Eglinton Crosstown line

[Mark Walton]

On 1/13/2023 at 6:09 AM, Turtle said:

Fixing the switch is the quickest part of it. It's the rest of the accident that takes time to clear. They have to shut down service, investigate the scene, remove the vehicle, investigate some more.  That takes hours before someone can start to wrench on the switchgear. 

Of course it's also going to take some time for the inventory clerk to find the parts, and the truck will probably be on a shift change during the whole thing.

After they have the new parts installed and adjusted, they have to run tests to ensure everything is okay.  Come back tomorrow morning if you want to ride the train through there as a passenger. 

Probably about the size of it, though I would expect the truck would carry at least some parts, or they'd be kept in a secure location near the switch.

[Archer]

Generally speaking, once a runthrough happens on the subway, Signals will attend and determine exactly what needs to be done, and this is usually concurrent to the Supervisory investigation. Subway trains are heavy enough that they will normally shove the points to the position they need without derailing, assuming all proper guarding rails are in place.

As part of the Signals work, that crew will get the switch back into the position that allows them to restore service (ie. make it safe), cut out power to the machine, and physically clamp the points closed so they can't move. TTC can usually recover from a switch runthrough within an hour or two, and passenger service will resume.

Repairs won't be made until after service, so they can also perform all of the maintenance tests they need to do to certify the switch for operation again. The actual repair usually doesn't take long since most switches in the subway system do have dedicated failure points for exactly this reason.

It gets significantly more complicated if it's a double-slip switch (only one on the mainline), or a movable point frog (again, only one on the mainline and it isn't traversed in normal operation), just because of the nature of those switch layouts. Note that I'm not including wye tracks as part of the mainline in this case.

[Ultimate]

To the first of probably many, 6231 has derailed just EAST of Birchmount heading EB. Spotted them re-railing around 2:30 pm this afternoon. Only the front section was off the tracks.

[Turtle]

6 hours ago, Ultimate said:

To the first of probably many, 6231 has derailed just EAST of Birchmount heading EB. Spotted them re-railing around 2:30 pm this afternoon. Only the front section was off the tracks.

Nope, not the first time.

 

Oh wait a second...isn't that a straight section of track? Ooh, this is going to be fun this line. Put Ottawa to shame we will.

 

Just paint some special marks on the road and run buses, we don't deserve mass transit street rail in Canada

[smallspy]

17 hours ago, Ultimate said:

To the first of probably many, 6231 has derailed just EAST of Birchmount heading EB. Spotted them re-railing around 2:30 pm this afternoon. Only the front section was off the tracks.

Likely clogged flangeways due to packed snow.

 

Not likely to be a problem once the line is actually operating.

 

Dan

[Ultimate]

Not sure if this was posted anywhere. Spotted Presto readers on the platforms at all stops from VP- Kennedy. Also these Yellow plastic bollards that line up with the middle of the two cars

[Turtle]

1 hour ago, smallspy said:

Likely clogged flangeways due to packed snow.

 

Not likely to be a problem once the line is actually operating.

 

Dan

Just like the derailment at Deer Park EB on the 512 streetcar somewhere near the end of Dec 2022, how will they (Metrolinx) prevent stuff like this happening in service when an expert in this kind of thing (the ttc) isn't able to?

 

It was clogged flangeways that contributed to the derailment at Deer Park btw, even though a collision with a F350 equipped with a salt box and snow plow is what probably steered it off the rails in the first place.

 

But yeah, Alstom/Bombardier is great, they design and build stuff that is faultless. Nothing like spending billions on a subway, only to hobble it by using low floor speed limited streetcars on the line

[lifty4ever]

On 1/27/2023 at 10:23 AM, Turtle said:

Just like the derailment at Deer Park EB on the 512 streetcar somewhere near the end of Dec 2022, how will they (Metrolinx) prevent stuff like this happening in service when an expert in this kind of thing (the ttc) isn't able to?

