Union Pearson Express

[rollsign29]

Regarding the Eglinton/Black Creek GO Station's future, having seen the ROW grading from the Rogers Road bridge this past week, the rails are being laid in a way that there will be room for one centre platform between the 2nd and 3rd tracks, and then presumably side platforms on the N and S side.

- Josh

[crs1026]

They are equipped with standard FRA/APTA couplers, so I have no idea why they needed idlers unless the railways down there require them to separate occupied units from DIT ones.

Dan

Could be differences in the air brakes, or lack of self-aligning draft gear, or any number of things I guess.

Looking at photos on line, the cars appear to have a "normal" configuration of MU and/or HEP connectors. (Evil grin) I guess that means they could be unpaired and redeployed as cab cars on standard GO trains someday..... ;-)

- Paul

[Shaun]

I think the HEP voltage would be different. GO Uses a different voltage than standard railways. So that means even if used as a cab car it would need to provide it's own HEP.

[nfitz]

(OK now I'm ranting) Can you say "Metrolinx' and 'experts' in the same sentence? The absence of a UPE stop at Mount Dennis, to connect to the Crosstown, is a travesty....and that's all within the same agency so ought to be easily planned and approved.

The Eglinton line station at Mount Dennis (and connecting GO station) isn't expected to open for at least 6 years - probably closer to 8. What's the point of building a UPE stop there now.

Metrolinx has already said that the new GO station will be designed and constructed to allow for a UPE stop. What more do you want?

I'm really don't understand the basis of this complaint.

[skyfirenet]

Could be differences in the air brakes, or lack of self-aligning draft gear, or any number of things I guess.

Then again, it could be something as simple as "don't scratch the paint."

[crs1026]

The Eglinton line station at Mount Dennis (and connecting GO station) isn't expected to open for at least 6 years - probably closer to 8. What's the point of building a UPE stop there now.

Metrolinx has already said that the new GO station will be designed and constructed to allow for a UPE stop. What more do you want?

I'm really don't understand the basis of this complaint.

Is the commitment to build this station officially documented somewhere? if it is, then I have no issue. My original point was that the best I can find is "under consideration".....which in transit politics is little better than a "maybe". Six years can pass pretty quickly and if approvals, assessments, funding etc are not locked up good and early then there is good reason to fear that it might not be ready on time.

- Paul

[nfitz]

Is the commitment to build this station officially documented somewhere? if it is, then I have no issue. My original point was that the best I can find is "under consideration".....which in transit politics is little better than a "maybe". Six years can pass pretty quickly and if approvals, assessments, funding etc are not locked up good and early then there is good reason to fear that it might not be ready on time.

The commitment to construction the new GO station to allow for the addition of a UPE platform has been officially documented (check out the Metrolinx consultation on the Mount Dennis node). I'm not aware of an environmental assessment being done yet for the GO station, let alone modifying the future GO station. Environmental assessments for new GO stations don't tend to be complex or lengthy. I'm not even sure it's necessary for simply modifying the platform height, or extending it a few metres.

[Articulated]

The commitment to construction the new GO station to allow for the addition of a UPE platform has been officially documented (check out the Metrolinx consultation on the Mount Dennis node). I'm not aware of an environmental assessment being done yet for the GO station, let alone modifying the future GO station. Environmental assessments for new GO stations don't tend to be complex or lengthy. I'm not even sure it's necessary for simply modifying the platform height, or extending it a few metres.

An EA would not be required for any changes to an existing platform. EAs are only required for the construction of new infrastructure (it's an Assessment of something that would cause impact to the Environment). Repaving an existing road or platform would not trigger an EA because it's not creating anything new or modifying the environment further than what's already been done. Widening an existing road, or twinning an existing rail corridor does trigger an EA.

[dowlingm]

On Amtrak Unlimited, there is a thread about the DMUs running on Metra rails for dynamic testing. One poster claims to have operated the DMUs on test:

http://discuss.amtraktrains.com/index.php?/topic/60872-metra-dmu-test/page-2

"The hydraulic transmission is far too complicated. The UPE DMUs were impressive when they were working properly, but all 3 days the transmissions were giving us problems- not shifting into gear when moving from a stop, as well as dropping out of gear when moving. It's FAR too complicated of a system if you ask me."

