TTC: Major Operational Issues (Various)

[nfitz]

A few years ago, we were told the only fix for Eglinton to Bloor was to close the line for many months and do major construction. With the choice to not do that, and just to minor fixes as necessary, we will of course have lots of these RSZs. C'est la vie.

 

[smallspy]

While true, the fact that they are not even aiming to get that number down to 0 is appalling. Our network is nowhere near the size of a city like New York's, who can reasonably get away with having at least a part of the subway be a WIP at all times - the fact that we can't hope to have 0 RSZs on a network with only two real lines speaks to either a stunning lack of ambition, or shocking incompetence.

This is not quite how I read the article.

The fact of the matter is that any operating railroad is going to have some maintenance that it will have to do, and that's going to have to result in some slow orders somewhere. Ignoring that is being oblivious to reality.

All that Mr. Green was stating was that reality, to prepare everyone that it is frankly an impossibility to not have any slow orders. Now, did he say it in the best way? No, but that may just be as much a reporter with an angle trying to get eyeballs onto his writing.

Dan

 

[Amare]

To echo onto previous points that have been made, there have always been slow orders in the system at one point or another for as long as I can remember, that's not uncommon to see at all.

What has been extremely unusual/unacceptable/not normal is the duration of the slow orders we have been seeing over the past 2 years (ie: some have been in effect for 3 months, 6 months, 9 months at a time). This is something we havent ever seen before, and this problem started during the "leadership" of the previous inept TTC CEO Rick Leary.

 

[jje1000]

My opinion is that slow zones are unacceptable in a modern transit system and systematic of Canada's greater productivity crisis, but as long as the TTC retains an infrastructure deficit absent of deeper fixes (i.e. lengthy shutdowns and rebuilds), these slow zones will be inevitable.

 

[Richard White]

My opinion is that slow zones are unacceptable in a modern transit system and systematic of Canada's greater productivity crisis, but as long as the TTC retains an infrastructure deficit absent of deeper fixes (i.e. lengthy shutdowns and rebuilds), these slow zones will be inevitable.

TFL does scheduled closures for engineering works. In some cases the closures can be weeks in length. They do not however do slow orders unless absolutely required.

In my opinion, slow orders are a cop out. They are an excuse not to do proper SOGR repair work.

 

[TTCdinosaur]

TFL does scheduled closures for engineering works. In some cases the closures can be weeks in length. They do not however do slow orders unless absolutely required.

In my opinion, slow orders are a cop out. They are an excuse not to do proper SOGR repair work.

TFL also has multiple lines. We are talking about TWO subway lines, to add to your points.

 

[AHK]

From Trains.com: Boston has completed 100% removal of its slow orders. If Boston can.....

MBTA completes work to remove slow orders​

By Trains Staff | December 24, 2024

Year-long Track Improvement Project wipes out more than 200 speed restrictions

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority maintenance workers replace Red Line track during a shutdown in July. The agency’s Track Improvement Program has been completed after eliminating more than 200 speed restrictions. MBTA

---

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has completed its massive Track Improvement Program, announced late last year, which has addressed more than 200 slow orders plaguing the MBTA’s rail transit network.

In a ceremony at North Station on Monday, Dec. 23, MBTA CEO Phillip Eng, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, and MBTA workers marked the Dec. 20 completion of a project on the Green Line that removed the last remaining speed restrictions. As of Sunday, Dec. 22, the rail transit network is clear of restrictions; there were 190, covering 31.4 miles — 23% of the system — when the track program was announced in November 2023 [see “MBTA announces plan to eliminate all slow orders …,” Trains News Wire, Nov. 10, 2023].

“This has been a true team effort, and I want to thank everyone — from planning and construction to those maintaining our system and communicating with the public,” Eng said in a press release. “All MBTA employees played a vital role in moving us one step closer to a state of good repair, Thank you to our workforce for their diligence, and to our riders for their patience throughout the process. … Our goal is to continue the positive momentum by focusing on accessibility and signal upgrades in 2025, as well as staying on top of preventative maintenance to ensure the T delivers safe, reliable and frequent service to best serve the public today as we build for future generations.”

The project required 23 full closures this year on portions of the transit system’s four lines, ranging from a weekend to several weeks. The work saw the MBTA install more than 250,000 feet of new rail and approximately 38,000 ties; it also included more than 15,400 feet of full-depth track reconstruction and almost 325,000 feet of tamping. The result, the MBTA says, is reductions in round-trip travel times ranging from 4 minutes on the Blue Line to nearly an hour on the Red Line, saving heavy riders a collective 2.4 million minutes per weekday.