 

It was clogged flangeways that contributed to the derailment at Deer Park btw, even though a collision with a F350 equipped with a salt box and snow plow is what probably steered it off the rails in the first place.

 

But yeah, Alstom/Bombardier is great, they design and build stuff that is faultless. Nothing like spending billions on a subway, only to hobble it by using low floor speed limited streetcars on the line

I don't think you understand mother nature, it's power and how limited we are in stopping it from causing trouble

[Turtle]

14 hours ago, lifty4ever said:

I don't think you understand mother nature, it's power and how limited we are in stopping it from causing trouble

or they could run storm trains to keep the line clear, or use snow removal equipment before running trains through there if accumulation and ice buildup is to the point it has the potential to derail a train.

 

The ttc even plows and salts their rows regularly during storms, because they need to keep them clear for emergency vehicles. I don't think Metrolinx can do that on Eglinton, it would kill the grass.

[lifty4ever]

On 2/1/2023 at 5:57 AM, Turtle said:

or they could run storm trains to keep the line clear, or use snow removal equipment before running trains through there if accumulation and ice buildup is to the point it has the potential to derail a train.

 

The ttc even plows and salts their rows regularly during storms, because they need to keep them clear for emergency vehicles. I don't think Metrolinx can do that on Eglinton, it would kill the grass.

They can and likely will do that but they still can only do so much

[Shaun]

On 1/27/2023 at 9:07 AM, smallspy said:

Likely clogged flangeways due to packed snow.

 

Not likely to be a problem once the line is actually operating.

 

Dan

I also noticed that there are mounds of ice built up on the rails as well. They need to get someone with a rubber hammer and break it free before putting trains out for testing.

We still have no idea when the service is going to start. 

[Kumiko Oumae]

Looks like Line 5 is ready to be open this summer. Construction equipment to be removed from Eglinton West/Cedarvale and Eglinton stations by the summer time except Kennedy. All construction work on the rest to cease by the end of April.

https://www.blogto.com/city/2023/02/toronto-hints-eglinton-crosstown-lrt-open-summer/?fbclid=IwAR2XYQ2kme-Lz1q4wa6_3jWkXK5R1K_f74LmG9pPqVzak8SyD_DuwoUllBM&mibextid=Zxz2cZ

[T3G]

Typical garbage from BlogTO.

No one can milk a story from non-information quite like they do.

If the line won't be finished until summer, there is zero chance of it entering service in the summer. And real journalists would go on more than literal hints before reporting a piece of news.

[John Oke]

4 hours ago, Kumiko Oumae said:

Looks like Line 5 is ready to be open this summer. Construction equipment to be removed from Eglinton West/Cedarvale and Eglinton stations by the summer time except Kennedy. All construction work on the rest to cease by the end of April.

https://www.blogto.com/city/2023/02/toronto-hints-eglinton-crosstown-lrt-open-summer/?fbclid=IwAR2XYQ2kme-Lz1q4wa6_3jWkXK5R1K_f74LmG9pPqVzak8SyD_DuwoUllBM&mibextid=Zxz2cZ

BlogTO has a reputation for being constant clickbait. This article is no exception

[smallspy]

19 hours ago, T3G said:

Typical garbage from BlogTO.

No one can milk a story from non-information quite like they do.

If the line won't be finished until summer, there is zero chance of it entering service in the summer. And real journalists would go on more than literal hints before reporting a piece of news.

Read it a little bit more closely - they're talking about the on-street work, not even the work on the line itself.

 

On-street work at this point has no bearing on how ready for service the line is.

 

Dan

[Kumiko Oumae]

On 2/10/2023 at 8:57 AM, smallspy said:

Read it a little bit more closely - they're talking about the on-street work, not even the work on the line itself.

 

On-street work at this point has no bearing on how ready for service the line is.

