[smallspy]

2 for OL although only one platform will likely be used as long as this is the terminus.

At the frequencies that they've talked about, and with the trackwork they have shown in the EAs, they will not be able to only operate from one platform and track at rush hours.

Dan

 

[Allandale25]

Aurora GO station upgrades delayed to end of 2027: Metrolinx

Metrolinx pushes completion timeline back one year as revised plans scale back original two-way service vision for Barrie line corridor

www.newmarkettoday.ca

Planned upgrades include construction of a second track and new west platform, enhancements to the existing east platform, upgraded rail signals, a new passenger pick-up and drop-off area, a new Berczy Street exit, and a new pedestrian tunnel with elevators connecting both platforms.

Committee meeting notes from May 14 also revealed a significant change to earlier plans involving the Yonge Street railway trestle at the south end of Aurora.

Metrolinx had originally proposed widening the trestle to accommodate two tracks. That plan has now been shelved. Instead, the agency will continue operating trains in both directions over the existing single-track structure using scheduled traffic controls.

The revised operating plan will still allow expanded service, though not at the level initially envisioned.

Once construction is complete, GO Transit expects to operate one-way rush-hour service every 15 minutes toward and away from Toronto, with two-way off-peak trains every 30 minutes. Previous long-term plans had called for full two-way, all-day service.

 

[lastcommodore]

Metrolinx had originally proposed widening the trestle to accommodate two tracks. That plan has now been shelved. Instead, the agency will continue operating trains in both directions over the existing single-track structure using scheduled traffic controls.

Once construction is complete, GO Transit expects to operate one-way rush-hour service every 15 minutes toward and away from Toronto, with two-way off-peak trains every 30 minutes. Previous long-term plans had called for full two-way, all-day service.

I recall 30 minute headway being descoped to Aurora, but this seems in line with what they were already planning? I'm not sure what they mean by "full two-way all-day service" that was better than 30 min headways. Did MX used to promise 15 min. to Aurora?

Incredibly disappointing at the delays and descoping, which is a given with MX, but to be fair, single-track areas can still support relatively good headways if used strategically, and likely they determined they can maintain planned service with a single bridge over Yonge.

 

[cplchanb]

Aurora GO station upgrades delayed to end of 2027: Metrolinx

Metrolinx pushes completion timeline back one year as revised plans scale back original two-way service vision for Barrie line corridor

www.newmarkettoday.ca

typical bait and switch by ML. WHERE DID ALL THE MONEY GO?! we earmarked billions yet all we get are empty promises and deferrals to an unknown time.

 

[reaperexpress]

I recall 30 minute headway being descoped to Aurora, but this seems in line with what they were already planning? I'm not sure what they mean by "full two-way all-day service" that was better than 30 min headways. Did MX used to promise 15 min. to Aurora?
View attachment 739108
Incredibly disappointing at the delays and descoping, which is a given with MX, but to be fair, single-track areas can still support relatively good headways if used strategically, and likely they determined they can maintain planned service with a single bridge over Yonge.

Not only did they originally promise service every 15 minutes to Aurora, they later extended that promise up to Bradford. The fact that they've given up on even reaching Aurora is frankly pathetic.

The new plan only proposes trains every 120 minutes north of Bradford, which is just a shadow of the every-30-minute service promised previously. It's especially insulting given that the peak-period service to Barrie is still planned to operate every 30 minutes so they will still need to build all the same infrastructure as they would with hourly or half-hourly off-peak service. And to make matters worse, the few trains that do make it all the way to Barrie will be stuck making every single stop along the way.
It's a huge slap in the face to the City of Barrie, who just spent a lot of money relocating their main bus terminal to Allandale Waterfront station in anticipation of all-day two-way train service.

 

[Northern Light]

Yes, not only did they originally promise service every 15 minutes to Aurora they later extended that promise up to Bradford. The fact that they've given up on even reaching Aurora is frankly pathetic.

Excerpt from this Metrolinx blog post from 2023:
View attachment 739122

The new plan only proposes trains every 120 minutes north of Bradford, just a shadow of the every-30-minute service promised previously. It's especially insulting given that the peak-period service is still planned to operate every 30 minutes so they will still need to build all the same infrastructure as they would with hourly or half-hourly off-peak service. And to make matters worse, the few trains that do make it all the way to Barrie will be stuck making every single stop along the way.
It's a huge slap in the face to the City of Barrie, who just spent a lot of money relocating their main bus terminal to Allandale Waterfront station in anticipation of all-day two-way train service.

The major cut here seems to be the widening or doubling of the trestle.

If that is the case, I have 2 questions.

1) How much money is saved by cutting this component?

2) How did they manage to scale back the work in a substantial way and deliver it a year late. Surely one would imagine that if you reduce scope and eliminate a component, you could deliver the project early..... errr, on time even?

 

[reaperexpress]

Not widening an overpass that is in a segment that has been planned for double track since day one of GO RER/Expansion is a pretty clear admission that Metrolinx has completely lost any kind of drive behind GO Expansion. Bridges only get replaced about once every 50-100 years, so by building a single-tracked bridge south of Aurora they are permanently giving up on frequent Barrie line service. A single track pinch point doesn't just preclude 15-minute service to Aurora, it also makes it very difficult to operate express trains to Barrie in addition to the 30-minute local service to Aurora.