[smallspy]

There are no known structural or Building Code issues with Mount Dennis or Caledonia stations that would prevent them from being used as GO stations. Even if the LRT can't be used, they could still get occupancy approved for the station buildings if they wanted to (so that they could be used as GO stations).

Sure, there are no "known" issues.

But we also don't have a list of which stations have reached the ability to be safely occupied other than the two or three they've listed on Twitter. A number of 75% of the total is not a list.

And whether you want to believe it or not, the layout of the building counts. Buildings need to have emergency egress points and firefighter accesses. There also needs to be separations between active and inactive parts of the building. We just don't know if it is ready, and if the separations are possible.

But I suspect that they don't care. The government wants flashy grand-opening ceremonies showing shiny new stations full of people. You need the LRT to be open to really get people through the doors of these stations. The practical needs of residents, small businesses, and transit users don't matter that much as optics.

Of course it is. All higher-tier transit here is inherently political.

But that doesn't mean that we can go ahead and pretend that everything is okay or ready to go when we just don't know.

And maybe that's the bigger problem. Metrolinx just doesn't want to give us those kinds of details.

Dan

 

[duty free]

It's not obvious at all. Everyone has their own Boogie man that they blame for everything because the thought of an issue being complex and multi faceted is unthinkable. I want to know which one is yours.

Are you referring to this specific project or just 21st century mass transit projects in general?

 

[Allandale25]

Via a CityNews reporter covering today's Metrolinx board meeting where Crosstown LRT was discussed (thread):

- "Physical construction is complete"
- System integration testing is 84 per cent, a year ago it was below 10
- 5/46 certificates on the design and work received, "many" in development
- 36/40 occupancy certificates received
- "Stress test" done at the end of July, 75 per cent of the fleet ran in 28 different formations over four days straight
- Tests "weren't perfect" but went "exceptionally well," "lots of learning, things to fix"
- Led to the beginning of LRT operator training in mid-August
- "Infrastructure readiness was always the issue under dispute that had to be fixed, particularly the signalling and train control system"
- 8th version of signalling software system issued to "improve the operationality as well as the safety and punctuality of the system"
- Latest software needed for revenue service demonstration "later in the year"
- Opening date will be announced three months ahead of first customer service date (repeated in recent months)
- No date provided now (based on the above, opening likely won't happen before 2025)
- Emergency services milestone test held earlier in September, train stopped outside Laird station in the tunnel, simulated an evacuation of riders, up to 16 procedures tested, called it "really successful"
- "This is steady as she goes"

Another executive spoke on training:
- At the end of July, all 29 trainers finished the "train the trainer" program
- "Full swing" of training for 95 TTC operators, divided into three cohorts
- "Deep into training" of the first cohort, will follow with other two cohorts

 

[jordanmkasla2009]

Via a CityNews reporter covering today's Metrolinx board meeting where Crosstown LRT was discussed (thread):

- "Physical construction is complete"
- System integration testing is 84 per cent, a year ago it was below 10
- 5/46 certificates on the design and work received, "many" in development
- 36/40 occupancy certificates received
- "Stress test" done at the end of July, 75 per cent of the fleet ran in 28 different formations over four days straight
- Tests "weren't perfect" but went "exceptionally well," "lots of learning, things to fix"
- Led to the beginning of LRT operator training in mid-August
- "Infrastructure readiness was always the issue under dispute that had to be fixed, particularly the signalling and train control system"
- 8th version of signalling software system issued to "improve the operationality as well as the safety and punctuality of the system"
- Latest software needed for revenue service demonstration "later in the year"
- Opening date will be announced three months ahead of first customer service date (repeated in recent months)
- No date provided now (based on the above, opening likely won't happen before 2025)
- Emergency services milestone test held earlier in September, train stopped outside Laird station in the tunnel, simulated an evacuation of riders, up to 16 procedures tested, called it "really successful"
- "This is steady as she goes"

Another executive spoke on training:
- At the end of July, all 29 trainers finished the "train the trainer" program
- "Full swing" of training for 95 TTC operators, divided into three cohorts
- "Deep into training" of the first cohort, will follow with other two cohorts

Went through the surface section on the 34 between 11:45 am and 12:15 pm. Saw at least 7 "Training Car" sets on the surface section

 

[nfitz]

Another executive spoke on training:
- At the end of July, all 29 trainers finished the "train the trainer" program
- "Full swing" of training for 95 TTC operators, divided into three cohorts
- "Deep into training" of the first cohort, will follow with other two cohorts

Sounds like about 6 to 8 weeks per cohort then. So optimistically finish training by year end? Then 3 months of trial running? So April 20th board? Maybe a bit earlier as Easter is late next year. Perhaps May 11 is more likely.

