There is *absolutely no way* they are going to hit their early December target. Not a hope in hell...
Granted... but overall this project has proceeded smoothly without incidents or challenges. I presume it's on or close to budget. As ML projects go, this one is the best of the bunch and well worth celebrating as a success. And maybe a precedent for Toronto, in that elevated construction arguably proved far less intrusive than some feared.
The bigger concern is that this project is only one piece in the puzzle.
Until ML completes double tracking from Dundas down to Strachan, and north of Lawrence to Downsview Park, and from Maple to Rutherford, and maybe Davenport to Lawrence there is no potential for increased headways.
There is no urgency for ML to move off the diamond so long as the service plan doesn't add more trains (CP may feel otherwise, but they are managing OK under the current service plan).
And then there is the promise to not increase trains per day until electrification happens.
And then there is the plan to add two new stations (Bloor and Caledonia) - construction conflicts may be a reason to not bump up service until they are built.
Similar to the 401/409 tunnel, it's great to put a "complete" tick mark next to this project, but that doesn't buy much yet.
Until all these other things fall into place, ML is not in any position to deliver 2WAD Maybe Santa could bring ML some Gantt Chart software for Christmas. Lots of bragging, lots of press releases, not much transparency or sense of reality about managing the overall critical path.
- Paul