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

Dan- in your view is this the biggest remaining bottleneck to overcome before an opening date is provided? Are multiple classes of drivers not able to train simultaneously? Thx
I'll answer your second question as it is somewhat more straightforward: not really, but kinda.

There are only enough trainers to allow for one set of classes to be taught simultaneously (a morning class and an afternoon class). However, a substantial portion of the training is simply operating the equipment in the environment in which it is designed to be operated (i.e. on the line, in "service") and for much of that training I don't think that they don't need the trainers to be on every single train, just out and about to intercept any train that may be having issues.. As this is what the second class is missing, it seems as if they are planning to offer this part of the training to them as part of the revenue service demonstration period. (There is some other training that they need still, particularly off of the equipment at track level - this is also to be done at that time.)

As for your first question: to be honest, I don't know. I am not privy to the level of details that cover the handover from constructor to owner (or operator), and so I don't know what kind of targets need to be met, or what kind of process needs to be followed. But certainly as a layperson, you can see some things that indicate how close (or far) they are from being ready to open the system. For instance:
- appliances and equipment still be installed in stations
- temporary floor coverings still in place
- equipment laying around in what-would-be public areas
- panels missing within what-would-be public areas
- signage incomplete
- exterior hardscaping incomplete

All of these are among the last things done prior to opening. If one or more of these are present, than you can safely assume that there is more work going on than meets the eye, and that the line is still some ways away from being ready to use. And most, if not all of these are visible on the various locations of the Crosstown.

Dan
 
Drove along Eglinton today, and not a single train was out.

Also found it funny some cars almost stopped for the transit red signal on an open stretch of road. Hopefully nobody interprets that when complete...
 
Also found it funny some cars almost stopped for the transit red signal on an open stretch of road. Hopefully nobody interprets that when complete...
It's been operating for years already - I never observed that when I used to commute along Eglinton.
 
Drove along Eglinton today, and not a single train was out.

Also found it funny some cars almost stopped for the transit red signal on an open stretch of road. Hopefully nobody interprets that when complete...
Ontario's refusal to adopt standard transit signals to avoid this exact kind of confusion remains as baffling as ever.
 
I don't wish to be a tease, or provide non-news.

I do wish to say, that I've been given some info, by someone kind enough to whisper to me, that leads me to believe an announcement on the beginning of service could come in the next few weeks.

I can't be much more specific at this time...........

Thank you to the person who was so kind as to share.
 
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I don't wish to be a tease, or provide non-news.

I do wish to say, that I've been given some info, by someone kind enough to whisper to me, that leads me to believe an announcement on the beginning of service could come in the next few weeks.

I can't be much more specific at this time...........

Thank you to the person who was so kind as to share.
It is a bit of a tease. But you seem pretty in-the-know or at least know people who are in-the-know, so I am hopeful.
 
I don't wish to be a tease, or provide non-news.

I do wish to say, that I've been given some info, by someone kind enough to whisper to me, that leads me to believe an announcement on the beginning of service could come in the next few weeks.

I can't be much more specific at this time...........

Thank you to the person who was so kind as to share.
My guess is that it’s a “we expect it to open by X date if the 3 month trial period goes well”. But also I don’t know why government would set themselves up for failure like that!
 
Saw a few trains on the road today with one of them showing 'Line 5 Kennedy' on the destination sign instead of the usual 'Training'(or is it 'Testing'?). Never seen it before, is this new?
 
Saw a few trains on the road today with one of them showing 'Line 5 Kennedy' on the destination sign instead of the usual 'Training'(or is it 'Testing'?). Never seen it before, is this new?
Nope, there are trains which have this on display at times. Notably, they don't have any displays noting "Line 5".

Unless they changed and updated the destination signs recently.
 
I have never understood why the TTC feels the need to specify that a rapid transit service is a "line" on the destination signs. Especially on the subway, I believe it's the "Line 1 to Vaughan" exposure that doesn't fully fit so it has to scroll. For 40 years we had "501 Neville Park", can we go back to that? Why not "5 Kennedy"?
 
Same as 503 Victoria Park vs 24 Victoria Park. Or someone reading a 510 King short turn sign and wondering what's up with all of that.

I'm not a fan of including the word "line" in any display, because it means that the actual pertinent information now has to be written smaller, or the panel has to change dynamically, to display the full range of information. When it comes to destination displays, I am a believer in less, not more. To that end I am not a fan of route names in general (43 Kennedy / to Kennedy station takes up too much space and therefore has to be written smaller, whereas 43 Kennedy Station could be written on one line).
 

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