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I think what Ottawa-Gatineau's truly needs is an upgrade and extension to the Trillium Line to meet its fullest potential as a grade separated, electrified, fast, and frequent European-style regional rail system. That would mean a lot of tunneling, viaducts, and new bridges, but it would be worth every penny. The whole region sprawls more than Edmonton, it's along the densest corridors of the country, and it's a stones throw from Montreal and Kingston. At-grade LRT would work for dense urban spaces, but the whole region needs to be tied together.
100% agree, The trillium is currently being extended ! However it is a diesel line, it is currently being extended south to the airport ( 16km ) which is amazing as now both Via rail stations and airport will be connected, once this Gatineau line is running, the region for once will actually be connected by a integrated transit system
@@GeoNerd. The trainsets can be easily adapted for electrification though. They use a modular powerpack that can be replaced to support operation on a fully electrified railway. So we're sort of 1/2 way there. We just need to have enough funding to upgrade the track.
Thanks for the additional information! Now the issue is getting meaningful change to actually happen, the LRT should’ve been connected to the airport and downtown decades ago!! I’m following this project ( Gatineau side specifically) closely, I’ll most likely try and get a few interviews sorted!
The fact that the Chief William Commanda bridge and Bayview station were never future-proofed to support the Trillium line crossing the river kills me. We could've had a first, vital rail link between the two cities, with this new LRT serving as a second transit link.
Disaster is relative, has it been struck with a lot of issues? yes, but it connects Ottawa’s downtown much better than the bus system has ever before, reduces traffic and when it does run, it does the job well, reliability is to be worked on, but I wouldn’t call it a disaster. Transit ridership is also growing year vs year ever since the pandemic
@@GeoNerd. I enjoy your videos. I am a transit geek myself. I am in full support of good transit, but this has been a failure. As mentioned, when it does run the speed of the train is lacking. There have been derailments that have shut down the system for extended periods of time. The trains procured did not properly fit the rail gauge. This was a case of Ottawa going for the lowest possible bid and now being stuck with the consequences. That is not coming from me but friends who work at OC Transpo. I am not opposed to light rail but it has to be done well. Even as transit advocates, we have to be objective and call the Ottawa light rail system a failure.
@@GeoNerd. Its a disaster going on 5 years now with the city and transit group are fighting over who's to blame and pay...as opposed to fixing the system. The light rail system doesn't connect any better than the bus system die...its exactly the same with the exception of the tunnel under the downtown core. 5 years when the light rail first opened I was surprised to learn that there is no 3rd line (back up rail) so when something goes wrong on one of the two lines (in one direction) the whole system comes down to a snail pace as the two lines have to share a single track.
You have a great point with the single track, and I do agree the city and transit groups aren’t really giving any recommendations… more so pointing figures! The whole planning was rushed and scrapped and rushed way too many times to say that this a good system, I agree and reading both your points, I concede lol though I still have the opinion that the concept of the LRT in the NCR is a necessity, the actual construction of the project has been disastrous… hopefully Gatineau’s line goes better but they plan to use one single track to go to Ottawa ( probably cost saving ) which will hurt and bottle neck the system, just wished they would’ve planned it better.. thanks for the insightful thread though!
Indeed, they’re two different cities, though Gatineau and Hull both voted overwhelmingly No with 70% in the last referendum. The cities are part of the NCR and make up an urban agglomeration, connecting these cities makes sense considering a big chunk of Gatineau works in Ottawa.
Long commute time? My solution has to ALWAYS live within walking distance (or, for 6 months bicycle distance) to my workplace. If you demand the "suburb" experience, why complain about any of those experiences? OTOH is Gatineau paying for the entire project to the Ottawa border? If not Why NOT?
For many people that’s impossible! If you work for the government in Gatineau you most likely aren’t living on the island of hull ( the area is in mid-gentrification but was/ is a poorer area with more crime) there just aren’t many homes near the main workplaces in Gatineau, now this is currently changing! ( though Gatineau has decent cycling infrastructure for its size ) As for the $$$, I know that the Ottawa side is either paid by Ottawa or the federal, the provincial government has already agreed to paid the Quebec side of the system!
The saddest part is that I have invented a revolutionary transportation system years ago....however nobody is interested in travelling to Montreal to Ottawa in ten minutes for the price of a bus fare! gawd ppl are stupid
@@KyrilPG It is very similar to the "Hyperloop" proposed by Elon Musk a few years back. It achieves the same high speed/high fuel efficiency goals of Hyperloop however in a much simpler and cheaper way. It uses "Wing in ground" (W.I.G.) aircraft technology to achieve very low drag and very high lift. Up until my invention these "WIG" aircraft were restricted to flat surfaces like rivers and lakes - however I invented a track to enable them to fly on land. Basically it reduces friction like an air-hockey table but in a slightly different way. Even built a working proof of concept model and posted a video on facebook. Most people aren't even curious enough to understand what it is - so kudos for at least asking about it!
While you’re here might as well scroll up and subscribe! I’m trying to reach 2,000 subscribers before Christmas and I need your help to make that happen!
Let me know what you’d like to see next ! 👇👇
If you are interested....you might want to cover my transportation "hyperloop" invention...?
Resident of Gatineau here. I entirely support the project. I have to pass at least an hour in the bus from my house to my CÉGEP.
I hope Gatineau gets a tram before our national transit embarrassment, Québec City.
wdym?
I think what Ottawa-Gatineau's truly needs is an upgrade and extension to the Trillium Line to meet its fullest potential as a grade separated, electrified, fast, and frequent European-style regional rail system. That would mean a lot of tunneling, viaducts, and new bridges, but it would be worth every penny. The whole region sprawls more than Edmonton, it's along the densest corridors of the country, and it's a stones throw from Montreal and Kingston. At-grade LRT would work for dense urban spaces, but the whole region needs to be tied together.
