It's Happening: The Toronto S-Bahn

Contracts are signed and Toronto is getting electric regional rail with European signalling and it’s even better than we expected!
As always, leave a comment down below if you have ideas for our future videos. Like, subscribe, and hit the bell icon so you won't miss my next video!
Special thanks to Mika K for providing the Dresden footage used in this video: / mikaykpk
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Hi, my name's Reece. I'm a passionate Creator, Transportation Planner, and Software Developer, interested in rapid transportation all around my home base of Toronto, Canada, as well as the whole world!

[@RMTransit]

I hope everyone enjoys the new animations! I could not be more excited, what's your favorite part of the plans?

[@neolithictransitrevolution427]

My favorite part isn't actually part of the RER plans; it's Ontario requiring municipalities to increase density and TOD at GO stations so that the network has users. But I guess that the trains will go so much faster? That's likely many small parts of the plan.

[@Jay-jq6bl]

The speed I suppose. I've been trying to figure what the fastest trains are for S Bahn style service(integrated drive unit). The MARC Penn line seems more like a Regional Express than an S Bahn, with only 13 stations over 124km. I never saw a Regional Express train in the S Bahn tunnel in Frankfurt, so I don't know if it's a capacity issue or some other reason. I know the S Bahn has stopped at the same platforms as the ICE through. Are these different types of trains interchangeable? What's the trade-off?

[@mrmaniac3]

Looks like there's a little flickering around some of the animations, but I'm not sure if that's just on my end. Hopefully it's something simple to iron out 😅

[@RMTransit]

@@mrmaniac3 I tried to fix but ended up running out of time sadly

[@rossbleakney3575]

@@Jay-jq6bl This does seem more like MARC. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems like the S-Bahn not only has a lot of stations outside the city, but inside as well. It would be weird, but you could ride around much of the city on just the S-Bahn. I don't think that will be possible with GO, as nice as it is.

[@NotJustBikes]

😲

[@GamingRailfanner]

Hello

[@GrasshopperWithoutGrass]

verified channel with 7 likes? damn (also hi njb love your content)

[@transitingermany8909]

I think you have a video to do…

[@reformCopyright]

That's the reaction I expected and my reaction too.

[@blakksheep736]

Hi! Thanks for the post!

[@mr.norris3840]

It’s always entertaining to see ~500k population cities in Europe having drastically better public transportation than the largest metropolian areas in NA.

[@waylondesnoyers7459]

A lot of it is due to size of the cities (Km²) rather than population. Though, regional regulations for/against rail also play a large part. In my city, Ottawa (population 1M) we have extensive bus services and a metro which is currently being extended. Ironically, we had more services in the past but left them for the automobile. However, consider that we are the size of the German state of Saarland alone, and that is not including the metropolitan area (~2800km² vs ~ 6300km²) In contrast, a place like Frankfurt or Berlin has more people in about ¼ of the area of Ottawa.

[@lj2265]

@@waylondesnoyers7459 Most of it is actually political will and the sway of auto and oil lobbyists lol If it was about city size, then our smaller cities would have killer public transit but they don't. They're even worse than the big cities. Fact is we just don't have enough political will to make it happen, our politicians are in the pockets of auto and oil interests and our regular people bought all the auto-centric propaganda hook line and sinker. I worked for Greyhound and heard all the stories of the many ways coach services were sabotaged by the car industry, they also had the airlines actively working against them on top of it, whose lobbyists are more powerful here than perhaps even the auto industry. This is why VIA rail still sucks too. The plain fact of the matter is Europeans just have more will than we do, and they're not as brainwashed and dopey as we are. There's no point in making excuses for ourselves. Any time something is brought up about why Europe has it better than we do people, particularly conservatives, pin it on them being smaller. But its complete BS, because being smaller should mean they actually have less resources to do things with. Fact of the matter is we're just too lazy, dumb and corrupt to get it done.

[@mr.norris3840]

@@lj2265 I agree. While the size of cities also plays a major role, the sole development of car centric places led to such huge cities area wise in the first place.

[@dr3754]

North America transit was the wonder of the world and extremely extensive down to the smallest city, town and inter-city streetcars in the first half of the last century, but the auto and oil lobbies destroyed that over here. However, the streets and roads are far more extensive -- and as you can see here in this Toronto example improved rail is rolling back in play, at least sporatically. You want to know what really sux for rail and transit in North america? Mexico city. good lord are they underserved for their size!

