The Blue and Green lines were streetcar lines that morphed into rapid transit. But I agree with you that "light metro" is a more accurate description for most modern LRT systems.

Pretty amazing summary of projects. RER = Regional Express Rail, or high-frequency commuter rail (15-30 minute headways all day both ways) and much of it electrified.

 

The feds are forcing the province of Ontario to match the awards? That's funny. Until Trudeau was elected, the province was going at it alone on transit investment in Greater Toronto....

 

Mayor John Tory says $4.8B of federal transit funding is on the way

TTC Chair says announcement comes with demand for province to share costs

By John Rieti, CBC News Posted: Jul 06, 2017 11:59 AM ET Last Updated: Jul 06, 2017 12:28 PM ET

 

Mayor John Tory says he's "thrilled" with a letter from the federal infrastructure minister that shows Toronto will get billions for future public transit projects and the province will be forced to match one-third of the costs.

 

Based on funding formulas, the city is expecting to get nearly $5 billion to spend on the Downtown Relief Line (DRL), SmartTrack, the Eglinton East LRT and Waterfront transit.

 

"This is a huge victory for Toronto and will lead to better transit for the entire region," Tory said in a news release.

 

MORE:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/toronto-federal-transit-funding-1.4192796

Study underway to examine feasibility of privately owned transit network

A startup called Moose is proposing to set up a 400-km rail system that would connect Ottawa and Gatineau to small, outlying towns. And it doesn't want to charge set fares.

http://m.metronews.ca/#/article/news/ottawa/2017/07/17/study-underway-to-examine-private-transit-network.html

Canadian infrastructure bank possible financing option for U.S.-Canada high-speed line

Posted on July 25, 2017

 

OTTAWA — The state of Washington is exploring whether Canada’s new infrastructure bank could help finance a multibillion-dollar proposal for high-speed rail between Vancouver and the Pacific Northwest, The Canadian Press reports.

 

The Trudeau government’s soon-to-be-launched, $35-billion infrastructure bank will seek to use public funds as leverage to attract billions more in private investment for major infrastructure projects, such as bridges, transit systems, and rail lines.

 

MORE:

http://www.metro-magazine.com/rail/news/724500/canadian-infrastructure-bank-possible-financing-option-for-u-s-canada-high-speed

The first track for the #Eglinton @CrosstownTO  was laid yesterday. http://ow.ly/AnaB30ejjjk

 

 

 

 

It's about time.

I thought this was nifty.

 

 

 

I did quite a bit of transit riding in Toronto over the weekend. Unfortunately, I drove into Toronto and parked near my hotel on the harbourfront. That was a big mistake. I should have parked in Aldershot or even Niagara Falls, ON and taken the train in. The traffic back up into Toronto on Thursday afternoon started at Grimsby and the traffic jam coming out of Toronto on Sunday morning ended at St. Catharines! It was unreal. And Greater Toronto continues to add 100,000 people per year with little new highway capacity planned. Just about everything the province is investing in is rail with tremendous new density around stations.

Great news: Grand opening of Spadina subway extension for revenue service is December 17; 103 days to go! #TTC

Any pictures of your trip?

Yes, in the photo section, US & world.

December 14, 2017

Finch West LRT bidders submit their proposals

Written by  David Briginshaw

 

THE three shortlisted bidders for design, build, finance and maintain contract for the $C 1.2bn ($US 933.6m) Finch West LRT project in Ontario, Canada, have submitted their proposals to Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx. The preferred bidder is expected to be announced in spring 2018.

 

 

The three teams, which all include financial advisors, comprise:

• Humber Valley Transit Partners including SNC Lavalin, Graham, and ACI

• Mosaic Transit Group, including ACS, Aecon, and CRH, and

• Fact Partners including EllisDon, Bechtel, and Herzog Transit.

 

The project entails constructing an 11km dedicated light rail line with 17 stations between Humber College and the new Finch West Subway station on the Toronto - York Spadina Subway extension, and a maintenance depot. The two end stations will be underground.

