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But why would that happen? That just poses the question of where to bring the line from Exhibition to the UPX corridor, and removes the direct connection between the city's two largest transit hubs. I can only see it making sense if it branched north on Jane Street from Trethewey to Highway 407.
I think the biggest issue with the idea is that there is no way federal regulations would let Line 3's Light-Metro trains run on the same tracks as GO's much larger and heavier trains. As well there are issues with signalling, automation and possibly loading-gauge. All that is to say that it is possible to do but it would require a rework of the Weston Sub with the OL being given its own dedicated tracks separate from the Kitchener Line. At least a minimum of 2 tracks for GO and 2 tracks for the OL which also mean new platforms at some stations (basically like Line 2 using the Galt Sub row or the SRT using the Uxbridge Sub row). That said the corridor is wide enough for 4 tracks so its not impossible to add a fourth and then give the OL and GO two each, they just can't interact with each other in revenue service. So its not impossible it would just require a bit of money.
There’s been some chatter recently. Since the technologies will eventually be similar—and the systems serve comparable roles in both the east and west—merging them isn’t an unreasonable idea. The real challenge would be figuring out how such a service interfaces with Union Station and the current Ontario Line alignment. But if you start thinking of it more as an urban-style REM network, the concept becomes a lot more plausible.
I don't think a merger is unreasonable, but I think keeping them seperate while making the UPX a new dedicated electrified line is enough to transform the west end. Keeping this new hypothetical UPX and the OL seperate gives a huge amount of flexibility to a western OL extension - whether that's continuing west towards the Queensway, turning up to serve Dufferin and eventually Jane, or as some have mentioned, branching to do both. Just off currently planned stations on the Kitchener corridor, this new UPX line would get connections to Line 1 at Union, 510, 504, Line 2, 512, Line 5, Line 6 and the airport.
Kinda reminds me of the London Docklands Light Rail system. A bunch of interlining routes sharing one unique system design, overlaid on top of a more conventional heavy rail network.
It seems the tea leaves are pointing to the Ontario Line replacing the UPX along the corridor towards the airport.On Steve Munro's blog, I saw this. It seems the current thinking is to extend OL West to Dundas West. I suppose that imagines following the GO ROW.
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The Priority of Transit Corridors
Anyone who has watched the transit “planning” debates at Council or at the TTC will know that various schemes for higher order transit pop up from time to time, but they are rarely cons…stevemunro.ca
I don't think that can be concluded from Official Plan Map 4. That extension from Exhibition to Dundas West is mostly a hangover from the old DRL alignment (that's still on the current Official Plan Map 4).
You're right. I cited tea leaves as my source. lol
I'd think you'd need to do like what is done between the Don River and Gerrard stations, with two dedicated tracks alongside the GO tracks, from about Wallace, north.
It would be tight because I would assume frequent service would be for both lines.
I don't think that would happen though. I think we'd have branches with different service patterns. Similar to Montreal's REM or even London's DLR.
How is it "convenient" when Exhibition Station is on a different rail corridor than the one used by the UP?