[@tonywalters7298]

@@dr3754 I thought Mexico City had a decent rapid transit system? I could be wrong though. I would say Phoenix could qualify as a city with terrible transit given its size.

[@isar.trainz]

The plans as you have shown us are really looking like a XXL sibling of Dresden S-Bahn, which btw has the highest amount of pleased passengers in Germany. So the concept they are going to follow has a large potential to be successfull

[@flytrapYTP]

The elusive pleased German passenger seal of approval.

[@isar.trainz]

@@flytrapYTP Yep

[@DaDoubleDee]

@@flytrapYTP chasing that peak efficiency like chasing the dragon LOL

[@simeonlinke3437]

Has it? Dresden SBahn is a mess 😅 as I lived there for almost 20 years I dont understand how its possible to be happy with this.

[@antonmuller5863]

You probably mean Leipzig's S-Bahn Network reaching out into all of the MDV Area😌

[@synura8086]

Rarely seen anybody so excited that Deutsche Bahn is coming :) But seriously, according to reports this involves modernising 450 km of track around Toronto and a 25 year management contract, which is enormous.

[@weeardguy]

Haha ;) That's about the same reaction I could say about the Dutch Railways ;) . Thanks for clearing up the scale of this project. I don't know Toronto, of course have not got a single clue about the size of the city and the map with all the lines doesn't really show the magnitude of what's going to happen. 450 km is a lot. I just hope it doesn't boil down to European practices of promising a lot, while during construction downplaying basically everything because it's getting too expensive. Also hope they actually finish it before it goes into service ;) Don't know how that works in Germany, but in the Netherlands, large projects around PT usually never finish on time and require quite some work after being put into service...

[@jan_franzke]

If they're on time DB is mostly okay. But that's a BIG If.

[@tilmanarchivar8945]

@@jan_franzke Its also the fault of german gov not investing in infra

[@forkast]

​@@weeardguya year later and some of the progress is already happening faster than Reece said! The davenport diamond has already been completed. It looks like it will be done as promised!

[@weeardguy]

@@forkast Wow! Apparently, some countries take it more serious than others... A big project here has been plagued by delays, downplaying everything, eventually even talking about cancelling the whole deal... but now works are ongoing again. But as usual, it goes way over budget, the project will not be what was promised and the deadline to finish it has now been postponed many, many times. And that all because they don't want international trains at Amsterdam CS anymore (yes, really... go figure... how stupid that tourists from other countries can directly enter the heart of a city by train, they will have to transfer in the future at a station at the edge of the city (if the plans go according to schedule/wishes of the operators)

[@transitthinker]

Still disappointed that EMU's aren't part of the short term plans but they would probably be very costly. Thanks for covering the news!

[@RMTransit]

Absolutely would have been the cherry on top

[@erichhouchens3711]

I'm sure there are several reasons they're keeping locomotive hauled trains for now. 1) GO has a large fleet of bi-levels that still has a lot of life left in them. Later on EMU's can be ordered and added to the fleet as the bi-levels age out. 2) There is a ready supply, though somewhat limited, of electric locomotives. The ALP45DM's in Montreal will soon be looking for a new home. Also New Jersey Transit is getting a fresh order of ALP45's so I'm sure Alstom could easily crank out more. This would allow through service beyond the end of catenary as I believe both CN and CP have said no/non to any catenary over their tracks. Amtrak has also indicated that it will be releasing some of it's ACS64's once the new bi-mode trains arrive. There is also a number of retired AEM7's stored in Rhode Island. 3) EMU's and DMU's (at least in the US) are considered "locomotives" and are subject to more frequent inspections as opposed to "dumb" coaches. This could be a cost savings over the long term. 4) Locomotive hauled trains can be "sized" for variations in ridership. No need to haul around a 12 car train on weekends. EMU's are generally made up of two, four or six car "married" sets that are semi permanently coupled (drawbars) between the ends. Reducing cars for weekend service is not that easy. 5) Aren't the Union Parson's DMU's (as few as there are) designed to be converted to EMU's? Replace the diesel engine with a transformer and add a pantograph to the roof. Of course I could be wrong on that.

