VIA Rail network developments

[lrt's friend]

It is no coincidence that service is being upgraded in 2017 given the big celebrations that will be taking place in Ottawa. Passenger traffic will be increasing. Hopefully they will add a late evening train.

[GoTrans]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

It is no coincidence that service is being upgraded in 2017 given the big celebrations that will be taking place in Ottawa. Passenger traffic will be increasing. Hopefully they will add a late evening train.

There is no coincidence that this announcement is all about the election. The press release mentions improving bridges 2x in the same release. It is probably double counting the money that is currently being spent on the consutruction of grade separation on Greenbank Road in Barrhaven. It re-announces the building of a siding between Fallowfield and Merivale Road. It announces that the Renaissance equipment will be allowed to use the route between Ottawa and Montreal, which it always could. The only real new items are construction of high level platforms in Ottawa station, bridge improvements and installing more welded rail.

This is basically campaigning for the election with out really doing much more than what is already in the works.

[Norman Bates]

Originally Posted by GoTrans

There is no coincidence that this announcement is all about the election. The press release mentions improving bridges 2x in the same release. It is probably double counting the money that is currently being spent on the consutruction of grade separation on Greenbank Road in Barrhaven. It re-announces the building of a siding between Fallowfield and Merivale Road. It announces that the Renaissance equipment will be allowed to use the route between Ottawa and Montreal, which it always could. The only real new items are construction of high level platforms in Ottawa station, bridge improvements and installing more welded rail.

This is basically campaigning for the election with out really doing much more than what is already in the works.

A shocking revelation. Just shocking.

You shall be placed on Stephen harper's black list and dealt with to the fullest extent of whatever law they can twist and bend to your detriment.

[MountainView]

Originally Posted by GoTrans

It re-announces the building of a siding between Fallowfield and Merivale Road.

You seem fairly knowledgeable on the topic of rail. Any plan documents or more information about this on a webpage would be great. Or when they plan to construct this? Currently there are two tracks at Fallowfield Station but that is it. I guess Woodroffe/Transitway would be a double track crossing in this case.

Thanks!

[GoTrans]

Originally Posted by MountainView

You seem fairly knowledgeable on the topic of rail. Any plan documents or more information about this on a webpage would be great. Or when they plan to construct this? Currently there are two tracks at Fallowfield Station but that is it. I guess Woodroffe/Transitway would be a double track crossing in this case.

Thanks!

Below is the link to the Government of Canada press release concerning funding for Via Rail's infrastructure announcement along with the actual oress release. While any money spent on Via is a good thing the timing of this funding is somewhat suspect.

http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?...=2&nid=1013689

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VIA Rail's Federal Infrastructure Initiative
As part of the $5.8 billion in infrastructure spending announced by Prime Minister Harper, $102 million new funding will go to VIA Rail for several projects to improve the safety and efficiency of the Ottawa-Montreal corridor.The investment will be made over two fiscal years (2015-16 and 2016-17). Projects to be funded include:

Enable the Renaissance car fleet for use on the Ottawa-Montreal line and thus, provide customers with a consistent level of service west of Montreal while replacing older equipment. This fleet will also enhance the accessibility service for travelers in wheelchairs and/or with service animals‎.
Upgrade tracks and bridges between Montreal and the Ottawa area.
Build new track siding and make changes to the turnout to allow more fluid movement of trains in the Barrhaven area (Ottawa).
Repair Alexandria piers and abutments to avoid the risk of compromising the structural capacity of the bridge and to ensure the safe passage of freight and passenger trains.
Upgrade centralized traffic control signals to improve the efficiency and safety of operations.
Upgrade signal systems to improve reliability, efficiency and safety of operations.
Repair Ottawa Station infrastructure (main electrical power supply and distribution), and build high level platforms to improve customer safety, travel experience, and accessibility, as well as eliminate some delays.
Repair rail bridges in the Ottawa area.
Replace culverts between Ottawa and Montreal to ensure structural integrity.
Change/upgrade mechanical & electrical systems at the Ottawa Station to safely keep the trains ready to go without having to run a generator.
Replace bolted rail with continuous welded rail in the Beachburg, Alexandria and Smith Falls subdivisions and other track upgrades within the city limits of Ottawa.
July 2015

Below is the Pdf file from Via Rail for the construction of the Waas Siding east of Fallowfield that is currently under construction.

http://www.viarail.ca/sites/all/file...IA/QA_Wass.pdf

The web page shown below is from the City of Ottawa for the current construction of the grade separation on Greenbank Road and Via Rail.

http://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/planni...ptember-2014-1

The following is the link to an Ottawa Citizen article about the same project with some comments relating to the Woodroffe Ave / Transitway crossing.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/Greenba...054/story.html

[MountainView]

Thank you for taking the time to find that information. I appreciate it GoTrans!

