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I will cut the CEO some slack on the aging thing, because they are likely basing their understanding on the info that is being fed up to them by their staff. And that message from staff probably is stressing that the equipment is not brand new and the maintenance budget is already stressed...

^The capacity constraint is not just for GO, it’s for CN. A GO train needs to be lined at least five minutes ahead of its arrival otherwise it will encounter restrictive aignals and be forced to slow down. And then it would take some period of time to travel thru the crossing point. With a flat...

That 2023 date might have been thrown out, but I wonder if it was ever seriously credible. Certainly, if a deal had been inked with CN back around 2018-2019 - at the time when Phil Verster claimed it was his highest priority - the most important portion, between Bramalea and Georgetown, might be...

As if by magic, work seems to be picking up on the Strachan - Parkdale - Bloor portion of the Kitchener line - telecom work at Parkdale - grading and sound walls where the Barrie line diverges, hinting at double track on that line - new and relocated “green zone” jersey barriers to protect work...

True, but they might need CN’s agreement to change the junction at Halwest. As usual, we have to assume that the copy writer who does the press release may be mangling the details, and CTV as media reporting doing likewise. So somebody says there will be 40 km of new track - somewhere - but...

Fun fact: The distance from Bramalea to Silver Jct west of Georgetown is 21 kms. So (at face value, assuming that's where the 40 km of track is planned) adding 40 kms of track is effectively giving GO a dedicated double track line thru CN territory. - Paul

The service agreements are welcome, the agreement with CN is indeed a very big deal. Now let’s hear the detailed plan and construction schedule. The tipping point will be when counter peak trains are announced. - Paul

Some more tangible signs of progress - the Mount Dennis GO station platforms have been cleared of materials, and my GO train slowed to run thru the platforms. Meanwhile, over at the MSF, the fleet was "out".... far fewer cars visible in the yard than I have ever noted before. - Paul

These things are complicated. I know a busy lumber yard that recently rebuilt its siding in expectation of continuing rail service, only to have the railway offer a container based, truck delivered service at a price they couldn't decline. The back story being, the railway had an ongoing need to...

They will get a lot done next spring during the NHL playoffs, too. Not to mention, Grey Cup weekend. - Paul

Trouble? I have no hard information, but I would think not. But possibly a sign of caution as the tunnelling passes through an area where there are specific soil conditions that warrant careful monitoring. We can only hope that the tunnelling proceeds successfully. - Paul

Historical nitpick : The outside platform track was Track 11, not 10. - Paul

My take is a little less generous.... ie few CN Managers work Thanksgiving, and so less oversight that would impose on RTC's to favour CN freights over VIA. Just a theory - Paul

it may seem trivial, but who cleans and restocks that washroom? How is it keyed ? What if it needs unplugging ? The contractor hasn't been paid yet, and liability issues do matter. - Paul

I wonder how they define "failure". Equipment out of service? Adverse operating events? Defects identified by routine inspection ? Component failure sooner than predicted ? There are plenty of functions that would benefit from automated oversight. A little googling didn't give me much...

LOL My first impulse was to offer a Bronx cheer - but we just beat those guys - Paul

Just for the record, the commitment to limit diesel trains was a condition of the TPAP approval, so was not only committed to by ML but also approved by a Minister. One would think that this would give some legal protection, but the Ford sleasebags probably have ways to get around that. - Paul

That station project is funded by the City. Nothing like a good shakedown. - Paul

Indeed. If the work were simply going slow, there would be unspent funds piling up. My conspiracy going right back to Wynne's RER plan was that while Transport may have blessed the plan, Treasury was never on board and has been feeding spanners into the spokes all along. However, as others...

They have pretty much completed the subgrade and noise walls for double tracking from Davenport all the way north to Steeles. It's somewhere between ominous and outrageous how they are maintaining radio silence on actually completing the double track. Sure looks like the plan is on hold. - Paul