[crs1026]

An additional Fourth Track early work notice for the LSE corridor was published. This is in addition to the previous notice for the Gerrard to Woodbine fourth track segment that will initially be used to store rail equipment on a siding and the Danforth GO station renovations to accommodate a fourth track.


Birchmount to Kennedy segment (with no mention of replacing the bridge)

https://assets.metrolinx.com/image/upload/Images/Metrolinx/Toronto%20East/Notice_EarlyWorks_Birchmount_Sep192025.pdf

Interesting that they would announce this now, because the corridor looks to have just about all the prep work completed to enable laying of the final subgrade and track laying and ballasting. The big impediments are the Birchmount bridge and the Danforth station.

I hope they are not trying to create a separate work zone, ie jersey barriers between the live track and the new one. That would be a hugely inefficient way to lay track.... and a departure from how most railroads do it.

- Paul

 

[smallspy]

See, I don't read this as building the fourth track at all.

This is only for prep. And considering that most of the prep on that section of the corridor is already done, there's no use in prepping it again.

The fact that the notice specifies work around Birchmount Ave. makes me hopeful that they are finally going to do the work necessary around there to build the subgrade for the future 4th track. And the use of a Continuous Work Zone makes sense, since at the very least they will need to build retaining walls on either side of the bridge - and at worst, a whole new bridge altogether.

Dan

 

[Metroscapes]

Driving over the Kitchener Line the other day, I could only take my eyes off the road for a second, but it looks like the conduit work for Guelph second track was buried. If my knee is better, I'll try to get out there sometime next week and investigate further.