 

The line will open in 2021, and the winning consortium will maintain it for 30 years.

 

MORE:

http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/light-rail/finch-west-lrt-bidders-submit-their-proposals.html?channel=526

Cool new video from the TTC. Doesn't show the many billions of dollars they're investing to expand rail transit and dedicated bus lanes. In some ways, this is the harder stuff for transit agencies to do -- being responsive to customer's needs....

 

Perhaps this is a really dumb question and I confess to be completely ignorant as to how international rail service either works here or abroad, but would it be theoretically possible for VIA to provide, say, a Chicago-Toronto route through Detroit and/or Cleveland & Buffalo? If we can't get Congress to pay for Amtrak, it would be nice if there was a way for our Canadian friends to tap into and help serve the Great Lakes region.

There used to be the International service up to 2004.  It was a joint venture between Amtrak and VIA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_(Amtrak_train)

There are still three cross-border trains:

 

+ Maple Leaf - New York City-Toronto -- Amtrak train, crews, on-board food service on the US side of the border, with Amtrak train, VIA crews and VIA on-board food service on the Canadian side of the border -- yes, VIA and Amtrak take their food/drink on/off at Niagara Fall so they don't have to pay duty on it. Customs inspections are done twice -- a 30- to 60-minute stop to check everyone's passports at Niagara Falls, ON on the Toronto-bound train, and a 60- to 90-minute stop at Niagara Falls, NY to check everyone's passports, bags, clothing, etc. on the New York City-bound train. BTW, US Border Patrol agents with automatic weapons also regularly board every train and bus operating from Toledo east to Syracuse to look for "terrorists" but never find any. But they do remove families and others who ultimately prove to be innocent and delay trains and buses sometimes by up to an hour.

 

+ Adirondack - New York City-Montreal -- Amtrak train, crews, on-board food service on the US side of the border; with Amtrak train, VIA crews and VIA on-board food service on the Canadian side of the border. Same reason as above. The northbound border stop/inspection for Canada is at Cantic/Lacolle, Quebec while the US stop/inspection point southbound is at Rouses Point, NY. The same kind of delays at the border that occur with the Maple Leaf also occur with the Adirondack.

 

+ Cascades (two daily round trips) - Portland/Seattle-Vancouver -- Amtrak train, crews, on-board food service throughout the run. The train does not stop at the border or anywhere in Canada and train doors remain locked until the Amtrak trains pull into a secured, fenced-in pocket track at Vancouver, BC's Pacific Central Station. When the train stops and the gate behind it is closed, customs inspections are conducted as passengers exit or enter the train.

 

The last is an ideal situation but required lots of negotiations and even the passing of new laws on both side of the border. But these still relatively new cross-border provisions weren't done for the trains between New York and Ontario, or for the proposed extension of Amtrak's Vermonter to Montreal. But a new Boston-Montreal service might be the impetus for providing the kind of no-border-stop provision at the Vermont-Quebec crossing.

I did not know they are planning an underground tram tunnel below central Quebec city, North America's most European urban center. It  starts getting good at about 0:52...

 

TransLink ridership growth leads Canada, U.S.

http://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/translink-ridership-growth-leads-canada-u-s/

there is some additional rigamarole you have to do to ride the canadian bound train lines when you check in as well. there are check in booths for both places you go to before you board.

RFP for VIA Rail flagship fleet replacement

https://www.railwayage.com/passenger/rfp-for-via-rail-flagship-fleet-replacement/

Ontario Commits Over $11 Billion to Build First Phase of High Speed Rail.  As announced in the 2018 Budget, the government will make an initial investment of more than $11 billion to support construction of Phase One of the project between Toronto and London. Canada's first high speed rail line -- the largest new investment in the Budget -- will slash travel times in half along the corridor, offer people a convenient new travel option that will reduce carbon emissions, while creating new opportunities for workers, businesses and anyone traveling in this part of Ontario. Electric-powered trains will move at speeds of up to 250 kilometres per hour on a combination of existing track and new dedicated rail corridors. The high speed trains will dramatically reduce travel times -- to an estimated 73 minutes between London and Toronto Union Station. This will give people a faster and greener way to get around, and will help businesses attract talented workers from across a wider area.