[@ARod4374]

@@RMTransit I mean, this doesn't preclude them doing it later. Maybe, if we're lucky and the CalTrain KISS order works out well, then as older bilevel cars start to hit EOL they could be replaced with KISS units on Metrolinx's usual capital expenditure cycle. It's one of those things that might be better done at a slower pace, since the 2100 and 2200 series Bilevels will be 40 by around 2030, and thus would be approaching the end of their natural in-service lives. That schedule would also give Metrolinx eight to ten years to plan for new railyards (or perhaps, given some of the points that ​ @nickssaa was making below, to upgrade Don and North Bathurst Yards to handle KISSes and build new small yards on line ends to serve the remaining unelectrified trackage on the periphery of the system.)

[@katbryce]

In the UK, I think the only loco-hauled electric trains we have are the older Class 373 Eurostars that work the route between London and Brussels, and the only loco diesels are the Class 43 Intercity 125, which are mostly retired now with some sets being used as donor sets to provide spare parts for the ones that are still in use, plus a few overnight sleeper services.

[@ARod4374]

@@katbryce That is one of the nice things about the UK; you guys have such a wide variety of multiple-unit stock over there. I'm still a bit salty that Amtrak didn't just get Class 80x trains for its non-sleeper routes; you could use 9-car class 801s and/or 803s for routes that stay under the wire on the NEC the whole way, while Class 802s would be perfect for services to VA and the Connecticut River Valley (half under wire, half not) and for corridor services across the country (fully functional in diesel mode, and usable under wire should electrification efforts eventually happen in the USA).

[@robertcartwright4374]

BravoToronto! As a Vancouverite, I've got my nose pressed up against the glass, admiring your goodies. Way to go!

[@tomrogue13]

As a Michigander, I once again feel like I'm on the wrong side of the Big Puddles

[@emjeebutterz4405]

@@tomrogue13 Fellow Michigander here, here in Detroit we don't even have commuter rail to begin with. Well, we almost did, but when the funding went to the public to vote on, just over half of voters said no. However, the transportation agencies still really want to do it, so we can only hope they get their way soon.

[@tomrogue13]

@@emjeebutterz4405 yeah I was just reading some stuff about it some new plans for the region.

[@JuliasCesar]

From Vancouver as well and I wish we would end up with a better commuter rail network instead of the West Coast Express’s single line.

[@robertcartwright4374]

@@JuliasCesar It's really too bad there isn't a nice Surrey - Langley - Abbottsford - Chilliwack legacy corridor that could be built on. That would've been useful!

[@DrewRycerz]

Alright, the city should hire you and I'm not even joking. Much love from Toronto lol still can't believe how good this channel is and perhaps it's because my dad was an engineer and i was in physics but whatever the reason I sit back and actually watch. Better than watching most movies i'll be honest. Fiction is one thing, learning another.

[@Black_Forest_Julez]

9:15 in Germany, the first electric-battery hybrid network in the Ortenau region will start in December 2023. It includes tracks were no overhead catenary is installed and you need the battery for providing electric power. The batteries can be charged while the train runs on tracks with catenary.

[@RMTransit]

Yes but it's a very different operation than this network which is akin to the S Bahns of urban areas

[@williamerazo3921]

And at terminals

[@KnightOfKnights]

Mhmm.. i think the first electric-battery hybrid trains will be rolled out in Schleswig-Holstein this December. Although they can only replace the trains bit by bit. Plenty of track where the trains will run on battery without overhead wire

[@Hastdupech8509]

We're getting this type of train in Italy too (Trenitalia has finally decided to renew its commuter rolling stock, about time), they will be called Blues. They will be like the Rocks, but hybrid and only one floor. We'll see how it'll all turn out

[@joriss5]

Given the planned frequency on the GO RER and the sheer mass of the trains (we're talking hundreds of tonnes, much more than the small battery-electric EMUs), complete electrification makes the most sense (because it's cost is basically constant whatever the number of trains use it, while battery power cost is proportional to the total train weight).

[@SirRheilffordd]

In my home state of Saxony, Germany there are narrow gauge steam railways wich incorporated into the real transit network of Saxony. To see these historical trains having a real purpose is really cool, so it would be nice if you can do a video about it.

[@daimhaus]

also in the north

[@garryferrington811]

It's so amazing to see! If I was younger (and richer) I would visit Germany just to see that.

[@seadogg0]

also in the Harz Mountains here in Saxony-Anhalt (and Thuringia)

[@aturchomicz821]

Non Carbon neutral locomotives in 2022 D:

[@leonardsandhu5772]

welche ist das?

