[DirectionNorth]

If it was a single project that was delayed, then I'd look at the contractor. Most major projects Metrolinx does are non-trivially delayed OR scope changes [components are moved to a future project] to meet the schedule.

I understand the whole promise fast&cheap to get political buy-in then apologize later; but you don't sue the vendor when playing those games.

Of course you can sue the vendor, that's half the political game of overpromising on timelines. Got to keep the public image up and "demand accountability for stiffing the public" (if I were a politician like that, I'd exile myself to Paraguay out of shame).

When you make that a pattern, don't expect contractors to put up with the stink without charging a premium for that risk and/or certainty. Litigation, after all, is a/one of many contributor(s) to our very high transit costs ...

 

[JJTheJetPln]

.Just found it interesting because it has the name "PNR Railworks".

View attachment 681411

So there have been dedicated rail companies that have been going around the "trouble" areas of the project and providing guidance, or straight up doing the work themselves.

@drum118 actually came across a separate company doing similar work on Topflight a few comments back.

I think moving forward on projects like this, construction consortiums really should have a dedicated rail company to provide guidance on how rails/ties should be installed so we're not ripping and replacing things unnecessarily.

 

[smallspy]

When you make that a pattern, don't expect contractors to put up with the stink without charging a premium for that risk and/or certainty.

This is absolutely a thing. Many companies build in a "Metrolinx Tax" when bidding on their tenders.

Dan

 

[urbancog]

Hopefully they will correctly align the track here before concreting!

 

[drum118]

I needed to get my steps in, so went on a little walk to get different angles. Not sure if any work has been done since my last pics, but at least a different view.

Facing South from Central Parkway
View attachment 681405View attachment 681406View attachment 681407View attachment 681408

Facing North from Fairview

View attachment 681409View attachment 681410

Random Construction Vehicle.Just found it interesting because it has the name "PNR Railworks".

View attachment 681411

Facing North from John Street

View attachment 681412View attachment 681413

The only thing I see different from your shots and mine is all the ties are in place for the north track with rail on them. Also as expected, work has started on the southbound track. expect work will shift to the south side of Fairview once the soithbound track is in place.

As for PNR doing the track work, it looks like Mobilinx has abandoned the Portuguese team they were bring over to do the work as well train local personnel how to do the work. Don't know if they are doing a section of the line or will be doing all the remaining work. it would be interesting to know if any of those Portuguese workers still are in Canada after spending the first bitter cold winter here as well the culture change.

OWS is doing not only Topflight trackwork but also the OMSF trackwork that will be fully rebuilt by the end of September with Topflight in October.

Nothing has taken place on the Cooksville station in months other than the work at the north end of the platform area.

View attachment 681519
Hopefully they will correctly align the track here before concreting!

Yes more work will take place to correct it before the rails are splice. Once the rails are splice, form work will take place to anchor the ties in place abd give that nice looking curve.

 

[drum118]

Sept 16
Had some free time before some meeting and took a look at the north corridor starting at Fairview. Other than the Fairview and Central Pkwy work, the corridor is still DOA up to the 407 with a few spots as follow. The 403 road bridge has the centre area tore up as well the ends. Backfilling of the north is underway with police on site with no work for the guideway. BOTT crews are doing some roadwork between Britannia and the 401 east off ramp with a trench beside the guideway.

Crew bracing the two forms for a restraining wall at Derry station so concrete can be pour for them. Two man crew on a lift were working on the south-west corner of the station shelter and no idea what they were doing. First time since January 2024 or was 2023 seen someone working on that shelter.

All the concrete for the northbound track at Kingsway north where traffic has to shift has been torn up including the anchor base. Cannot do anymore work until traffic is back in the northbound lanes with the intersection close off. I expect the southbound track will see the same thing.

More concrete has been dug up for Topflight intersection with more rail in place with a crew preparing some rails joints to be splice. The intersection may open in October as the northbound two lanes have been repaved up to the 407 eastbound ramp along with curb in place other than the bus driveway area.

Major concrete pour underway for the Inbound track to the OMSF with form work in place for the outbound track to be pour. It will be a three section pour. Close to 2 dozen personnel on site if not more. Because of the hydro overhead, the sump boom was flat out to do the pour, Both Topflight and the OMSF work being done by another contractor.

Photos will be on line Wednesday now I am caught up on everything.

