Here is an article just published by Metroland reporter Jennifer O'Meara re METROLINX CEO Phil Verster presentation and Q&A at Virtual Town Hall hosted by MPP Lindsey Park Tues. Feb. 2, 2021 A bridge and a deal: Metrolinx’s plan to get GO trains across Hwy. 401 (durhamregion.com) (article copied below)
"After years of work and study to bring the GO train north of Hwy. 401 in Oshawa, there's a plan and an agreement to make it happen.
Almost a year ago, Durham MPP Lindsey Park announced a detailed report that found the GO train expansion into Clarington should take the route along the CP rail north of Hwy. 401. To make that possible, Metrolinx (the provincial agency that runs GO Transit) has been working to reach an agreement with the Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) to use their railway corridor.
'Most importantly we had to resolve the commercial agreement with CP the freight operator. We had to get consent to build the railway on their property. That corridor where we build the railway all the way to Bowmanville belongs to CP. The type of agreement we reached with them was going to affect our design … A lot of energy went this year into progressing that and to get that ready for approval,' said Metrolinx CEO Phil Verster, at a virtual town hall hosted by MPP Park on Tuesday, Feb. 2.
Metrolinx finally has a principal agreement with CP and work in underway to advance that to a commercial agreement, Verster explained.
For much of the past year, Metrolinx has been working on a solution for the big technical challenge of how to use the existing Oshawa station and still get on the preferred CP route north of Hwy. 401.
Metrolinx announced they are going to build a rail bridge right next to the General Motors spur bridge across the Hwy. 401 in Oshawa. After the bridge, the GO train will turn right to cross the CP line and head east toward Clarington.
Originally, it looked as if GO trains couldn't get over the GM bridge with its sharp bend and steep incline. Metrolinx worked out a way to get lighter, shorter passenger trains across the spur bridge.
The GO rail from Toronto to Bowmanville will change from electric to diesel, however the GO trains will be outfitted for both and riders will be able to embark on one train and stay on until they arrive at their destination, according to Verster.
In November, when GM announced it was reopening the Oshawa truck plant — which could make train traffic crowded on the spur bridge — it threw another engineering challenge at Metrolinx. The GM bridge reopening means Metrolinx will build a second bridge right next to the spur bridge, which may be a better way forward, according to Verster. It means passenger trains won't have to pull over to wait for freight trains to pass. Operationally, the GO trains and CP freight trains will be very separated as they cross the highway.
'For me though, building the second bridge means we're building railways, not for five years or for 50 years even, we're building it for 150 years. This is a long-term investment. If we can ensure good service operation across this by building a bridge right next to the CP bridge, I think that's the right investment to make,' said Verster."
When I listened to the meeting Tuesday night I heard Metrolinx describe how the GO track and CP track are mostly separate, but there will be 2 Diamonds north of the planned new GO bridge when the track turns right (east).
When the picture of the GM spur line bridge was on the screen Phil Verster said "Picture a bridge and our track parallel to the left, we will cross at the top end right under where it says GM spur 401 Crossing. There we will be bending to the right...and cross over in two DIAMONDS, so what we will actually have is not coproduction over the GM spur but a separate production and we will therefore have a track part that interlaces only at the 2 diamonds to the north of the 401 so operating the service is largely separated..."
I was curious about the 'diamonds' and the next day emailed Metrolinx VP Spencer Gibbens asking if he could provide a design sketch of the planned 2 diamonds interlace for better understanding. Just copying here what a Google search of track diamond images show. I will try to post any reply from Mr. Gibbens.
"After years of work and study to bring the GO train north of Hwy. 401 in Oshawa, there's a plan and an agreement to make it happen.
Almost a year ago, Durham MPP Lindsey Park announced a detailed report that found the GO train expansion into Clarington should take the route along the CP rail north of Hwy. 401. To make that possible, Metrolinx (the provincial agency that runs GO Transit) has been working to reach an agreement with the Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) to use their railway corridor.
'Most importantly we had to resolve the commercial agreement with CP the freight operator. We had to get consent to build the railway on their property. That corridor where we build the railway all the way to Bowmanville belongs to CP. The type of agreement we reached with them was going to affect our design … A lot of energy went this year into progressing that and to get that ready for approval,' said Metrolinx CEO Phil Verster, at a virtual town hall hosted by MPP Park on Tuesday, Feb. 2.
Metrolinx finally has a principal agreement with CP and work in underway to advance that to a commercial agreement, Verster explained.
For much of the past year, Metrolinx has been working on a solution for the big technical challenge of how to use the existing Oshawa station and still get on the preferred CP route north of Hwy. 401.
Metrolinx announced they are going to build a rail bridge right next to the General Motors spur bridge across the Hwy. 401 in Oshawa. After the bridge, the GO train will turn right to cross the CP line and head east toward Clarington.
Originally, it looked as if GO trains couldn't get over the GM bridge with its sharp bend and steep incline. Metrolinx worked out a way to get lighter, shorter passenger trains across the spur bridge.
The GO rail from Toronto to Bowmanville will change from electric to diesel, however the GO trains will be outfitted for both and riders will be able to embark on one train and stay on until they arrive at their destination, according to Verster.
In November, when GM announced it was reopening the Oshawa truck plant — which could make train traffic crowded on the spur bridge — it threw another engineering challenge at Metrolinx. The GM bridge reopening means Metrolinx will build a second bridge right next to the spur bridge, which may be a better way forward, according to Verster. It means passenger trains won't have to pull over to wait for freight trains to pass. Operationally, the GO trains and CP freight trains will be very separated as they cross the highway.
