Toronto Crosstown LRT | ?m | ?s | Metrolinx | Arcadis

[Metroscapes]

The planning for the new routes is in place, and they have probably designed most of the schedules, subject to tweaks from service changes that may have happened in the interim. (For example a service improvement on a route affected by Line 5 that was implemented after the new, post-line-5 version was already written.) First problem is that the process of posting the new work arrangements for operators and signing up the crews has about a two month lead time. There is also the issue of whether there will be a "big bang" with both lines opening at once, or two smaller upheavals. Obviously Eglinton is the bigger of the two. Maps of planned routes for both the Line 5 and 6 openings have been around for ages and have been through rounds of public consultation. Changes in routes may also trigger route allocations and staffing changes at divisions. This is not a trivial process. It would not matter whether the TTC was the operator for Line 5 or not, there would still be a big upheaval on the bus network. At least as the line's operator and with the associated training, the TTC has some view into what is happening. For budget planning purposes the TTC has to pick a "go live" date whether it actually happens or not. They had extra money for service at the end of 2024 as they had planned on a September startup.

Thanks Steve, this is the kind of stuff I was referring to.

 

[smallspy]

Are some cross trained on line 5 and 6? But surely there isn't demand for them now so would they be spare board operators?

As has been mentioned before....

Both lines will be operated from one division, just as how the BD and SRT was configured, or how the YUS and Sheppard still is today. Not necessarily all operators will be trained on both lines, but at least at the startup there will be some operators who will be capable of that.

Dan

 

[Allandale25]

 

[cplchanb]

so in march next year theyll say... "sometime in the early fall more likely for the timeline for the opening of the ECT rather than early summer...."

 

[Richard White]

so in march next year theyll say... "sometime in the early fall more likely for the timeline for the opening of the ECT rather than early summer...."

They may find a bolt that was not in the right spot and require a high level safety investigation before opening.

 

[stevedean]

View attachment 618540

what an absolute f*ck!ing joke...

 

[bono47]

So <2 weeks ago Verster said RSD (revenue service demonstration) will be early in Q1. This lines up with @Northern Light 's source and is a similar timeline to what I've heard from people associated with CrosstownLRT.

Recall that passengers are the only difference between RSD and the line being open to the public. Lets say Verster conservatively implied a mid February timeline with his comments. But according to the TTC we are expected to believe that they will be unable to operate the line for another 6 months after RSD? Give me a break.

 

[felix123]

So <2 weeks ago Verster said RSD (revenue service demonstration) will be early in Q1. This lines up with @Northern Light 's source and is a similar timeline to what I've heard from people associated with CrosstownLRT.

Recall that passengers are the only difference between RSD and the line being open to the public. Lets say Verster conservatively implied a mid February timeline with his comments. But according to the TTC we are expected to believe that they will be unable to operate the line for another 6 months after RSD? Give me a break.

At this point I think they're padding their schedule "just 'cause."

Or maybe they've gotten so used to huge delays that that don't actually remember how to do an opening day anymore.

 

[evandyk]

They have said they're going to give three months' notice, and haven't walked that back. If that's still true, that puts us at April 1 at the earliest.

 

[Northern Light]

So <2 weeks ago Verster said RSD (revenue service demonstration) will be early in Q1. This lines up with @Northern Light 's source and is a similar timeline to what I've heard from people associated with CrosstownLRT.

Recall that passengers are the only difference between RSD and the line being open to the public. Lets say Verster conservatively implied a mid February timeline with his comments. But according to the TTC we are expected to believe that they will be unable to operate the line for another 6 months after RSD? Give me a break.

If my source's info is accurate; and I don't doubt them at all; but they are as at the mercy as the rest of us to Mx, or the consortium not achieving what they were supposed to by date 'x'.......The TTC would have sufficient lead time to begin to operate sometime in Q2.

As @Steve Munro has pointed out above, there is a lead time from the moment the TTC is told 'GO' to being able to have the line staffed up, the minimum lead time is one Board Period, (sign-up for routes by operators), which varies in length throughout the year, but would be ~6-8 weeks on average, but the lead time is actually a bit longer, as someone has to order the new schedule into effect and create the sign-up ups for those schedules, which won't be changed the day or even the week before they are supposed to go up.

To bring this back together, I think a Q2 date from mid-April through end of June should be viable if other targets are hit as they should be.

But the latter remains to be seen.

Ramping up service in the summer would seem odd to me; as the TTC has to deal with vacations like any employer, and generally cuts back service going into summer. But we shall see.

 

[jordanmkasla2009]

If my source's info is accurate; and I don't doubt them at all; but they are as at the mercy as the rest of us to Mx, or the consortium not achieving what they were supposed to by date 'x'.......The TTC would have sufficient lead time to begin to operate sometime in Q2.

As @Steve Munro has pointed out above, there is a lead time from the moment the TTC is told 'GO' to being able to have the line staffed up, the minimum lead time is one Board Period, (sign-up for routes by operators), which varies in length throughout the year, but would be ~6-8 weeks on average, but the lead time is actually a bit longer, as someone has to order the new schedule into effect and create the sign-up ups for those schedules, which won't be changed the day or even the week before they are supposed to go up.

To bring this back together, I think a Q2 date from mid-April through end of June should be viable if other targets are hit as they should be.

But the latter remains to be seen.

Ramping up service in the summer would seem odd to me; as the TTC has to deal with vacations like any employer, and generally cuts back service going into summer. But we shall see.

Summer gives the TTC the time to measure the service impacts of the massive number of service changes that will be made once it launches with a bit of a lower demand for service. Doing so would allow them to make adjustments to the schedules that would go into effect for the September board period when service demand increases.

 

[T3G]

Summer gives the TTC the time to measure the service impacts of the massive number of service changes that will be made once it launches with a bit of a lower demand for service. Doing so would allow them to make adjustments to the schedules that would go into effect for the September board period when service demand increases.

Except that the schedule sign ups for the September board period occur some time in advance, so if there is any time frame in which they can make adjustments to the schedule, it is a trivially small one.

 

[Northern Light]

Summer gives the TTC the time to measure the service impacts of the massive number of service changes that will be made once it launches with a bit of a lower demand for service. Doing so would allow them to make adjustments to the schedules that would go into effect for the September board period when service demand increases.

@T3G is correct. The September Board is set by mid-July at the latest. So they would be unable to use any learnings before the October Board.

 

[Amare]

I know in the past, the TTC has had an aversion to having major service adjustments take place in the summer board periods (asides from the seasonal service reductions).

Unless Metrolinx presses them to do otherwise, i'd be surprised if the TTC would willingly look to start operations here in the summer board periods.

 

[Toronto Rocks]

I know in the past, the TTC has had an aversion to having major service adjustments take place in the summer board periods (asides from the seasonal service reductions).

Unless Metrolinx presses them to do otherwise, i'd be surprised if the TTC would willingly look to start operations here in the summer board periods.

Is it only a matter of time that Metrolinx merges with (takes over) the TTC?