[smallspy]

On Amtrak Unlimited, there is a thread about the DMUs running on Metra rails for dynamic testing. One poster claims to have operated the DMUs on test:

http://discuss.amtraktrains.com/index.php?/topic/60872-metra-dmu-test/page-2

"The hydraulic transmission is far too complicated. The UPE DMUs were impressive when they were working properly, but all 3 days the transmissions were giving us problems- not shifting into gear when moving from a stop, as well as dropping out of gear when moving. It's FAR too complicated of a system if you ask me."

Well, whatever he claims the problems were, I suppose that they resolved them. The first pair is scheduled to arrive in Toronto this weekend.

Dan

[GM5000]

Well, whatever he claims the problems were, I suppose that they resolved them. The first pair is scheduled to arrive in Toronto this weekend.

Dan

Sarnia 0847 on CN Q148

[Allandale25]

smallspy, on 14 Aug 2014 - 09:17 AM, said:

Well, whatever he claims the problems were, I suppose that they resolved them. The first pair is scheduled to arrive in Toronto this weekend.

Dan

Sarnia 0847 on CN Q148

So it arrived in Sarnia today on CN Q148 or that's when it comes through over the weekend?

[smallspy]

So it arrived in Sarnia today on CN Q148 or that's when it comes through over the weekend?

Sarnia today at 8.47am. It will arrive at MacMillian Yard this afternoon (provided things don't go all pear-shaped on CN).

From there, it'll take a couple of days to get to Willowbrook.

Dan

[GM5000]

on tail end of Q148, past MP30 Halton 15:00

[D. DeLarge]

on tail end of Q148, past MP30 Halton 15:00

Someone else also got some today...!

http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=15999

[dowlingm]

Well, whatever he claims the problems were, I suppose that they resolved them. The first pair is scheduled to arrive in Toronto this weekend.

Dan

Either that or they weren't serious enough that they couldn't be fixed in Toronto post-arrival.

[TomW]

Someone else also got some today...!

http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=15999

I'm getting a '70s vibe from the colours... or is that just me?

[lip]

I'm getting a '70s vibe from the colours... or is that just me?

That's pretty much what Metrolinx's new scheme is all about. It's a way of trying to remind people about the heyday of transit planning and construction that occured during the 70's/80's.

[D. DeLarge]

That's pretty much what Metrolinx's new scheme is all about. It's a way of trying to remind people about the heyday of transit planning and construction that occured during the 70's/80's.

Hopefully they didn't pay any consultants to develop it. You could probably come up with that livery in the bathroom after a night of hard drinking...

[dowlingm]

Winkreative doesn't come cheap, I'm guessing. They did so much better with Porter.

[skyfirenet]

Hopefully they didn't pay any consultants to develop it. You could probably come up with that livery in the bathroom after a night of hard drinking...

I'm just wondering what was wrong with using GTAA or GO Transit colours.

[dowlingm]

They want to separate UPX from GO, brand wise. Presumably marketing produced a glossy report about all the negative things people associate with GO.

Edit: Heathrow Express is operated by a division of the airport operator. In Toronto we let the public build it and the airport tax it.

[skyfirenet]

They want to separate UPX from GO, brand wise. Presumably marketing produced a glossy report about all the negative things people associate with GO.

That still doesn't explain why they didn't go with the GTAA colours. I mean, with the amount of money they will be getting from the service, they could have pushed to have a visual link between the UPX and Pearson.

[pccstreetcar4549]

odd how the mural advertising on how UPX trains will look in the skywalk looks better than the real things.......

[TomW]

On Amtrak Unlimited, there is a thread about the DMUs running on Metra rails for dynamic testing. One poster claims to have operated the DMUs on test:

http://discuss.amtraktrains.com/index.php?/topic/60872-metra-dmu-test/page-2

"The hydraulic transmission is far too complicated. The UPE DMUs were impressive when they were working properly, but all 3 days the transmissions were giving us problems- not shifting into gear when moving from a stop, as well as dropping out of gear when moving. It's FAR too complicated of a system if you ask me."

I'm not sure why they would be having problems. It's not like hydraulic transmission on a DMU hasn't been done before