Have they started training on Finch yet? Looks like Eglinton is going first.

 

[Aplus23]

Sounds like about 6 to 8 weeks per cohort then. So optimistically finish training by year end? Then 3 months of trial running? So April 20th board? Maybe a bit earlier as Easter is late next year. Perhaps May 11 is more likely.

Have they started training on Finch yet? Looks like Eglinton is going first.

The first train the trainer didn't last 6-8 weeks

 

[nfitz]

The first train the trainer didn't last 6-8 weeks

I'm counting from the first trainer train's the train operators cohort starting after the end of July.

 

[jordanmkasla2009]

Sounds like about 6 to 8 weeks per cohort then. So optimistically finish training by year end? Then 3 months of trial running? So April 20th board? Maybe a bit earlier as Easter is late next year. Perhaps May 11 is more likely.

Have they started training on Finch yet? Looks like Eglinton is going first.

10/15 trainers are trained for Finch West. TTC to validate the operator training program and operator training for Finch West will begin in the fall.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1834252528944365842

 

[smallspy]

One thing about the operator training.....

Despite the fact that the nomenclature and equipment is different, the two lines are being considered equal and equivalent from an operational perspective.

The first pair of classes is not being trained on the Finch West Line yet. The second may, but it's still unknown at this point. The third almost certainly will get trained on both lines simultaneously.

It is felt that one pair of classes should be enough to allow the service on Finch West to start, as it will use far fewer crews than Eglinton. The first pair (or maybe first two pairs) will then cycle through a reduced period of training to give them clearance on Finch West as well at a later date - which may or may not occur after the line opens.

Dan

 

[nfitz]

One thing about the operator training.....

Despite the fact that the nomenclature and equipment is different, the two lines are being considered equal and equivalent from an operational perspective.

The first pair of classes is not being trained on the Finch West Line yet. The second may, but it's still unknown at this point. The third almost certainly will get trained on both lines simultaneously.

It is felt that one pair of classes should be enough to allow the service on Finch West to start, as it will use far fewer crews than Eglinton. The first pair (or maybe first two pairs) will then cycle through a reduced period of training to give them clearance on Finch West as well at a later date - which may or may not occur after the line opens.

Dan

Interesting. Will it be one division or two?

Someone's added a (perhaps fictional) "TTC Black Creek Division" to Google Maps near Mount Dennis station and the LRT yard. Black Creek interestingly runs from near Mount Dennis station to Finch near that LRT yard.

 

[jordanmkasla2009]

Interesting. Will it be one division or two?

Someone's added a (perhaps fictional) "TTC Black Creek Division" to Google Maps near Mount Dennis station and the LRT yard. Black Creek interestingly runs from near Mount Dennis station to Finch near that LRT yard.

Black Creek Division is real though whether it is for both Line 5 and 6 I don't quite know.

 

[smallspy]

Interesting. Will it be one division or two?

Someone's added a (perhaps fictional) "TTC Black Creek Division" to Google Maps near Mount Dennis station and the LRT yard. Black Creek interestingly runs from near Mount Dennis station to Finch near that LRT yard.

There are two carhouses - Black Creek and Finch West - but operationally they are one division. Much as how the SRT was operationally rolled into the BD, with crews based out of Greenwood & Coxwell.

Dan

 

[Monarch Butterfly]

Was WiFi on Line 5 one of the check-boxes for "completion"? Did they give up WiFi on all rapid transit lines in Toronto because of that?

 

[Metroscapes]

Was WiFi on Line 5 one of the check-boxes for "completion"? Did they give up WiFi on all rapid transit lines in Toronto because of that?

TTC dropping Wi-Fi from subway stations

The Toronto Transit Commission has decided to drop its free ad-supported Wi-Fi service now that there's reliable cell service in the tunnels and stations.

mobilesyrup.com

The transit agency told CP24 that upgrading the internet infrastructure in the subway stations would cost $17 million, and it thinks that money would be better spent on actual transit upgrades.

The Wi-Fi service is set to shutter at the end of the year, but the TTC says that since reliable cellular service hit the tunnels, the Wi-Fi service has been barely used and dropped 65 percent. Now, only two percent of riders use the Wi-Fi.

 

[T3G]

I have never understood why anyone would willingly use a public wifi network anyway. Hardly seems worth the risk. Read a book!