MORE.......

https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2018/04/ontario-commits-over-11-billion-to-build-first-phase-of-high-speed-rail.html

 

 

 

Here’s what the Liberal’s proposed Toronto-Waterloo high-speed rail system would mean for the Waterloo housing market.  Last week, Ontario’s Liberal government released its proposed budget for the next three years. One of the promises that generated the most buzz is a $11 billion Toronto-Waterloo high speed rail line. What would such a project mean for Waterloo property values? Only good things, according to local realtors. “Even before this announcement, the Waterloo housing market has been seeing a surge in activity,” Waterloo-based realtor Keith Marshall tells BuzzBuzzNews. “A lot of people who can’t afford the GTA market are looking here, and a rail line would only add to that demand.”

MORE....

http://news.buzzbuzzhome.com/2018/04/heres-liberals-proposed-toronto-waterloo-high-speed-rail-system-mean-waterloo-housing-market.html

April 2018

Ontario invests billions in ambitious plan to boost GO Transit's commuter-rail service

By Daniel Niepow, Associate Editor

 

With 2.8 million residents, Toronto is Canada’s biggest city, and it’s only getting bigger. The city’s larger metropolitan region — the greater Toronto and Hamilton area (GHTA) — boasts a population of more than 7.1 million. By 2041, that figure is projected to grow to more than 10 million people.

 

As the number of GHTA residents continues to grow, the province of Ontario is launching a plan to boost GO Transit’s commuter-rail service in the region. The GO Regional Express Rail (RER) project calls for electrifying core segments of GO Transit’s network and performing hundreds of other infrastructure upgrades.

 

The goal is to transform GO’s rail system from a primarily peak-hour commuter service to a high-frequency, all-day service. By 2025, Ontario aims to run trains every 15 minutes in each direction on key system segments. In total, GO RER would boost the number of weekly GO Transit trains from 1,500 to 6,000.

 

MORE:

https://www.progressiverailroading.com/passenger_rail/article/Ontario-invests-billions-in-ambitious-plan-to-boost-GO-Transits-commuter-rail-service--54376

Mosaic wins Toronto Finch West LRT project

Mosaic Transit Group has signed a contract worth C$2.5 billion ($1.9 billion) to design, build, finance and maintain the Finch West Light Rail Transit project.

https://www.railwayage.com/passenger/mosaic-wins-toronto-finch-west-lrt-project/

 

 

VIA Rail logged ridership, revenue growth in 2017

In 2017, VIA Rail Canada Inc. provided almost 4.4 million rides, marking a 10.5 percent increase compared to ridership in 2016. That increase marked the railroad's greatest year-over-year growth in ridership in the last decade, VIA Rail officials said in a press release.

https://www.progressiverailroading.com/passenger_rail/news/VIA-Rail-logged-ridership-revenue-growth-in-2017--54624

 

So now the liberals and conservatives are trying to outdo each other on who will out-invest the other in transit funding.....

 

Ford promises $5B for subways in Toronto, pledges other transit projects

http://leaderpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/canada-news-pmn/ford-promises-5b-for-subways-in-toronto-pledges-other-transit-projects/wcm/093c5562-933b-4790-ba58-80528f1ce772

Montreal transit agency ventures into real estate with mixed-use complex. Pairing real estate development with transport system investments makes perfect sense: it’s about housing, good density and sustainability. https://t.co/8hwYTnToJX

 

 

So if you're in the Buffalo/Niagara Falls area, this also means you get convenient rail service to spend a full day in Toronto....