'For me though, building the second bridge means we're building railways, not for five years or for 50 years even, we're building it for 150 years. This is a long-term investment. If we can ensure good service operation across this by building a bridge right next to the CP bridge, I think that's the right investment to make,' said Verster."
When I listened to the meeting Tuesday night I heard Metrolinx describe how the GO track and CP track are mostly separate, but there will be 2 Diamonds north of the planned new GO bridge when the track turns right (east).
When the picture of the GM spur line bridge was on the screen Phil Verster said "Picture a bridge and our track parallel to the left, we will cross at the top end right under where it says GM spur 401 Crossing. There we will be bending to the right...and cross over in two DIAMONDS, so what we will actually have is not coproduction over the GM spur but a separate production and we will therefore have a track part that interlaces only at the 2 diamonds to the north of the 401 so operating the service is largely separated..."
I was curious about the 'diamonds' and the next day emailed Metrolinx VP Spencer Gibbens asking if he could provide a design sketch of the planned 2 diamonds interlace for better understanding. Just copying here what a Google search of track diamond images show. I will try to post any reply from Mr. Gibbens.
Imo there were two aspects of the presentation where there may be a lot of questions.
1st: When one Bowmanville resident asked it Metrolinx thought it best to build the Bowmanville station first, Phil Verster said YES, that should be the priority approach. Honestly, they expropriated the former Knob Hill in Oshawa and they going to skip it...picture riders to Bowmanville looking out the train window and pointing ah there is poor Oshawa's old Knob Hill. Really??Although I don't think it best, I can see how they might think it makes sense to build the Bowmanville station first. It would lessens the pressure on the Oshawa Thornton GO station parking situation...and the new jobs going to Clarington's OPG headquarters planned to open in a couple years likely are expecting it.
But honestly, this is still going to take a long time, and a lot more money as the years pass...Think of the Pickering pedestrian bridge, how it ended up with many delays and much over budget . $40 Million just for the pedestrian bridge.
Yes the Pickering bridge looks fancier than a rail bridge. But wouldn't the weight and speed of GO trains travelling over Hwy 401 cost just as much to build if not more because it will have to stand up to considerably more wear and tear than pedestrian foot traffic.
In addition to the surprise hearing Metrolinx say they would be building the Bowmanville station first...
2nd: Another imo problematic note in the presentation concerns what Phil Verster said: "HOW WE INVOLVE THE DEVELOPERS TO FUND THE BUILDING OF THE STATIONS, THAT IS A VERY EXCITING PROGRAM.
It likely is exciting, BUT what controls, transparency and accountability will be in place? Even though Region Chair John Henry and Region Council and staff are key partners, when the Region spent $150K on a consultant's report two years ago and Oshawa paid its portion, the Region only gave a summary, not the actual report. When I asked Oshawa CAO what was going on, the City eventually received a copy of the report but it was to be kept CONFIDENTIAL, FOR COUNCIL members eyes only.
This recent Superior Court case involving one of Oshawa's biggest local developers, and the owner of land where the Thornton Corners GO Station was planned gives some insight into the behind the scenes stuff that goes on.
https://www.canlii.org/.../2021onsc347/2021onsc347.html...
Imo Halloway Developments Ltd. lawsuit against Metrolinx reflects poorly on both sides, almost sad funny to read.
1st: When one Bowmanville resident asked it Metrolinx thought it best to build the Bowmanville station first, Phil Verster said YES, that should be the priority approach. Honestly, they expropriated the former Knob Hill in Oshawa and they going to skip it...picture riders to Bowmanville looking out the train window and pointing ah there is poor Oshawa's old Knob Hill. Really??Although I don't think it best, I can see how they might think it makes sense to build the Bowmanville station first. It would lessens the pressure on the Oshawa Thornton GO station parking situation...and the new jobs going to Clarington's OPG headquarters planned to open in a couple years likely are expecting it.
But honestly, this is still going to take a long time, and a lot more money as the years pass...Think of the Pickering pedestrian bridge, how it ended up with many delays and much over budget . $40 Million just for the pedestrian bridge.
Yes the Pickering bridge looks fancier than a rail bridge. But wouldn't the weight and speed of GO trains travelling over Hwy 401 cost just as much to build if not more because it will have to stand up to considerably more wear and tear than pedestrian foot traffic.
In addition to the surprise hearing Metrolinx say they would be building the Bowmanville station first...
2nd: Another imo problematic note in the presentation concerns what Phil Verster said: "HOW WE INVOLVE THE DEVELOPERS TO FUND THE BUILDING OF THE STATIONS, THAT IS A VERY EXCITING PROGRAM.
It likely is exciting, BUT what controls, transparency and accountability will be in place? Even though Region Chair John Henry and Region Council and staff are key partners, when the Region spent $150K on a consultant's report two years ago and Oshawa paid its portion, the Region only gave a summary, not the actual report. When I asked Oshawa CAO what was going on, the City eventually received a copy of the report but it was to be kept CONFIDENTIAL, FOR COUNCIL members eyes only.
This recent Superior Court case involving one of Oshawa's biggest local developers, and the owner of land where the Thornton Corners GO Station was planned gives some insight into the behind the scenes stuff that goes on.
https://www.canlii.org/.../2021onsc347/2021onsc347.html...
Imo Halloway Developments Ltd. lawsuit against Metrolinx reflects poorly on both sides, almost sad funny to read.