GO Transit: Construction Projects (Metrolinx, various)

[bpbpbpbp]

It's currently designed as 2 tracks for CN from Georgetown to the flyover with 1 Metrolinx, then 2 tracks for both Metrolinx and CN to downtown Brampton, where the switches will allow for 1 dedicated track for both CN and Metrolinx and 1 shared track, then it widens back to 2 and 2.

Interesting. So other than in Downtown Brampton, the MX rails are going to be fully seperate with no switches between the two? Pretty cool, makes me wonder what this could imply for a future electrification of the MX Halton at a far later date.

I also wonder what the deal on the shared track in Downtown Brampton will be like. From what I understand, GO is usually always using that rail, with high 30 minute one way traffic during rush hour and hourly in each direction otherwise (2 usages of the rail per hour basically at all times). Kind of seems like CN can make do with the single track, and that MX will probably have most shots over the other track going forward.

 

[KevinT]

Metrolinx is planning to replace the Grand River bridge on the Kitchener Line over the course of the next two years.

Oh wow, that's amazing. The text didn't say whether the replacement bridge would support two tracks or not, but I sure hope that it does. At the very least, if the new abutments and piers supported future double tracking, that would be awesome.

 

[ZEBuilder]

Interesting. So other than in Downtown Brampton, the MX rails are going to be fully seperate with no switches between the two? Pretty cool, makes me wonder what this could imply for a future electrification of the MX Halton at a far later date.

I also wonder what the deal on the shared track in Downtown Brampton will be like. From what I understand, GO is usually always using that rail, with high 30 minute one way traffic during rush hour and hourly in each direction otherwise (2 usages of the rail per hour basically at all times). Kind of seems like CN can make do with the single track, and that MX will probably have most shots over the other track going forward.

The only switches between CN and Metrolinx tracks are in the 3 track section in Brampton. Metrolinx has a dozen switches between their tracks along the corridor.

 

[reaperexpress]

Oh wow, that's amazing. The text didn't say whether the replacement bridge would support two tracks or not, but I sure hope that it does. At the very least, if the new abutments and piers supported future double tracking, that would be awesome.

The existing abutments are already designed for double track, so surely the new abutments will be as well.

I'd go further and say that they should actually install a double-tracked bridge deck. There is double track on both sides of the bridge. To the east there's the Breslau passing track that Metrolinx recently built, (with a switch configuration that forces every train to slow from 110 km/h to 70 km/h even if it's not actually meeting another train there). To the west there's existing double track through Kitchener though CN uses the second track as a siding and often parks trains on it.

The gap between the two is 4 km, and the biggest obstacle to double track is this bridge and the bridge over Hwy 7 immediately to its west. The other crossings require only minimal modification to enable a second track to be laid.

Green = existing double track. Purple = planned double track

Connecting these double track segments would make no difference to capacity until other parts of the line are double tracked, but it would eliminate the need for trains to switch tracks in Breslau, and it would increase flexibility between trains. That means less chance of a delayed train in one direction causing a delay to the other direction, and more options to schedule services with different speeds (i.e. express trains skipping Acton, Breslau etc). The flexibility would already be quite useful for the CN and Via trains, which are slower and faster than GO trains, respectively.

 

[bearcat]

The existing abutments are already designed for double track, so surely the new abutments will be as well.
View attachment 702277

I'd go further and say that they should actually install a double-tracked bridge deck. There is double track on both sides of the bridge. To the east there's the Breslau passing track that Metrolinx recently built, (with a switch configuration that forces every train to slow from 110 km/h to 70 km/h even if it's not actually meeting another train there). To the west there's existing double track through Kitchener though CN uses the second track as a siding and often parks trains on it.

The gap between the two is 4 km, and the biggest obstacle to double track is this bridge and the bridge over Hwy 7 immediately to its west. The other crossings require only minimal modification to enable a second track to be laid.

Green = existing double track. Purple = planned double track
View attachment 702276

Connecting these double track segments would make no difference to capacity until other parts of the line are double tracked, but it would eliminate the need for trains to switch tracks in Breslau, and it would increase flexibility between trains. That means less chance of a delayed train in one direction causing a delay to the other direction, and more options to schedule services with different speeds (i.e. express trains skipping Acton, Breslau etc). The flexibility would already be quite useful for the CN and Via trains, which are slower and faster than GO trains, respectively.

what is the reason that the passing track was built with such a switch configuration?

 

[reaperexpress]

what is the reason that the passing track was built with such a switch configuration?

I'm not sure, but I think they may have been assuming that all trains would stop at Breslau station. When the passing track is extended eastward they plan to arrange the tracks so the through route is the north track at both switches. So it will be possible to pass through without switching, but if they build the platform on the north side only that would still require express trains to slow to 70 to meet a local train stopped at the platform in the opposite direction.

 

[ShonTron]

Interesting. So other than in Downtown Brampton, the MX rails are going to be fully seperate with no switches between the two? Pretty cool, makes me wonder what this could imply for a future electrification of the MX Halton at a far later date.

I also wonder what the deal on the shared track in Downtown Brampton will be like. From what I understand, GO is usually always using that rail, with high 30 minute one way traffic during rush hour and hourly in each direction otherwise (2 usages of the rail per hour basically at all times). Kind of seems like CN can make do with the single track, and that MX will probably have most shots over the other track going forward.

This probably suits CN fine. It was content with a single track just east of Brampton Station for decades. As long as they have four tracks elsewhere, like between Kennedy Road and Halwest, it should work. The Halton Sub is only single track with sidings between Silver and Burlington anyway.

 

[crs1026]

The existing abutments are already designed for double track, so surely the new abutments will be as well.

I would hope so, but I'm not sure it's a slam-dunk. Those abutments may need some enlargement or modification. These shots are from 2018

This is a case (unlike Long Branch) where it would be foolish to replace in kind and not make whatever modifications are needed to get the second track built.

The one tidbit I can add is simply, it has been a long time since a well placed ML staffer told me "That bridge is in really rough shape". I believe some remedial work was done fairly soon after ML took ownership of the line, but it has sure been a long time before this full rebuild has been launched. Can't happen soon enough.

- Paul