Irishmonk
Senior Member
A lot of fantasy maps are nice to look at, but very few address the critical matter of Line 1 overcrowding--particularly between Eglinton and Union. I think the only solution to unclog that mess is a an express line connected to the old line 1 somewhere between Eglinton and Lawrence, then proceeding south, with stops at Eglinton, Bloor, Queen and Union. The line would jog west after Egg, and go underneath Bay St until it hits Union. An extension could turn east after Union with stops at QQ/Yonge, QQ Cherry, and terminate in the Portlands. (let's say 40 or 50 years from now)
Passengers who require the local stops between Egg and Union would transfer at Egg to the old Line 1.
It might not be possible to build this for another 3o years or so, but at that point the original Line 1 will be approx 90 years old. There's no way such an outdated line with tiny platforms and exits could still be the central spine for an immense system that serves 5-6 million people (when you add Vaughan, R-Hill, Markham and Missy to the mix) Eventually it'll have to be replaced or updated or something. An express Line 1 solves this problem. It might also be the only new line that could hit near capacity traffic volumes from day 1.
Rush hour travel time between Egg and Union would be reduced from 20-40 minutes to less than 10 minutes. The four new stations of phase 1 would have double sided platforms with headways of 1-2 minutes.
A premium fare might be required for those using the Express Line 1 to make it economical to build, but I doubt very many people going to the CBD would refuse the premium fare by transferring to the old crappy Line 1 with it's delays and general decrepitude.
I know it's an expensive pipedream that could cost 10 - 15 billion dollars, but what's the alternative? Better to start planning it sooner rather than later.
Passengers who require the local stops between Egg and Union would transfer at Egg to the old Line 1.
It might not be possible to build this for another 3o years or so, but at that point the original Line 1 will be approx 90 years old. There's no way such an outdated line with tiny platforms and exits could still be the central spine for an immense system that serves 5-6 million people (when you add Vaughan, R-Hill, Markham and Missy to the mix) Eventually it'll have to be replaced or updated or something. An express Line 1 solves this problem. It might also be the only new line that could hit near capacity traffic volumes from day 1.
Rush hour travel time between Egg and Union would be reduced from 20-40 minutes to less than 10 minutes. The four new stations of phase 1 would have double sided platforms with headways of 1-2 minutes.
A premium fare might be required for those using the Express Line 1 to make it economical to build, but I doubt very many people going to the CBD would refuse the premium fare by transferring to the old crappy Line 1 with it's delays and general decrepitude.
I know it's an expensive pipedream that could cost 10 - 15 billion dollars, but what's the alternative? Better to start planning it sooner rather than later.
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