100% agree, The trillium is currently being extended ! However it is a diesel line, it is currently being extended south to the airport ( 16km ) which is amazing as now both Via rail stations and airport will be connected, once this Gatineau line is running, the region for once will actually be connected by a integrated transit system
@@GeoNerd. The trainsets can be easily adapted for electrification though. They use a modular powerpack that can be replaced to support operation on a fully electrified railway. So we're sort of 1/2 way there. We just need to have enough funding to upgrade the track.
Thanks for the additional information! Now the issue is getting meaningful change to actually happen, the LRT should’ve been connected to the airport and downtown decades ago!! I’m following this project ( Gatineau side specifically) closely, I’ll most likely try and get a few interviews sorted!
The fact that the Chief William Commanda bridge and Bayview station were never future-proofed to support the Trillium line crossing the river kills me. We could've had a first, vital rail link between the two cities, with this new LRT serving as a second transit link.
It’s sad but seems like most new infrastructure projects would prefer saving money on the short term than ensuring a longer term model
BTW, just wanted to say as well, really enjoy your videos.
Thank you! I hope I can keep providing valued content 🫡🫡
Oh yeah the “Fleur-de-Lys” Line
I like that name, I wonder if they’ll have a competition for the naming instead of going with the boring Gatineau Tramway as it’s being called now…
@@GeoNerd. Quebec and its pride smh
smh should’ve done like Toronto called it the Ontario line eh
@@GeoNerd. yeah
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Does anyone realize how big a disaster the Ottawa light rail project has been?
Disaster is relative, has it been struck with a lot of issues? yes, but it connects Ottawa’s downtown much better than the bus system has ever before, reduces traffic and when it does run, it does the job well, reliability is to be worked on, but I wouldn’t call it a disaster. Transit ridership is also growing year vs year ever since the pandemic
@@GeoNerd. I enjoy your videos. I am a transit geek myself. I am in full support of good transit, but this has been a failure. As mentioned, when it does run the speed of the train is lacking. There have been derailments that have shut down the system for extended periods of time. The trains procured did not properly fit the rail gauge. This was a case of Ottawa going for the lowest possible bid and now being stuck with the consequences. That is not coming from me but friends who work at OC Transpo. I am not opposed to light rail but it has to be done well. Even as transit advocates, we have to be objective and call the Ottawa light rail system a failure.
@@GeoNerd. It's a disaster....
@@GeoNerd. Its a disaster going on 5 years now with the city and transit group are fighting over who's to blame and pay...as opposed to fixing the system. The light rail system doesn't connect any better than the bus system die...its exactly the same with the exception of the tunnel under the downtown core.
5 years when the light rail first opened I was surprised to learn that there is no 3rd line (back up rail) so when something goes wrong on one of the two lines (in one direction) the whole system comes down to a snail pace as the two lines have to share a single track.
You have a great point with the single track, and I do agree the city and transit groups aren’t really giving any recommendations… more so pointing figures! The whole planning was rushed and scrapped and rushed way too many times to say that this a good system, I agree and reading both your points, I concede lol though I still have the opinion that the concept of the LRT in the NCR is a necessity, the actual construction of the project has been disastrous… hopefully Gatineau’s line goes better but they plan to use one single track to go to Ottawa ( probably cost saving ) which will hurt and bottle neck the system, just wished they would’ve planned it better.. thanks for the insightful thread though!
Ottawa-Gatineau is not one single city. It’s divided by a provincial border that came insanely close to being an international border.
Indeed, they’re two different cities, though Gatineau and Hull both voted overwhelmingly No with 70% in the last referendum. The cities are part of the NCR and make up an urban agglomeration, connecting these cities makes sense considering a big chunk of Gatineau works in Ottawa.
Long commute time? My solution has to ALWAYS live within walking distance (or, for 6 months bicycle distance) to my workplace. If you demand the "suburb" experience, why complain about any of those experiences? OTOH is Gatineau paying for the entire project to the Ottawa border? If not Why NOT?
For many people that’s impossible! If you work for the government in Gatineau you most likely aren’t living on the island of hull ( the area is in mid-gentrification but was/ is a poorer area with more crime) there just aren’t many homes near the main workplaces in Gatineau, now this is currently changing! ( though Gatineau has decent cycling infrastructure for its size )
As for the $$$, I know that the Ottawa side is either paid by Ottawa or the federal, the provincial government has already agreed to paid the Quebec side of the system!
The saddest part is that I have invented a revolutionary transportation system years ago....however nobody is interested in travelling to Montreal to Ottawa in ten minutes for the price of a bus fare! gawd ppl are stupid
What is that "revolutionary" transportation system?
@@KyrilPGIt’s so secret that he can’t tell anyone.
@@KyrilPG It is very similar to the "Hyperloop" proposed by Elon Musk a few years back. It achieves the same high speed/high fuel efficiency goals of Hyperloop however in a much simpler and cheaper way. It uses "Wing in ground" (W.I.G.) aircraft technology to achieve very low drag and very high lift. Up until my invention these "WIG" aircraft were restricted to flat surfaces like rivers and lakes - however I invented a track to enable them to fly on land. Basically it reduces friction like an air-hockey table but in a slightly different way. Even built a working proof of concept model and posted a video on facebook. Most people aren't even curious enough to understand what it is - so kudos for at least asking about it!
@@donmacquarrie9161 So it's the Aréotrain meets ground effect lift aka ekranoplan.
Where's the video visible?
@@KyrilPG I keep trying to put up the link but youtube keeps erasing it... :(