mdrejhon
Senior Member
They've been making provisions for catenary
All moves point to making electrification easier and easier, as time passes. Electrification using catenary is inevitable at least on at least one main GO train route, even if the dates are a moving target.
Even if alternatives (4G / hybrids / non-diesels -- hell, even hydrogen -- for minor feeder routes) happen, catenary WILL still happen on at least one route eventually due to pressure to fill corridor capacity. Union Station is designed to push 3x as many passengers as today, once full revitalization is complete. Even if dates shift to 2028 or 2032.
Many of us are familiar with Metrolinx delays that we all love [Insert "AnimatedAngryMonkey.gif" here] but the evidence is plainly momentum towards clearly eventual electrification by catenary.
- They've installed ground-based mount points for catenary portals at the Whitby maintenance facility.
- In Hamilton, the new John Street bridge rebuild has been raising the bridge to just above catenary height. They did that for the earlier Bay Street bridge rebuild a few years ago.
- Newer signal portals that are recently installed have been adjusted in height to double as catenary portals.
- The 2020s decade have both the Whitby Mahal (gigantic electrification-ready maintenance facility) and Union Station Mahal (completed revitalization), oversized facilities for non-electrified service.
All moves point to making electrification easier and easier, as time passes. Electrification using catenary is inevitable at least on at least one main GO train route, even if the dates are a moving target.
Even if alternatives (4G / hybrids / non-diesels -- hell, even hydrogen -- for minor feeder routes) happen, catenary WILL still happen on at least one route eventually due to pressure to fill corridor capacity. Union Station is designed to push 3x as many passengers as today, once full revitalization is complete. Even if dates shift to 2028 or 2032.
Many of us are familiar with Metrolinx delays that we all love [Insert "AnimatedAngryMonkey.gif" here] but the evidence is plainly momentum towards clearly eventual electrification by catenary.
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