[@bahnspotterEU]

It would be interesting to see if GO could (at least partially) use the soon-to-be-largely-retired Amtrak ACS-64 on their electrified routes. I get that starting a new service with mostly existing or second-hand equipment isn‘t glamorous, but there is no other real customer to take those ACSs, and they will only be 15-17 years old by the time GO is projected to go live, far too young for the scrapper‘s torch.

[@jerrycoob4750]

_Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm_

[@markvogel5872]

Wait...why are they removing the acs-64?!

[@InventorZahran]

Are the ACS-64s just being replaced with newer versions of themselves? Judging by their latest diesel power choices, it appears that Amtrak wants to eventually operate a 100% Siemens-built locomotive fleet, and It would make sense to keep the ACS-64s around (especially since they share so many common parts with the SC-44 diesel engines). I highly doubt that they'll be replaced with an entirely different class of locomotive, unless Amtrak is finally bringing EMUs back to the Northeast Corridor...

[@RMTransit]

I find it crazy that Amtrak is getting rid of them but I don't think Toronto will buy them

[@bahnspotterEU]

@@InventorZahran The ACS-64 will become entirely redundant on Northeast Regional service with the introduction of the ALC-42E dual-mode locomotives/train sets. That means they would only be used on the long-distance trains running on the corridor, like the Silver Service, Palmetto, Crescent and Cardinal. For this Amtrak will need only a fraction of their current fleet of 70 locomotives, so the remaining ones will be without any use. GO Transit is the only agency with a possible need for these locomotives, along with NJT, who could perhaps take a few to replace their earliest ALP-46s, if desired.

[@gitgut4977]

We can also call GO transit "Stadtschnellbahn Toronto" :D

[@RMTransit]

That's an interesting potential name

[@marius100mark]

I'm super happy to see North America finally getting an example case of good public transport 😊 hopefully this will encourage other cities to follow the lead! Living in Berlin, I can only hope more of america understands the benefits of good public transit :)

[@zackgro8440]

North America already has an example case of public transport. It's called New York city where most people don't even live in a household where anyone owns a car. Berlin has higher cars per inhabitants than New York by over 30%. Seems like Berlin should take notes.

[@erracht]

When I think of what transit in Toronto was like while I was living there, I am absolutely amazed that somebody got smart and started building all this new rail transit.

[@jordondaniels9276]

Your enthusiasm for transportation planning is infectious! Keep it up!

[@Denden16995]

Here in Denmark we have a well established train system imo, especially the S train but also the regional trains which, the double deckers are hauled by the Siemens Vectron’s operating every 15 min to Helsingør and Roskilde and every 30 min to Ringsted and Næstved, but mind you there are many other electric trains here and we are working on it. (Btw those aren’t all frequencies, there are way more trains than that!) Will be interesting if Canada gets the vectrons! Genuinely excited for the Toronto area!

[@jcmik]

I love to see this kind of ambition and vision! Here's to hoping Philadelphia's simultaneous bus network & regional rail studies give us as much to be enthusiastic for

[@pwhnckexstflajizdryvombqug9042]

"zero emissions electric trains" For a second there I was almost impressed until I realised that most commuter rail systems are electric and the GO trains are just a bit behind the times.

[@DarrylErickson]

It’s not GO that’s behind. It’s North America that’s behind. GO is actually ahead for North American standards

[@zackgro8440]

Actually it's GO that's behind. SEPTA Regional Rail is fully electrified and *has been.* So is Denver new RTD Commuter Rail. @@DarrylErickson Canadian issues =/= all of North America.

[@harrisonthorburn7415]

I hope with this they’ll be able to set a date for all-day, two way service on the Kitchener line, which we’ve been promised for a super long time now.

[@Imman1s]

Metrolinx is promising 4x current service levels, all day frequent service for the entire horseshoe region by 2040. Whether they deliver or not is a different story...

[@youtube79z]

@@Imman1s sounds like MoveOntario 2020

[@OntarioTrafficMan]

All-day hourly service to Kitchener is being delivered separately from the main package, with an initial in service date set for September 2023. All that's required for hourly midday service is a new platform at Guelph station and adjustments to the platforms at Georgetown station.

[@PaulFerrer]

@@OntarioTrafficMan Hello. Where did you get this info? This got me really excited!

[@Sp4mMe]

Good stuff. Hope it works out fine and will encourage similar projects across North America. Well, and elsewhere on the globe, as applicable, of course.

