Allandale25
Senior Member
^ More photos here as part of this post:
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Allandale25
Senior Member
crs1026
Superstar
FWIW I was in Edmonton this past week and had some opportunity to check out their LRT construction, and compare to the Crosstown.
My impression was that the Edmonton construction is even more disjointed than on Eglinton East, often being attacked on a block by block basis. One block would have track laid, but the next would not even be excavated, the next would be half complete, and so on.The construction method seemed to be to lay two separate track beds, leaving the median section bare earth and only pouring concrete in the median much later in the process.
Edmonton is working 7 days per week on the process, and (I was told) at night also. I did see portable lighting in spots. Much of the concrete work was being done under tenting.
One interesting touch was the erection of traditional crossbuck signage where tracks have been laid across roadways.... even though no track had been laid on either side of the crossing.
I had a peek at the elevated sections including the steelwork for one elevated station. Looked pretty nice - nothing for Torontonians to be averse to. Also noticed the steep climb up from the (a-building) river crossing. The Edmonton LRT spec calls for the ability to handle 6% gradients, so their Flexities must be capable of that.
Perhaps Toronto and Edmonton will end up with a friendly race to completion, similar to KW vs Ottawa.
- Paul
My impression was that the Edmonton construction is even more disjointed than on Eglinton East, often being attacked on a block by block basis. One block would have track laid, but the next would not even be excavated, the next would be half complete, and so on.The construction method seemed to be to lay two separate track beds, leaving the median section bare earth and only pouring concrete in the median much later in the process.
Edmonton is working 7 days per week on the process, and (I was told) at night also. I did see portable lighting in spots. Much of the concrete work was being done under tenting.
One interesting touch was the erection of traditional crossbuck signage where tracks have been laid across roadways.... even though no track had been laid on either side of the crossing.
I had a peek at the elevated sections including the steelwork for one elevated station. Looked pretty nice - nothing for Torontonians to be averse to. Also noticed the steep climb up from the (a-building) river crossing. The Edmonton LRT spec calls for the ability to handle 6% gradients, so their Flexities must be capable of that.
Perhaps Toronto and Edmonton will end up with a friendly race to completion, similar to KW vs Ottawa.
- Paul
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yrt+viva=1system
Senior Member
Not a good sign, hope the Crosstown won’t be facing these issues as well. Perhaps a sign that the Ontario Line should also be built as a traditional subway over whatever new bedazzling light rail technology.
Ottawa LRT:
https://www.google.ca/amp/s/ottawac...ays-hes-furious-with-poor-lrt-performance/amp
Ottawa LRT:
https://www.google.ca/amp/s/ottawac...ays-hes-furious-with-poor-lrt-performance/amp
cplchanb
Senior Member
Only in ontario do we actually manage to screw up a well established mode of transportation. It's not the LRTs problem. It's the poor management and execution of the contractors and operators. They are simply I'll prepared for real life operation. They are the problems not let itself. Europe has done these without major problems for decades.
Johnny Au
Superstar
When did Edmonton continue to use the American-style railway crossing signs?
MisterF
Senior Member
I don't know about this line specifically, but Edmonton's existing lines are treated like a railway, at least as far as driving is concerned. The train comes, crossing arms come down, and car traffic waits for the train (not the other way around). As a result, Edmonton's LRT truly functions as rapid transit, and trains don't stop at red lights.
Streety McCarface
Senior Member
That being said, part of the reason Ottawa's system management is so poor is that it's overcrowded during crush-loading peak periods. Had they gone with an established rolling stock technology (canada line-like stock for instance) for a line that clearly will only grow in ridership from here on out, door issues, crowding issues, and overall ride quality wouldn't be as low as it has been.
Even though people are mainly to blame for the short term debacle, technology still has its influence, and will likely only become more influential as operations improve and ridership grows. Let's hope Metrolinx remembers to plan for the future for the OL, and not build a constrained system.
Rainforest
Senior Member
Perhaps that's not an Ontario problem, but rather an Ottawa problem? Their transit authorities just didn't have a chance to learn how to operate an LRT system, yet. Give them a year or two, and they will be fine.
Not to say that TTC is a perfect system, but they typically don't allow massive SNAFUs on the core lines, except for occasional / short emergency periods.
felix123
Active Member
I agree with the sentiment on the whole, but in this case, it really is a European problem. The Alstom trains are shite. After they caused severe delays to the delivery of the Bombardier Azur in Montréal, it's a wonder Alstom isn't more detested here.
Steve X
Senior Member
I believe if they just take the alstom trams from France, they'll do a lot better than these modified for Canada trains except they'll freeze over in the winter. Hopefully they'll get the manufacturing run this time around as assemble moves to Brampton.
It is also important to realize that parts manufacture play an important role. It's easy to point to Alstom and BBD and say their trains are junk but in fact it could be the door supplier that is junk. It happens that the Toronto Rockets, Flexitys and Alstom Spirits all suffers from door issues.
Admiral Beez
Superstar
When is the Eglinton Crosstown expected to be completed? I drive every day from downtown east to Bathurst and Eglinton to enter the Allen Expressway.
Monarch Butterfly
Superstar
Richard White
Senior Member
That sounds right. Kennedy Station is nowhere near complete at this point.
Neutrino
Senior Member
*2022 (maybe)