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GO Transit Electrification | Metrolinx

It always was in the universities ... but hang on .. extreme left? There's no evidence of that. Equality and equity aren't even far left let alone extreme left! The article doesn't even mention socialists, just liberals ... which are very centrist, and are at best (worst) slightly left!

But to go back on topic - do you think the NDP wouldn't cancel transit expansion again, or are you simply trying to troll by changing the subject, and taking what was said out of context?

I actually agree with you that no party is clean on the transit file (or any other for that matter). Couldn't let the bullshit about neo nazis go. Equity (as in equality of outcome, as opposed to opportunity is a far left position). Should have probably quoted that passage on its own instead of the whole post.
 
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Laundry list of random replies:
1) RER bid teams - https://www.infrastructureontario.c...lected-RER-GO-Regional-Express-Rail-Corridor/
2) TC should be in process to accept Alternative FRA compliance by end of next year, hopefully sooner.
3) RER timelines will be decided by the winning bidder, but incentivized to introduce the most service as soon as possible. I’d guess the winning strategy would be to maximize Kitchener first, then Lakeshore West to Oakville. Barrie has to wait for the diamond and LSE has a bunch of grade separations to do.
 
When will Metrolinx actually decide who wins the contract? If they are going catenary they better get a move on because they will have to electrify the entire 200km RER system and order the trains all to be running by 2025. Did they mention when the proposals have to be in by and when the decision will be announced?
 
I don't think they're even confirmed when they'll issue the request for proposals yet - Let alone when they are due and when they'll announce the winner!
 
I don't think they're even confirmed when they'll issue the request for proposals yet - Let alone when they are due and when they'll announce the winner!
During the announcement they said the RFP will be released the next day (so, yesterday). Watch the video.
 
When will Metrolinx actually decide who wins the contract? If they are going catenary they better get a move on because they will have to electrify the entire 200km RER system and order the trains all to be running by 2025. Did they mention when the proposals have to be in by and when the decision will be announced?

For something this size I would assume at least a one year RFP timeline. So, they may get the bids back in May 2020 and then make a decision. Maybe the gov would need six months to make a decision and see if the bids have costs the gov is willing to live with? IE how close do the two bidders come to 13B
 
During the announcement they said the RFP will be released the next day (so, yesterday). Watch the video.
Probably more likely in a week or two then. No indication on the IO website that they were issuing last week. 24-hours would be an unprecedented turn-around from IO.

When does the contract with Bombardier expire? That might give us some idea of what they are targeting.
 
I’d guess the winning strategy would be to maximize Kitchener first
I find your point interesting....but bordering on fantasy. Exactly how is the 'Brampton to Georgetown' segment going to be addressed? Or do you mean just to Bramalea, as the RER scheme always presented?
Mapleson said:
2) TC should be in process to accept Alternative FRA compliance by end of next year, hopefully sooner.
Has TC said this publicly somewhere?
Yeahhh...I'm not being a doubting Thomas on this, just I'd love to see a reference in print. And what conditions placed on it if approved?
During the announcement they said the RFP will be released the next day (so, yesterday). Watch the video.
Words are cheap. Show me a signed *binding* agreement, one this QP regime can't "legislate" away. That point continues into CIB investment too, even though it's "debt financed" something meticulously avoided being mentioned at the "announcement". Odd that...

And yes, I have posed some 'trick' questions and points there, to which I say to this regime: "tou·ché". Who backstops whom? When does the taxpayer finally have claim to something two levels of government have played financial football with?

Or does the 'buck stop' with private investors who accept all the risk of financing the debt behind this? Answers are needed.
 
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I find your point interesting....but bordering on fantasy. Exactly how is the 'Brampton to Georgetown' segment going to be addressed? Or do you mean just to Bramalea, as the RER scheme always presented?
Yes, I was mostly referring to the RER segment that doesn't extend into the CN territory. Since the Freight Bypass was cancelled in April's budget, the only way you electrify all the way to Kitchener is using some battery technology to bridge that section.
Yeahhh...I'm not being a doubting Thomas on this, just I'd love to see a reference in print. And what conditions placed on it if approved?
I am very skeptical about it myself, and it's based on a chain of recognitions, but it's the closest we've ever been to realising lighter trains.
https://www.federalregister.gov/doc...tive-compliance-and-high-speed-trainsets#h-42
http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/railsafety/rules-tco26-356.htm
16.1 has "Unless otherwise specified in these rules, new equipment ordered after April 1, 2001 shall be designed and constructed in accordance with the Safety Standards of the latest revision in effect at the time of order of the "American Public Transit Association (APTA) Manual of Standards And Recommended Practices For Passenger Rail Equipment", or equivalent standard. "
So if the APTA adopts the FRAs alternative compliance standards, then TC will adopt and accept it by default.

Words are cheap. Show me a signed *binding* agreement, one this QP regime can't "legislate" away. That point continues into CIB investment too, even though it's "debt financed" something meticulously avoided being mentioned at the "announcement". Odd that...
There is nothing QP can sign that QP can't break. However, this private debt regime lets them put billions of debts on the books, but not have it officially count against the deficit.
Or does the 'buck stop' with private investors who accept all the risk of financing the debt behind this? Answers are needed.
The buck stop with the taxpayer always. P3 are a good way to keep debt off the books, but when things get risky, the joint-venture vehicle can just declare bankruptcy and walk away. Canada doesn't have laws that support going after the parent company in such instances, so they get all the upside if things of well and none of the downside if things go poorly. When a procurement grows to this size, the government has a vested interest to pour more money into the pit just to avoid a bigger gaping hole in the future. I don't agree with the model, but I'm highly confident that the Conservatives will back this all the so long as they can sign the final deal before the next election. If it spills over that, it's fair game for years of lost time.
 
For something this size I would assume at least a one year RFP timeline. So, they may get the bids back in May 2020 and then make a decision. Maybe the gov would need six months to make a decision and see if the bids have costs the gov is willing to live with? IE how close do the two bidders come to 13B
Four bidders and $13B is the infrastructure costs. You can probably assume $1B+ per year in operating costs (ignoring fare revenues). I'd also be surprised if they'd evaluate the bids so quickly, knowing government in general. I'd be guessing 2-2.5 years for everything, which gives a timeline of 1 year for each half and 3 months delay on each half getting it done.
 
Probably more likely in a week or two then. No indication on the IO website that they were issuing last week. 24-hours would be an unprecedented turn-around from IO.

When does the contract with Bombardier expire? That might give us some idea of what they are targeting.
This link has been updated:
The RFP has indeed been released yesteday.
 

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