GRT LFLRV 504 On King Street by KatesFriend
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Description
LRV 504 glides into Downtown Waterloo. Within the Waterloo core (or 'The Loop') the "northbound" tracks run along the "east" side of King Street. Correspondingly the "southbound" tracks are on the "west" side of Caroline Street one block to the "west". As mentioned before, this arrangement along the narrower city centre streets allows for a separate ROW for the trams allowing them to move unimpeded by the surrounding traffic. Soon 504 will curve to the left near the traffic signals in the background and enter Waterloo Public Square station. After that she will continue, off street but still "north", on to the Waterloo Spur and past the University of Waterloo to the terminal at Conestoga Mall.
BTW, no right turns when a train passes through the intersection - there's a sign. It's amazing how many people don't get that.
Though the tram looks like it is turning, this isn't a turn. King Street simply bends about thirty (30) degrees at this location. As said before, Waterloo Region lies on the confluence of at least three (3) surveyors' grids drawn in the mid 19th Century. This is just another example of the "bendy-flexy" heritage of the regional road system. The primary reason I place quotes around direction references such as "north".
Even though this shot was taken around midday on a Monday, the streets are rather quiet. It's more like an early Sunday morning. That time when the partiers are all hungover and the pious are still watching the farm report.1 Ontario is still on Covid (third wave) lock down and I was myself just out for a dental appointment.2 This scene would be much more busy otherwise and it would have been difficult3 to get such a clear shot of the train from the vantage point I used.
Stay safe everyone.
Cheers
PS. If not mentioned before, Waterloo has accepted delivery of its fifteenth (15th) low floor FLEXITY LRV from Bombardier. The additional vehicle being compensation to the region for the numerous delays in vehicle delivery. Delays which pushed back the opening of the iON LRT by over eighteen (18) months. It is to be christened 515 and I look forward to seeing it out on the line at some point.
Notes:
GRT: Grand River Transit
LFLRV: Low Floor Light Rail Vehicle
LRV: Light Rail Vehicle
ROW: Right Of Way
BTW: By The Way
iON: Official Name for Waterloo Region's Rapid Transit Service - Light Rail and Rapid Buses
FLEXITY: Bombardier's Brand Name for iON LRVs. Specifically the FLEXITY Freedom model.
Bombardier: Canadian for "hurry up and wait"
KWSR - The former Kitchener-Waterloo Street Railway. Not to be confused with the short lived 'Kitchener-Waterloo Socialist Republic'.
References:
1That's still a thing in some parts of Southern Ontario.
2From which I am still recovering.
3And frustrating since iON trans currently run at ten (10) minute intervals.
Comments (5)
goldie
Great capture, Clayton. The tram looks like a huge snail making its way along the street. I am so envious of Ontario using these trams--would never happen in NYC--well maybe in Manhattan, but not in the outer boroughs.
KatesFriend
Thanks Barb.
In Toronto the corresponding streetcar model - FLEXITY Outlook - are nicknamed "the worms".
But don't be too envious of Ontario. This province is the land where progressive transit comes to die. I'm thinking of projects in both Ottawa and Hamilton which could and should have been built but weren't. Many political "leaders" make their names by attacking and then killing transit projects. Lines like "social engineering", "war on the car", "waste of taxpayers money" and "subways, subways, subways" have kept projects down for decades.
However, in Waterloo, the "subways, subways, subways" crowd had no traction since the region is way too small for that kind of infrastructure. And then Waterloo had/has no local conservative media outlet to carry the "war on the car" or "anti-tax" banner. We were fortunate that the tracks had already been installed by the time Doug Ford (yes, brother of Rob) became Ontario premier - by promising cheap beer.
eekdog
You have very stylish buses in your neck of the woods. Nice crisp shot.
KatesFriend
Thanks Steve. FYI: They're not buses.
RodS
Great capture of this public transport in action. They're looking to expand in in the Kansas City area, but we have a long, long way to go...
Yeah, people ignore the traffic lights/signs/laws here, too. Went out today for a half-hour, and saw at least 10 idiots running red lights, blowing through stop signs, or turning left where there's a 'no left turn' sign. Then they'll whine about how high their insurance premiums are...
ACue
Thanks for posting this, my friend. that was quite the drive from your neck of the woods. Totally agree with your comment on Ontario's lack of transit fortitude. Astonishing was we've had to and continue to have to put up with. Toronto is like frozen in amber as the rest of the world's great cities move on and evolve.
sandwood12
nicely done