ShonTron
Moderator
Route 25C, without being on the official schedule, may just be an “as needed” operation when passenger loads are high. Which I’m sure they are these days with classes back in person.
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The view from the future Northern Platform will be nice, whenever the station finally starts construction... *sigh*
Also enjoy a view of part of the southern platform in frame.
View attachment 392482
What's the point of any train station building? A sheltered place to wait for your train, buy tickets, get directions, use the bathroom, park your bike, etc... plus there will be a community event space.I'm starting to wonder what's the point of the new building. The work they're (hopefully) doing next year will provide the platform and bus loops. A couple ramps down to the LRT and what more is really needed for the station to actually work?
I'm kinda wondering if it (or a least $95M of it) is basically just a vanity project.
The existing station fulfills this need just fine.What's the point of any train station building? A sheltered place to wait for your train, buy tickets, get directions, use the bathroom, park your bike, etc... plus there will be a community event space.
The fact that the Region conveniently intends to use the homeless encampment at Victoria / Weber as staging grounds for a $95 million train station to be located in an empty field two blocks away is a true testament to the priorities of our politicians. Vanity project indeed.I'm kinda wondering if it (or a least $95M of it) is basically just a vanity project.
It's almost a 10-minute walk from the current GO Station to the Ion stop on King Street. It was bad enough years ago trying to do this with luggage from the VIA station to the stop for the 7 bus. But now you can't even walk off the end of the platform at Weber Street, and have to walk down to Victoria, half-way between Ahrens and Weber.The existing station fulfills this need just fine.
But are they? And $104m worth?but to have the waiting area, staff rooms, washrooms, ticketing, and circulation area required
It is a bit wasteful, but no doubt having the LRT properly connect to GO is a significant advantage for riders.
The existing station fulfills this need just fine.
We need to clearly distinguish the two phases of the project. Phase 1 (under construction) is highlighted in Yellow and Blue in the below image. Phase 2 (proposed) is in green.I'm starting to wonder what's the point of the new building. The work they're (hopefully) doing next year will provide the platform and bus loops. A couple ramps down to the LRT and what more is really needed for the station to actually work?
I'm kinda wondering if it (or a least $95M of it) is basically just a vanity project.
Phase 2 is absolutely important to get underway. Waterloo should have a proper entrance to the Region, and have superior passenger amenities. The importance of this station will only increase as London GO service ramps up, with people arriving from both east and west.We need to clearly distinguish the two phases of the project. Phase 1 (under construction) is highlighted in Yellow and Blue in the below image. Phase 2 (proposed) is in green.
Phase 1 will cost $43 Million and will include the new Central station's two rail platforms, a pedestrian tunnel under the tracks at Waterloo Street (incl. stairs and elevators), a bicycle bridge across King Street, a 5-bay bus terminal and a parking lot which is a placeholder for future development. The new station is planned to begin service in Fall 2023, at which point the current Kitchener station will be permanently closed.
It is absolutely essential because a second platform is required to support the planned all-day service pattern. It would be stupid to spend money building a pedestrian tunnel and second platform at the existing station, when that station is severly hampered by its lack of connection to the light rail line, its poor pedestrian access and its tiny 2-bay bus terminal. Especially when the Region already owns the land for the new station and has been focusing development toward it for over a decade.
This phase is being built very modestly, with basic pedestrian tunnels, standard bus roadways etc. The only element of this phase which could be considered excessive is the bicycle bridge across King Street, since the bike path will end at the station anyway and it wouldn't be that unreasonable to end the path on the west side of King, provide bike parking there, and use the existing platform along the rail bridge as a walkway.
Phase 2 is estimated to cost $63M and will add the station building and landscaping. It is currently on hold due to lack of funding. This is the portion which could be described as a vanity project, since the station would technically work fine with just a basic building with a ticket office and waiting area, rather than an imposing structure with high ceilings. The station would also work fine if the remainder of the site is left as a barren patch of grass, instead of turning it into a public plaza.
However, I'd like to point out that it is typical for a city's central station to be built with more than just the bare minimum, because it is a representation of the city and can have a significant effect on civic pride and redevelopment potential of the surrounding area.
Does Union Station really need an 88-foot ceiling in the entrance hall?
Image by Michael Caven via Wikimedia
Did the current Kitchener station really need a tower? Apparently not, given that CN removed it in 1966.
Schenectady station technically worked fine when it was just a shack.
Image by Benjamin Turon via Wikimedia
But there is a reason that it was totally rebuilt in 2018.
Image from Daily Gazette | Image by Rich Coffey
Thanks for posting this, It''s very much phase 2 I was talking about, as you said, phase one is clearly critical. Where did you get this info from, I've been looking and couldn't find it, hence my wildly inaccurate assumption the split was like 10/95. (I also hadn't realized they were putting the pedestrian tunnel in in phase, I figured they'd keep costs down and go with a level crossing.We need to clearly distinguish the two phases of the project