Rob Brasil... No kidding, like wtf. No official launch date yet. Now they want to replace all the wheels with the rubber inserts like used in Toronto. Much quieter.
The welding issue was on the first 60 Flexity Outlook vehicles delivered to the TTC. Waterloo Region's 14 trains were tacked on to Metrolinx' order of Flexity Freedom vehicles, and it is not clear at this time if the Freedom's are affected by the welding issue or not. Outlook and Freedom have different frames: The Outlooks are customized to the TTC's tight radius turns, wider track gauge, and custom handicapped access ramps. The Freedom is a more 'off-the-shelf' design similar to the Flexity 2s used around the world. The current hold-up is the installation of what the Region has been calling the "Specialized Equipment" in their media statements. This includes cameras, voice and data communications gear, position reporting, and the automatic train control system used in the off-street sections of the track. This stuff was supposed to be spec'd by Metrolinx but they dragged their feet since they were planning to cancel the Bombardier order after all of the Transit City LRT lines were delayed (and/or cancelled outright) and Waterloo accepted delivery of the vehicles without this equipment. (Bombardier took Metrolinx to court, Metrolinx lost and still has to take half their order.) The equipment finally got spec'd and ordered within the past year (not clear if this was Metrolinx getting back on the ball, or if Waterloo 'went rogue' and spec'd it themselves) but has only recently been delivered for installation in the vehicles. This installation is a separate contract with Bombardier than the original vehicle order, and is proceeding simultaneously both at Bombardier and in Waterloo for vehicles already on property. The first vehicles with this 'specialized equipment' should begin testing this month.
They were that noisy around curves at the time this video was taken, but the track lubricators weren't turned on yet then. At least a few of them are up and running now, and my understanding is that this will make them much much quieter.
ION Light Rail is Ready or Not Yet?
Npt yet, this was part of system testing. Currently projecting a Dec 2018 start.
Rob Brasil... No kidding, like wtf. No official launch date yet. Now they want to replace all the wheels with the rubber inserts like used in Toronto. Much quieter.
I had thought that our vehicles already had those and haven't heard anything about this from other sources.
Any published info on this?
It's not GRT that is holding things back from what I understand. It's Bombardier. There was some welding issues that needed to be fixed.
The welding issue was on the first 60 Flexity Outlook vehicles delivered to the TTC. Waterloo Region's 14 trains were tacked on to Metrolinx' order of Flexity Freedom vehicles, and it is not clear at this time if the Freedom's are affected by the welding issue or not. Outlook and Freedom have different frames: The Outlooks are customized to the TTC's tight radius turns, wider track gauge, and custom handicapped access ramps. The Freedom is a more 'off-the-shelf' design similar to the Flexity 2s used around the world.
The current hold-up is the installation of what the Region has been calling the "Specialized Equipment" in their media statements. This includes cameras, voice and data communications gear, position reporting, and the automatic train control system used in the off-street sections of the track. This stuff was supposed to be spec'd by Metrolinx but they dragged their feet since they were planning to cancel the Bombardier order after all of the Transit City LRT lines were delayed (and/or cancelled outright) and Waterloo accepted delivery of the vehicles without this equipment. (Bombardier took Metrolinx to court, Metrolinx lost and still has to take half their order.) The equipment finally got spec'd and ordered within the past year (not clear if this was Metrolinx getting back on the ball, or if Waterloo 'went rogue' and spec'd it themselves) but has only recently been delivered for installation in the vehicles. This installation is a separate contract with Bombardier than the original vehicle order, and is proceeding simultaneously both at Bombardier and in Waterloo for vehicles already on property. The first vehicles with this 'specialized equipment' should begin testing this month.
Are they really this noisy? I probably don't want to be walking along the LRT on the street. Not to mention their loud horn which will make you jump.
They were that noisy around curves at the time this video was taken, but the track lubricators weren't turned on yet then. At least a few of them are up and running now, and my understanding is that this will make them much much quieter.