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by MountainView

Thank you for taking the time to find that information. I appreciate it GoTrans!

I think we can agree with everybody who contributes in this way.

[Buggys]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

I think we can agree with everybody who contributes in this way.

I agree.

[djqwilson]

A pressing need is to build a flyover so that there is a full great separation between VIA Rail and the Trillium line. We can discuss the causes of the September 2013 Fallowfield tragedy. There are many causes.

But the real problem is that we cannot have a high frequency rapid transit system crossing a railroad of that traffic density. The Trillium-VIA Rail line is probably the busiest at-grade crossover in the continent, ahead of Fort Worth Tower 50, Rochelle, Fostoria, Portage la Prairie, etc.

In Montreal, CN forbade any expansion of commuter trains to Deux Montagnes until a cross-over separated the commuter line from its freight line. The train frequencies are much lower than at Ottawa. Similarly, GO Transit build flyovers for its Barrie and Georgetown trains.

Whatever the safety features on the two lines, with almost 100 Trillium trains crossing the junction per day, we are taking too big a risk.
DW

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by djqwilson

A pressing need is to build a flyover so that there is a full great separation between VIA Rail and the Trillium line. We can discuss the causes of the September 2013 Fallowfield tragedy. There are many causes.

But the real problem is that we cannot have a high frequency rapid transit system crossing a railroad of that traffic density. The Trillium-VIA Rail line is probably the busiest at-grade crossover in the continent, ahead of Fort Worth Tower 50, Rochelle, Fostoria, Portage la Prairie, etc.

In Montreal, CN forbade any expansion of commuter trains to Deux Montagnes until a cross-over separated the commuter line from its freight line. The train frequencies are much lower than at Ottawa. Similarly, GO Transit build flyovers for its Barrie and Georgetown trains.

Whatever the safety features on the two lines, with almost 100 Trillium trains crossing the junction per day, we are taking too big a risk.
DW

We have 10 crossings per hour right now (considering trains in both directions), so it is already well over 100 per day.

[GoTrans]

Originally Posted by djqwilson

A pressing need is to build a flyover so that there is a full great separation between VIA Rail and the Trillium line. We can discuss the causes of the September 2013 Fallowfield tragedy. There are many causes.

But the real problem is that we cannot have a high frequency rapid transit system crossing a railroad of that traffic density. The Trillium-VIA Rail line is probably the busiest at-grade crossover in the continent, ahead of Fort Worth Tower 50, Rochelle, Fostoria, Portage la Prairie, etc.

In Montreal, CN forbade any expansion of commuter trains to Deux Montagnes until a cross-over separated the commuter line from its freight line. The train frequencies are much lower than at Ottawa. Similarly, GO Transit build flyovers for its Barrie and Georgetown trains.

Whatever the safety features on the two lines, with almost 100 Trillium trains crossing the junction per day, we are taking too big a risk.
DW

There are 174 O-Train movements a day and an average of 14 Via movements at day for a total of 190. Clearly this needs to be rectified and the O-Train line should be double tracked at the same time.
That being said, I believe the first priority should be Woodroffe Ave/Transitway and the Via Rail track at Fallowfield. This has just as many Via movements, has high bus traffic and a high volume of vehicle traffic. The city has been cheap and is still being cheap. Rather than trying to fix the problem permanently by building a grade separation they are trying to counter sue Via for the accident. If there ever was a project that should have funding from the federal, provincial and city governments this is it. This should have been done years ago when the city built the transit way. The probability of another accident happening here is higher than the probability of an accident happening at the O-Train and Via Rail crossing. That being said, the rail/rail grade separation should be done as soon as a separation at Woodroffe is completed. These 2 projects are fine examples of what the new Liberal government should fund. Both of these projects will improve transit, rail and in the case of Woodroffe vehicle safety.

