Amare
Senior Member
Another fun fact, there are still tracks (albeit not streetcar tracks) lodged in right at Yonge and Queens Quay. There's interesting history on that in and of itself.
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- Thread starter wolfewood
- Start date
micheal_can
Senior Member
What is that history?
Amare
Senior Member
The Toronto Harbour Commission built tracks along Queens Quay from the CPR’s freight yard north of Fleet Street (around Fort York) to CN’s Don Yard just west of the Don River. CN didnt want the TTC to operate streetcars between Fleet St and the Portland area so they deliberately installed trackage in way such that the TTC wouldnt be able to operate in.
Good history piece here:
And here:
micheal_can
Senior Member
Thank you for that. I knew Toronto was a working port, but I never envisioned so much railway infrastructure along the shore.
drum118
Superstar
There used to be a ramp from GO Bathurst North yard area that went up to Spadina Ave and crossover it and Front St to that triangle parking lot area where a yard was for picking up good from them or putting goods on them. I remember seeing tracks on QQ after service ended for their needs until they were removed to Redpath which know have been removed to Parliament.
DSC
Superstar
There is
Thee is a huge amount on the old freight branch lines at https://urbantoronto.ca/forum/threads/maps-of-torontos-old-rail-lines.25310/
drum118
Superstar
July 19
The contractor that some hate doing various project should wrap up their work on King St from Dufferin to Shaw by the end of the month. Depending on when work will move from Shaw to Strachan, it will be done before the September date.
The only work for trackwork is waiting for TTC to install the westbound rails for the King underpass. Eastbound rails waiting for concrete to be pour. Some road rebuilt at Sudbury is waiting concrete pouring. A strip beside the tracks have been mill the full route and waiting to be pave, but the city needs to look at repaving both lanes 100% as a lot of areas in rough shape.
TTC has started to place new brackets on the support wire that will support a new style of hanger with the current line been moved to the road area. TTC is building the new Dufferin intersection on top of the old one and not finished yet. Fail to look Shaw intersection to see if any work has started on the overhead and expect not since the 504 is detouring by Shaw in the first place.
More up on my site in 4 locations for the day.
The contractor that some hate doing various project should wrap up their work on King St from Dufferin to Shaw by the end of the month. Depending on when work will move from Shaw to Strachan, it will be done before the September date.
The only work for trackwork is waiting for TTC to install the westbound rails for the King underpass. Eastbound rails waiting for concrete to be pour. Some road rebuilt at Sudbury is waiting concrete pouring. A strip beside the tracks have been mill the full route and waiting to be pave, but the city needs to look at repaving both lanes 100% as a lot of areas in rough shape.
TTC has started to place new brackets on the support wire that will support a new style of hanger with the current line been moved to the road area. TTC is building the new Dufferin intersection on top of the old one and not finished yet. Fail to look Shaw intersection to see if any work has started on the overhead and expect not since the 504 is detouring by Shaw in the first place.
More up on my site in 4 locations for the day.
drum118
Superstar
Upgrades to TTC streetcar power system on Queens Quay and Fleet Street start Sept. 3
August 23, 2024
Starting Sept. 3, the TTC will begin modernizing the streetcar power network on Queens Quay and Fleet St. Spanning almost three kilometres between the Harbourfront Tunnel and Strachan Ave., the project will involve the replacement and reconfiguration of overhead wires, as well as upgrades to the underground power systems along the corridor.
The approximately four-month project will be completed in stages, involving changes to streetcar service and the use of bus replacements. As part of the plan, harbourfront streetcars will be restored for Taylor Swift concert dates in November, with increased service on multiple routes to accommodate an influx of visitors to Toronto.
When complete early next year, streetcars along Queens Quay and Fleet St. will use an optimized and improved pantograph overhead contact system that is fully compatible with the TTC’s modern and growing fleet, enhancing the reliability of service along the waterfront. This work is part of a larger power upgrade program that included work on Spadina and St. Clair avenues this year.
“As a city, we are investing over $200 million to expand the TTC’s fleet of fully accessible low-floor streetcars,” said Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow. “The work being done along Queens Quay and Fleet Street is integral to ensuring that the right infrastructure is in place to run these streetcars, and to deliver a safe and reliable TTC service for many years to come.”
“While there will be some short-term adjustments for riders who use the Queens Quay streetcar, the modernization work is essential for ensuring a more reliable and efficient service,” said TTC Chair Jamaal Myers. “As we expand the TTC’s fleet of new, low-floor streetcars to meet the needs of a growing ridership, these upgrades are crucial for maintaining a high level of service along the waterfront.”
“Thanks to the configuration of the Queens Quay streetcar right-of-way, eastbound replacement buses on part of the route can operate there, maintaining more consistent travel times,” said TTC CEO Rick Leary. “I want to acknowledge and thank the hardworking TTC crews and engineers who will be working day and night to ensure this project is completed quickly and with minimal disruption. We certainly appreciate the understanding and patience of our customers during this period of necessary upgrades.”
The first stage of the work, between the Harbourfront Tunnel and Spadina Ave. will start on Tues., Sep. 3 until early October. During this time buses will replace 509 Harbourfront streetcars between Union Station and Exhibition Place. Eastbound buses will operate within the Queens Quay streetcar right-of-way from Spadina Ave. to York St., while westbound buses will serve curbside stops. At Union Station, customers will take the 509 Harbourfront replacement buses at street stops located on Bay St. at Front St.