 

Dan

True. But I wonder if the TTC can restore service on these areas before September 2016 until the line officially opens? I’d say these routes between Yonge and Don Mills that could do so prior to the work since left turns are to be reinstated on Eglinton and Mount Pleasant anyway:

- 25 DON MILLS (I wonder if they restore through service between Don Mills Station, otherwise it's kept)
- 34 EGLINTON EAST (34B/34C eliminated, replaced by reinstated 100B/100C)
- 74 MOUNT PLEASANT (service restored to Eglinton loop)
- 100 FLEMINGDON PARK (100B and 100C branches restored, operating on the same levels as 34C)
- 103 MOUNT PLEASANT NORTH (route restored before September 2016)

The 141 DOWNTOWN/MOUNT PLEASANT EXPRESS is still on hiatus until the route is completely reinstated.
 

[Articulated]

1 minute ago, Kumiko Oumae said:

True. But I wonder if the TTC can restore service on these areas before September 2016 until the line officially opens? I’d say these routes between Yonge and Don Mills that could do so prior to the work since left turns are to be reinstated on Eglinton and Mount Pleasant anyway:

- 25 DON MILLS (I wonder if they restore through service between Don Mills Station, otherwise it's kept)
- 34 EGLINTON EAST (34B/34C eliminated, replaced by reinstated 100B/100C)
- 74 MOUNT PLEASANT (service restored to Eglinton loop)
- 100 FLEMINGDON PARK (100B and 100C branches restored, operating on the same levels as 34C)
- 103 MOUNT PLEASANT NORTH (route restored before September 2016)

The 141 DOWNTOWN/MOUNT PLEASANT EXPRESS is still on hiatus until the route is completely reinstated.
 

Given that route 100 is slated to permanently end at Science Centre Station following the opening of the LRT, there is zero point in re-extending it to Eglinton Station for a couple of months. It's much simpler to remain in the current configuration with all 100 buses ending at Don Mills/Eglinton until they shift to the adjacent bus terminal, rather than having to rewrite the schedule twice. The 34B/34C can easily be revoked upon opening of the LRT, as the entire 34 schedule will need to be redone anyway.

TTC just expanded the service periods that the 25B/C split operates this week, extending until about 10pm on weekday evenings. They've discovered that there are cost savings to be had by running less service on the quieter portion of the route north of Don Mills Station. Both branches operate at frequent levels (6-8 minutes for 25B, 7-9 mins for 25C); as well, through service is still available with the 925, which always runs during the time period the 25B/C split operates; so overall there's less impact to keeping them split.

[Mike]

17 minutes ago, Kumiko Oumae said:

The 141 DOWNTOWN/MOUNT PLEASANT EXPRESS is still on hiatus until the route is completely reinstated.

Aren't the 14x routes dead for all intents and purposes - and not coming back at any point?

[Xtrazsteve]

38 minutes ago, Mike said:

Aren't the 14x routes dead for all intents and purposes - and not coming back at any point?

They are operationally dead but not politically yet.

58 minutes ago, Kumiko Oumae said:

True. But I wonder if the TTC can restore service on these areas before September 2016 until the line officially opens? I’d say these routes between Yonge and Don Mills that could do so prior to the work since left turns are to be reinstated on Eglinton and Mount Pleasant anyway:

- 25 DON MILLS (I wonder if they restore through service between Don Mills Station, otherwise it's kept)
- 34 EGLINTON EAST (34B/34C eliminated, replaced by reinstated 100B/100C)
- 74 MOUNT PLEASANT (service restored to Eglinton loop)
- 100 FLEMINGDON PARK (100B and 100C branches restored, operating on the same levels as 34C)
- 103 MOUNT PLEASANT NORTH (route restored before September 2016)

The 141 DOWNTOWN/MOUNT PLEASANT EXPRESS is still on hiatus until the route is completely reinstated.
 

It will only happen if they can save a bus or two. We’ll see more cuts soon.