[1overcosc]

^ But both, especially the Trillium-VIA separation, are not projects the city is likely to propose for funding. They're more likely to ask for dollars for the airport rail link, the extension to Trim, or a Kanata extension.

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by 1overcosc

^ But both, especially the Trillium-VIA separation, are not projects the city is likely to propose for funding. They're more likely to ask for dollars for the airport rail link, the extension to Trim, or a Kanata extension.

Interesting, if the project is for the south end of the city it is low priority. Everything done for the south is done half-*ssed and that includes the airport link.

[HighwayStar]

Originally Posted by 1overcosc

^ But both, especially the Trillium-VIA separation, are not projects the city is likely to propose for funding. They're more likely to ask for dollars for the airport rail link, the extension to Trim, or a Kanata extension.

While I tend to agree with you... I think it's a very sad approach. Basically a statement of quantity over quality.

I think it makes much more sense to have a very robust inner city mass transit network first... rather than sprawling half baked tentacles to far flung nether regions (which, as much as I hate to say this, includes the airport)...

[GoTrans]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

Interesting, if the project is for the south end of the city it is low priority. Everything done for the south is done half-*ssed and that includes the airport link.

Without a long range plan to double track the whole Trillium line there is no point in building double track for phase 2 of the Trillium line even though it would be relatively inexpensive. This would be like the cost of adding one lane of highway to an existing road on one side only.

[DarkArconio]

I think the best hope we have for those two VIA crossings to be separated is dependant on VIA securing funding for its plan to acquire, double track, and grade separate key portions of the Ottawa-Montreal-Toronto triangle.

[1overcosc]

^ Given that there's O-Trains crossing almost all the time, it's quite an annoyance for VIA to schedule around. I imagine they'd have a strong motivation to build a separation if they get the money for it. Such a separation would probably part of their dedicated tracks project... which, now that we have a new, more spend-happy government, may not require the weird P3 scheme anymore.

[waterloowarrior]

VIA buys Brockville subdivision from CP
http://www.viarail.ca/en/about-via-r...-network-acqui

VIA RAIL EXPANDS ITS RAIL NETWORK BY ACQUIRING THE BROCKVILLE SUBDIVISION

Monday, November 23rd 2015
Montreal, November 23, 2015 – VIA Rail Canada (VIA Rail) is pleased to announce it acquired the Brockville Subdivision, consisting of 45 kilometers (28 miles) of single track between Smiths Falls and Brockville, in Ontario.

“This acquisition will strengthen our rail network dedicated to passenger trains in the Ottawa region, where VIA Rail owns more than 200 kilometers (140 miles) of track”, said Yves Desjardins-Siciliano, VIA Rail’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “With recent improvements in the region and ownership of the track from Ottawa to Brockville, we are well positioned to improve our reliability and our On-time performance going into and out of Ottawa”.

Over the last few years, VIA Rail has invested some $20 million in capital to improve safety on the Brockville Subdivision with the introduction of a Centralized Traffic Control system for train movements. This investment has also improved the reliability and flexibility of service with the addition of two new sidings for train meets. These infrastructure changes permitted the addition of two round trips to the daily schedule, allowed for higher speeds and improved trip times. In addition, curve alignments were adjusted to support increased speeds, public crossings were upgraded, and security fencing was installed for safety.

“VIA Rail will have more agility to make work and infrastructure upgrades in the Brockville Subdivision to improve its service”, added Yves Desjardins-Siciliano. “On the limited infrastructure owned by VIA Rail, punctuality is in the mid-90%. Our customers will benefit greatly from this new asset.”

[HighwayStar]

Not sure if this was mentioned in another thread but at the NCC meeting on Jan 20, VIA rail station platforms are looking to undergo a major overhaul:

http://www.ncc-ccn.gc.ca/sites/defau...esentation.pdf

If you look at the pics on Slides 7 & 10... it looks like the pedestrian access to the Trainyards is part of the deal!

I'm happy and not complaining, but not really sure how this is an NCC project ???

[waterloowarrior]

Originally Posted by HighwayStar

I'm happy and not complaining, but not really sure how this is an NCC project ???

See this page - federal governments need to go through the NCC for approvals in the NCR
http://www.ncc-ccn.gc.ca/property-ma...sign-approvals