The second stage of work will commence in early October. This stage will focus on completing the upgrades between Spadina Ave. and Bathurst St. During this period, 509 Harbourfront streetcar service will be restored between Union Station and Spadina Ave. A modified branch of 510 Spadina replacement buses will be extended west, and serve stops between Spadina Ave. and Exhibition Place.
Beginning in November through early 2025, a third stage of work will complete overhead work west of Bathurst St. along Fleet Street. During this phase of work, 509 Harbourfront streetcar service will continue to operate between Union Station and Spadina Ave., and 511 Bathurst streetcars will be extended to run along Queens Quay to Union Station.
A project page with information and updates is available at https://www.ttc.ca/about-the-ttc/projects-and-plans/Queens-Quay---overhead-upgrades
August 23, 2024
Starting Sept. 3, the TTC will begin modernizing the streetcar power network on Queens Quay and Fleet St. Spanning almost three kilometres between the Harbourfront Tunnel and Strachan Ave., the project will involve the replacement and reconfiguration of overhead wires, as well as upgrades to the underground power systems along the corridor.
The approximately four-month project will be completed in stages, involving changes to streetcar service and the use of bus replacements. As part of the plan, harbourfront streetcars will be restored for Taylor Swift concert dates in November, with increased service on multiple routes to accommodate an influx of visitors to Toronto.
When complete early next year, streetcars along Queens Quay and Fleet St. will use an optimized and improved pantograph overhead contact system that is fully compatible with the TTC’s modern and growing fleet, enhancing the reliability of service along the waterfront. This work is part of a larger power upgrade program that included work on Spadina and St. Clair avenues this year.
“As a city, we are investing over $200 million to expand the TTC’s fleet of fully accessible low-floor streetcars,” said Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow. “The work being done along Queens Quay and Fleet Street is integral to ensuring that the right infrastructure is in place to run these streetcars, and to deliver a safe and reliable TTC service for many years to come.”
“While there will be some short-term adjustments for riders who use the Queens Quay streetcar, the modernization work is essential for ensuring a more reliable and efficient service,” said TTC Chair Jamaal Myers. “As we expand the TTC’s fleet of new, low-floor streetcars to meet the needs of a growing ridership, these upgrades are crucial for maintaining a high level of service along the waterfront.”
“Thanks to the configuration of the Queens Quay streetcar right-of-way, eastbound replacement buses on part of the route can operate there, maintaining more consistent travel times,” said TTC CEO Rick Leary. “I want to acknowledge and thank the hardworking TTC crews and engineers who will be working day and night to ensure this project is completed quickly and with minimal disruption. We certainly appreciate the understanding and patience of our customers during this period of necessary upgrades.”
The first stage of the work, between the Harbourfront Tunnel and Spadina Ave. will start on Tues., Sep. 3 until early October. During this time buses will replace 509 Harbourfront streetcars between Union Station and Exhibition Place. Eastbound buses will operate within the Queens Quay streetcar right-of-way from Spadina Ave. to York St., while westbound buses will serve curbside stops. At Union Station, customers will take the 509 Harbourfront replacement buses at street stops located on Bay St. at Front St.
The second stage of work will commence in early October. This stage will focus on completing the upgrades between Spadina Ave. and Bathurst St. During this period, 509 Harbourfront streetcar service will be restored between Union Station and Spadina Ave. A modified branch of 510 Spadina replacement buses will be extended west, and serve stops between Spadina Ave. and Exhibition Place.
Beginning in November through early 2025, a third stage of work will complete overhead work west of Bathurst St. along Fleet Street. During this phase of work, 509 Harbourfront streetcar service will continue to operate between Union Station and Spadina Ave., and 511 Bathurst streetcars will be extended to run along Queens Quay to Union Station.
A project page with information and updates is available at https://www.ttc.ca/about-the-ttc/projects-and-plans/Queens-Quay---overhead-upgrades
Amare
Senior Member
This is just getting comical at this point. So pretty much transit south of King street between Strachan and Yonge will be completely useless until 2025. Then combine the already disaster traffic in the area, absolute fantastic stuff here.
lead82
Senior Member
You are optimistic. Transit won’t be fixed by 2025. The traffic on Lakeshore seems to be a permanent mess now.
Jaye101
Active Member
The 512 Streetcar is now 24h starting Sept. 1!
nfitz
Superstar
It has been since the end of July hasn't it? Looking at last night, cars 4522 and 4430 were running every 30 minutes on route 312.
All I'm seeing for September is a service increase from 30 minutes to 20 minutes.
Jaye101
Active Member
Yes, it has apparently. I think this is the first we’re ever seeing 24h streetcar service on the route.
An overnight Bathurst streetcar to St Clair would be *chefs kiss.
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smallspy
Senior Member
Absolutely not.
St. Clair has had 24 hour service since well before the launch of the Blue Night network in 1987. And streetcars ran the service until 2000, when they switched to buses in order to allow for the night route to be extended to Jane Station.
Unfortunately that is unlikely to happen for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is that there is already an overnight bus service running the length of Bathurst from Steeles to the Ex.
Dan
nfitz
Superstar
Though the new 303 streetcar almost remains 100% duplicated by the 322, 301, and 304. They even kept the 322 service on Kingston Road to Bingham Loop, despite the 22 now terminating at Eastern and Queen.
But yeah, unlikely to see an overnight Bathurst car. At the same time, I didn't expect the 303 either.