Because I was getting annoyed with photos and making too many comments at once, I bit the bullet and decided to add a flickr link with the full resolution photos.

HMLRT Photos

Photos of the HMLRT

flic.kr

Brampton has been pretty unremarkable in this regard. I decided that taking a video would be much better than multiple photos.

Great shot showing no work has taken place in a month and better than doing photo shots. Should do one from the 407 bridge including it to Derry as well the OMSF tracks if possible. Even one for the 403 wye area and getting Hurontario on the northside.

 

[JJTheJetPln]

Great shot showing no work has taken place in a month and better than doing photo shots. Should do one from the 407 bridge including it to Derry as well the OMSF tracks if possible. Even one for the 403 wye area and getting Hurontario on the northside.

I wanted to get some aerial video of the OMSF but unfortunately it's a no fly zone due to vicinity of the airport. I was prompted by my drone to exit immediately. The geofence is completely different than what I've seen on the drone map for flying.

I'll have to evaluate the other options as well to see if there's any viability in doing video in other areas. As it stands right now, I really do want to do a flyby of the entirety of the line, but that may prove to be more trickier than I'm anticipating.

 

[drum118]

I wanted to get some aerial video of the OMSF but unfortunately it's a no fly zone due to vicinity of the airport. I was prompted by my drone to exit immediately. The geofence is completely different than what I've seen on the drone map for flying.

I'll have to evaluate the other options as well to see if there's any viability in doing video in other areas. As it stands right now, I really do want to do a flyby of the entirety of the line, but that may prove to be more trickier than I'm anticipating.

I knew the OMFS was a no fly zone but not sure if the tracks leading to it was.

No idea what the speed of the drone is and if one can be control from a moving vehicle while someone was doing the driving to do the full corridor in one video..The only option to do the full corridor is in sections based on how far you can go from a loction.

Any video of the corridor is better than none as well tie in the ground photos.

 

[drum118]

Sept 16
More up on my sit not only for the day but up to that date since June

This weekend is the Taste of Cooksville with Dundas construction interferring with it.
Sept14
Hydro installing new poles at the North Service Rd

Queensway Station

One of the last OS pole support being vacuum for the hole At Englewood Area

Sept 16
OMSF tracks formed with Concrete being poured for Inbound track as a 3 phase pour

Northbound lane and ramp to the 407 paved with curb on both side of the bus driveway

More Track installed with crew preparing to splice rail at the main diamond

All Concrete removed at Kingsway intersection for northbound track

No idea what been done on the completed side of Derry Station

Derry Station restraining wall that is formed and being brace for concrete pour

Sept

 

[Dan416]

The signage reminds me of the Union station signage. I guess they're both the Metrolinx standard.

 

[JJTheJetPln]

Assuming this is where one of the high voltage electrical stations are going to go. This is northbound before the provincial courthouse.

 

[drum118]

View attachment 682150

Assuming this is where one of the high voltage electrical stations are going to go. This is northbound before the provincial courthous

Noticed it on Aug 3 and was poured on Aug 26 when I walked by it and did not shoot it

Finally shot the one at Britannia on the 16th as well

 

[Dan416]

Not an extensive photo shoot, just on my walk home today. But they have started the things that the rails will sit on top of between Fairview and the CP railway.

I find it interesting they are doing this section, when Fairview itself still hasn't had the tracks installed at that intersection yet.

It is, however, nice to see actual work taking place. I don't know why this didn't happen, oh I dunno, in the summer.

 

[Tim MacDonald]

And the stretch between south service rd and Mineola sits untouched....
week
after
week
after
week.
;(

 

[drum118]

And the stretch between south service rd and Mineola sits untouched....
week
after
week
after
week.
;(

Cannot be touch until commutation wires are remove from poles that need to be remove and relocated to open the southbound curb lane as well the northbound poles with hydro installing new poles on the east side to allow building of the new northbound lane.

It been said some work will happen this year with hudro doing work in 2026 and all hydro.being completed in 2027 for the whole corridor.

Was ecpecting ties being installed south of Fairview after the Centreal Pkwy-Fairview was done. Now!, how long will it be before forming of the tracks take place to pour the concrete in place for the ties leaveing the tracks exposed?? Then, when will the guideway be built in 2 phases for the Fairview intersection and will it happen before King and Dundas intersections that were to be done months ago??