by mdvle
Fewer tracks, wider platforms, higher platforms
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2019/0 ... iency.html
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2019/0 ... iency.html
Railroad Forums
Moderator: Ken V
dowlingm wrote:Raising the platforms won't make all cars accessible unless the platforms are raised everywhere else too (including where CN might have something to say about it)GO will not need real high-level platforms, such as Montreal and Québec have, because of the doors being on a low level. The simplest improvement is to raise the platforms to be level to the bottom step, leaving only one short step to get on the train. Of course, they need to do that at other stations, some of which have a ridiculous gap between the platform and the bottom step. My local GO station is just as "non-accessible" now as it was in 1967. One of the platforms is so low many passengers have to pull themselves up to entrain and jump to detrain. Those stations which are "accessible" have a raised platform by the fifth coach from the locomotive. But the gap has to be bridged manually by the Customer Service Ambassador at each station.
marquisofmississauga wrote: Higher level platforms shouldn't be a problem on most lines as they are owned by Metrolinx. The busiest route, Lakeshore East and West, was purchased from CN in stages and it is all Metrolinx from Oshawa to Burlington, leaving only the short distance from Burlington to Aldershot and Hamilton as railway owned lines.Ownership is only part of the problem, as long as there is freight on the tracks then raising the platforms is likely to be a problem - it's the freight that gives us that huge gap for the wheelchair boarding at existing stations.
marquisofmississauga wrote: Metrolinx also owns the Kitchener, Stouffville and Barrie lines. The relatively lightly-used - by GO that is - Richmond Hill line (CN Bala Sub.) and the Milton (CP Galt Sub.) are likely to remain with the railways for the forseeable future due to their importance for freight.Metrolinx doesn't own the Kitchener line. The Bramalea - Georgetown (well, west of Georgetown) segment is still owned by CN and is a busy freight corridor for CN.
mdvle wrote:There is no excuse for me forgetting about that stretch of track because I went through there on a VIA train a few weeks ago. On all other VIA trips train #85 has used the north track at Brampton, where the station is. This time we were on the south track. Perhaps this is a new procedure which might reduce - but certainly not eliminate - conflicts with freight.
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Metrolinx doesn't own the Kitchener line. The Bramalea - Georgetown (well, west of Georgetown) segment is still owned by CN and is a busy freight corridor for CN.
That is why Metrolinx wants to build the "missing link" freight connection to move CN off the Georgetown line and onto the 407 corridor - and ideally CP at the same time.
However the recent change in government in Ontario has put that plan into the unknown category.