[smallspy]

17 hours ago, Kumiko Oumae said:

True. But I wonder if the TTC can restore service on these areas before September 2016 until the line officially opens? I’d say these routes between Yonge and Don Mills that could do so prior to the work since left turns are to be reinstated on Eglinton and Mount Pleasant anyway:

- 25 DON MILLS (I wonder if they restore through service between Don Mills Station, otherwise it's kept)
- 34 EGLINTON EAST (34B/34C eliminated, replaced by reinstated 100B/100C)
- 74 MOUNT PLEASANT (service restored to Eglinton loop)
- 100 FLEMINGDON PARK (100B and 100C branches restored, operating on the same levels as 34C)
- 103 MOUNT PLEASANT NORTH (route restored before September 2016)

The 141 DOWNTOWN/MOUNT PLEASANT EXPRESS is still on hiatus until the route is completely reinstated.
 

As pointed out above, it really doesn't make sense to reinstate some of those routes prior to the line opening.

 

I frankly also think that the TTC's plans for Mount Pleasant are ridiculous and self-defeating, but that's neither here nor there.

No, the bigger issue is that even though most of the intersections along Eglinton have been completely and fully reinstated - such as Bayview and Mount Pleasant - there are still a number of key sections that have not been, and will thus continue to negatively affect traffic patterns. There is no point trying to shoehorn all of those bus routes along the construction-strewn length of Eglinton from Dunfield to Duplex when it's hard enough as it is, and ridership still hasn't quite recuperated to its pre-COVID levels.

 

17 hours ago, Mike said:

Aren't the 14x routes dead for all intents and purposes - and not coming back at any point?

I don't think that we're likely to ever get an official notice that they are no longer, but I do think it's fair to assume that they won't be coming back.

 

Dan

[Young]

There’s a video on Facebook of TTC testing buses at Mount Dennis Station 

[Mike]

3 hours ago, smallspy said:

I frankly also think that the TTC's plans for Mount Pleasant are ridiculous and self-defeating, but that's neither here nor there.

What are the plans for 74/103 once Eglinton LRT opens?

[smallspy]

2 hours ago, Mike said:

What are the plans for 74/103 once Eglinton LRT opens?

Both routes would be split again, and both would run into Eglinton Station.

 

The same would also happen on the west side, with Avenue Rd. and Avenue Rd. North.

 

This results in an unneeded duplication of service and additional annual costs that are not only are unnecessary, but could have been used to improve both sets of services over their previous levels.

 

Dan

[Young]

On 2/14/2023 at 12:15 PM, Young said:

There’s a video on Facebook of TTC testing buses at Mount Dennis Station 

Too add to this Iirc back In 2017 2 months prior to the opening of the TYYSE extension they tested buses at pioneer village bus terminal and Finch West bus terminal so maybe this will be the same maybe not 2 months but maybe 3-6 months cause also remember finch west wasn’t completely done till the day before opening so who knows

[lifty4ever]

On 2/14/2023 at 3:30 PM, smallspy said:

Both routes would be split again, and both would run into Eglinton Station.

 

The same would also happen on the west side, with Avenue Rd. and Avenue Rd. North.

 

This results in an unneeded duplication of service and additional annual costs that are not only are unnecessary, but could have been used to improve both sets of services over their previous levels.

 

Dan

Yeah. it makes no sense whatsoever to re-split the 74 and maintain the split of the 13 and the 61. The 13 should run from Bombay to Queens park via Avenue Station and the 74 should stay running from St Clair station to Doncliffe via Mt Pleasant station. This isn't even the only instances of mystifying decisions concerning surface routes and line 5. The ttc wants to route the 935 to Mount Dennis station whilst maintaining the routing between Pioneer Village station and Jane station. It's such an unnecessary jog and it's not a small one either. Imagine waiting for the 935 at Eglinton only to be forced to watch it turn down Eglinton before coming back to continue its journey. 

 

Many are quite agreed on that it should pass through the intersection with no changes to its routing. In the proposals, there would be 4 bus routes passing through that intersection heading to Mt Dennis station. The 27 Jane South, the 35 Jane, the 32 Eglinton West and the 170 Emmett. It wouldn't be any issue for someone on the 935 wanting to go to line 5 to hop off at Eglinton and just transfer to another bus and vice versa.