March 4, 2021 - Delivery of ION LRV 515 up the Waterloo Spur

Thursday March 4th 2021, 11:35 pm
ION's 15th and newest LRV 515 is delivered up the Waterloo Spur, taking a ride on CN train 566, while in-service LRV 504 waits at Waterloo Public Square station.
This is the first new LRV delivered since ION service started in 2019, so the first time we see an LRV being delivered pass an in-service LRV.
The freight train at this location is entering a section of track that is shared with ION. Northbound LRVs wait at Waterloo Public Square and southbound LRVs wait at Northfield station. The freight enters the northbound track, then just past Erb/Caroline it crosses over to the southbound track, then diverges just before Northfield station and continues north to Elmira.

[@tazkforcealpha]

so freight trains are allowed on streetcar tracks in Canada?

[@jasonli1208]

Well, what’s pictured here that freight is running on is pretty much a section of embedded track that was designed to support it. It then joins ballasted track that was designed for use by both freight and light rail. ION uses it the majority of the time except for a few times a week when the freight does. To answer your question though, no, freight trains are not allowed on streetcar tracks in Canada. ION is also not a streetcar as it does not run in mixed traffic. The only streetcars in Canada are in Toronto and freight does not run on those tracks.

[@WillTheTrainFan]

Trains look sick, but where is this?

[@jasonli1208]

Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

[@ottosaxo]

Which city is it? Sorry, I have never heard about Waterloo Public Square, but I know a city with a Waterloo column ;)

[@jasonli1208]

Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

[@ottosaxo]

@@jasonli1208 Thank you! It's commendable that they own a tram in a medium-sized town. Well, Canada seems to be different from its neighbor.
The Waterloo column is placed in Hannover, by the way. They have a tram system, too, and even cab rides on youtube.