“We know there is still work to be done,” Healey said. “We’re still going to invest in the T, and Phil and the team are going to continue working every day to deliver the world-class service that Massachusetts deserves.

 

[DSCToronto]

From Trains.com: Boston has completed 100% removal of its slow orders. If Boston can.....

MBTA completes work to remove slow orders​

By Trains Staff | December 24, 2024

Year-long Track Improvement Project wipes out more than 200 speed restrictions

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority maintenance workers replace Red Line track during a shutdown in July. The agency’s Track Improvement Program has been completed after eliminating more than 200 speed restrictions. MBTA

---

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has completed its massive Track Improvement Program, announced late last year, which has addressed more than 200 slow orders plaguing the MBTA’s rail transit network.

In a ceremony at North Station on Monday, Dec. 23, MBTA CEO Phillip Eng, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, and MBTA workers marked the Dec. 20 completion of a project on the Green Line that removed the last remaining speed restrictions. As of Sunday, Dec. 22, the rail transit network is clear of restrictions; there were 190, covering 31.4 miles — 23% of the system — when the track program was announced in November 2023 [see “MBTA announces plan to eliminate all slow orders …,” Trains News Wire, Nov. 10, 2023].

“This has been a true team effort, and I want to thank everyone — from planning and construction to those maintaining our system and communicating with the public,” Eng said in a press release. “All MBTA employees played a vital role in moving us one step closer to a state of good repair, Thank you to our workforce for their diligence, and to our riders for their patience throughout the process. … Our goal is to continue the positive momentum by focusing on accessibility and signal upgrades in 2025, as well as staying on top of preventative maintenance to ensure the T delivers safe, reliable and frequent service to best serve the public today as we build for future generations.”

The project required 23 full closures this year on portions of the transit system’s four lines, ranging from a weekend to several weeks. The work saw the MBTA install more than 250,000 feet of new rail and approximately 38,000 ties; it also included more than 15,400 feet of full-depth track reconstruction and almost 325,000 feet of tamping. The result, the MBTA says, is reductions in round-trip travel times ranging from 4 minutes on the Blue Line to nearly an hour on the Red Line, saving heavy riders a collective 2.4 million minutes per weekday.

“We know there is still work to be done,” Healey said. “We’re still going to invest in the T, and Phil and the team are going to continue working every day to deliver the world-class service that Massachusetts deserves.

They had RSZ over 23% of the system - clearly Mr Leary thought the TTC was doing rather well under his 'leadership' as we never reached this % I think!

 

[DSCToronto]

My opinion is that slow zones are unacceptable in a modern transit system and systematic of Canada's greater productivity crisis, but as long as the TTC retains an infrastructure deficit absent of deeper fixes (i.e. lengthy shutdowns and rebuilds), these slow zones will be inevitable.

As noted above, there will always be some RSZs as some track repairs/replacements cannot safely be completed in the very short window overnight when there is no service and there is, understandable, reluctance to have more and longer ' work day closures'.

 

[smallspy]

My opinion is that slow zones are unacceptable in a modern transit system and systematic of Canada's greater productivity crisis, but as long as the TTC retains an infrastructure deficit absent of deeper fixes (i.e. lengthy shutdowns and rebuilds), these slow zones will be inevitable.

Slow zones are unacceptable, but they are also inevitable regardless of whether there is or isn't an infrastructure deficit. That is the reality of operating a railroad - things break, and will need to get repaired.

TFL does scheduled closures for engineering works. In some cases the closures can be weeks in length. They do not however do slow orders unless absolutely required.

The two are not mutually exclusive. And yes, TFL regularly does have slow orders as they are part of the necessary processes of operating a railroad. Certain repair processes require a certain amount of tonnage to pass over it prior to it being lifted.

In my opinion, slow orders are a cop out. They are an excuse not to do proper SOGR repair work.

As I wrote above, slow orders are a necessary evil. Nothing more and nothing less.

Now, allowing them to sit and not get repaired and fixed is a different story.

They had RSZ over 23% of the system - clearly Mr Leary thought the TTC was doing rather well under his 'leadership' as we never reached this % I think!

He was obviously aiming for the high score. Achievement unlocked?

Dan

 

[DSCToronto]

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