 

Regular commuter GO Train service into Niagara begins in January

https://globalnews.ca/news/4763419/go-train-service-niagara-st-catharines/

 

 

April 15, 2019

Ontario thaws Hamilton LRT real estate dollars

Written by John Thompson, Canadian Contributing Editor

 

Canada’s Province of Ontario government on March 28 agreed to release funding to complete property acquisitions for Hamilton’s planned light rail transit system, following a freeze implemented in 2018. The halt to property acquisitions had been made, allegedly, as part of Ontario’s efforts to reduce a multi-billion-dollar budget deficit.

 

The announcement was made following a meeting at Hamilton City Hall between Mayor Fred Eisenberger and Ontario Transportation Minister Jeff Yurek. The Mayor had been attempting to arrange the meeting for months, but had been continually been put off by the government of Ontario Premier Doug Ford.

 

The resumption of property purchases sends a clear signal that the LRT project is proceeding, ending doubts caused by the government’s freeze, and other delays caused by maverick city councilors. This means that the three consortiums shortlisted to build and operate the line will be able to proceed to finalize their bids, a costly process. They have been granted an extra six months to do so, beyond the original deadline of April 2019.

 

Construction of the 14-km (8.5-mile) line should begin in early 2020; some preliminary work, such as soils testing, has been completed.

 

MORE:
https://www.railwayage.com/news/ontario-thaws-hamilton-lrt-real-estate-dollars/

Edited April 16, 20196 yr by KJP

 

 

Meanwhile, on the other side of the lake....

 

Region of Waterloo's ION light rail opens for service
The 19-station route is just shy of 10 miles and serves as the core to the region’s master plan for sustainable mobility.https://www.masstransitmag.com/rail/infrastructure/article/21085914/region-of-waterloos-ion-light-rail-opens-for-service

More from the Canadian side...

 

 

Bad news on the other side of the lakes....

 

UPDATE: ‘A betrayal of the City of Hamilton’ — Ontario pulls out of LRT
https://www.therecord.com/news-story/9776822-a-betrayal-of-the-city-of-hamilton-ontario-pulls-out-of-lrt/

 

 

AND

 

 

 

 

C$15B approved for the next few years -- and a new dedicated funding process:

 

 

https://www.railjournal.com/financial/canada-announces-c-14-9bn-of-funding-for-public-transport-transport/

That's $C49 or $US38.68 / year / capita.

 

Ohio (pop. 11.7M) plans to spend $US7.3M on transit / yr or 63 cents / capita.

 

All day service to Hamilton!

 

 

The Milton corridor has long been GO Transit's red-headed stepchild. Glad to see this upgrade as well as the federal government getting more involved in public transportation investments. They also stepped up to revive the Hamilton light-rail line to its original scale...

 

Metrolinx lands federal funding commitment for Milton Corridor upgrades

https://www.progressiverailroading.com/passenger_rail/news/Metrolinx-lands-federal-funding-commitment-for-Milton-Corridor-upgrades--64297

I believe Milton is still the GTA's fastest growing city so it makes sense.

 

a light rail project is back in play for hamilton

 

 

Hamilton light rail project back on the agenda

Sep 17, 2021
Written by Kevin Smith

 

City of Hamilton and Metrolinx set to establish a project team and proceed towards procurement for 14km line.

 

more:

https://www.railjournal.com/news/hamilton-light-rail-project-back-on-the-agenda/

 

 

With the PM putting money into it, the project might be a full-build-out of the original proposal.

GO transit expanded rail service to London starting today. Slow ride though. Trip account starts here...

 

 

GO Train to London?  That seems a bit...excessive for a commuter-rail.  And I thought KWC was pushing it...

32 minutes ago, ColDayMan said:

GO Train to London?  That seems a bit...excessive for a commuter-rail.  And I thought KWC was pushing it...

 

Unless you're commuting to Kitchener. Or you want access to GTA jobs without paying for GTA housing. Or you're an Ontario politician who's getting tired of waiting for VIA to expand rail service to more of Ontario. So now we have GO (Government of Ontario) Transit expanding bus and rail service to Niagara Falls. At some point you might see GO Trains operate west to Windsor and operate at VIA speeds, express services and all-day schedules.

Poor VIA.  Literally.