terminus is too far to the west. As Lebreton fills in this will be less of an issue.

 

[reaperexpress]

Given the expense of building that kind of bridge for minor benefit, it's not worth it. Removing the worst single track choke point at Walkley would be a far more useful use of that kind of money. And the curve really isn't that tight, it's nowhere near the kind of curves line 1 crawls through.

You obviously don't need to build a huge viaduct for that tiny creek. You just need to make the bridge a bit longer (10%?) so it can cross the creek at an angle instead of making two 60 km/h curves to cross at 90 degrees.

Again, just because the curves are faster than an unacceptably slow line doesn't make them fast.

And building a wider radius curve in Limebank does not preclude double-tracking Walkley, which was already in my list.

 

[Diez Mil Cantos]

Just a few first day pics from Line 2

Airport/Aéroport Station

Installation at South Keys Station

View attachment 624077

 

[Kyle Campbell]

You obviously don't need to build a huge viaduct for that tiny creek. You just need to make the bridge a bit longer (10%?) so it can cross the creek at an angle instead of making two 60 km/h curves to cross at 90 degrees.

Again, just because the curves are faster than an unacceptably slow line doesn't make them fast.

And building a wider radius curve in Limebank does not preclude double-tracking Walkley, which was already in my list.

It would be quite a bit longer to avoid the flood plain. I mean sure, straighter would be nice, but of all the things where I would put money into Line 2 improvements, that's way down at the bottom of the list as a nice-to-have. There's way better bang for buck improvements elsewhere. Straightening it there would probably shave off all of a minute in travel time at best