[@RMTransit]

I'm super excited

[@arhanmenon1526]

The Dresden S-Bahn runs with bilevels and electric locomotives, but they run 4 car trains so they can still have faster acceleration. GO doesn't need to run 12 car trains, because they will be more frequent anyways, giving more capacity.

[@neolithictransitrevolution427]

I still want to know what the plans are for the Diesel trains, particularly if they are planning on Electronic along the entire LSW Corridor. I would really love to see some knew Go lines opening; Radiating out of Hamilton and creating regional services in Cambridge-Kitchener-Guelph, Niagara region, and around London.

[@williamerazo3921]

Sell them

[@neolithictransitrevolution427]

@@williamerazo3921 In that case I'd still be interested on who is opening a large fleet of passager rail, or several new small passanger rail lines. I would assume its in NA for transport purposes and because they are diesels.

[@Absolute_Zero7]

There are still many lines and services that won't get electrified. The LSE extension to Bowmanville won't be electrified, we have no news on electrification beyond Bramalea on the Kitchener Line (and the government is promising all day service to Kitchener), We have both the Richmond Hill and Milton Lines which won't be electrified at all, with the latter getting a push to all day service relatively soon, and you still have GO train service to Niagara Falls. So no, we aren't going to reach a point where we won't need our diesel locos anytime soon.

[@RMTransit]

Yeah it's not totally clear to me but we shall see

[@mrmaniac3]

Would be nice if they Could be fitted with electrification equipment

[@nicolasblume1046]

EMUs would be much better than loco hauled trains! With that extra fast acceleration they could add additional stations (station spacing is way too long) and STILL have the same travel time as with electric loco hauled trains! Additional stations would be important for better coverage, shorter journeys and more passengers. But I get that reusing the existing passenger cars is a big benefit. So maybe they will upgrade the System to EMUs at a later stage

[@neolithictransitrevolution427]

I agree, Once everything is up and running, they can start adding EMUs and then building new stations, along higher demand corrodors, like the lake shores, and slowly shift the fleet over. Hopefully they will add some new electrified track sections in that time for the locomotive trains to move over to. Spadina Station would be an example of something that could be built.

[@RMTransit]

I totally agree I really want emus

[@denzzlinga]

you could have both. EMUs for trains that stop at every little station in the city, and the locomotive hauled consists for express trains, that run from the suburbs to the city centre with few stops only.

[@Mgameing123]

@@RMTransit tbh EMU's are nice but for airport services bi level trains are better because it will attract alot of tourists to take the train and not to rent a car.

[@benedekhalda-kiss9737]

@@Mgameing123 Bi level EMU like the kiss would be the best then

[@davidreichert9392]

I've been playing Train Sim 2 for quite a while now, and have been super impressed with all the DB lines and how they are structured and work. Brilliant idea by Mertrolinx to bring them in, I just hope that they let them do their job unhindered.

[@bahnspotterEU]

Eh, that‘s not the greatest resource for judging German rail operations. I suggest you try to experience it in person sometime.

[@davidreichert9392]

@@bahnspotterEU Ture, I mean the game only inspired me to research the German train system as a whole. True, I can't really know until I've experienced it first hand, but I still feel confident in saying that it's a far cry better than what we have here.

[@f4n70]

If it works as it should be it isnt that bad Especialy the LZB upgraded Tracks.

[@drdewott9154]

If they're gonna reuse bilevels, I just hope they modify them just a tiny bit so that the little step down on the outside is removed and platforms raised a bit to allow for level boarding across the whole train length, like whats seen on the Utah Frontrunner and well... practically every train in Europe.

[@neolithictransitrevolution427]

This is something they couldn't due in the past due to Frieght usage. Now thay metrolinx owns the tracks, they might be able to raise the platforms, particularly on sections inside Toronto. Other sections might still have to allow freight access though.

[@Absolute_Zero7]

That is in the plans yes. They're currently planning for 610mm platforms.

[@shangqijian6655]

While I would like to see the change too, there are some engineering limitations with designing at height platforms. The biggest obstacle I can think of is keeping clearance at curved track platforms. Even at Union station, you see the platforms are not entirely straight and there noticeable Winding back and forth on certain tracks

[@RMTransit]

That's definitely my hope as well

[@drdewott9154]

@@shangqijian6655 Even then if European stations can do it well, so can Toronto. I mean Zurich and Switzerland in general already has loads of stations with curved platforns, including on Zurichs central S bahn corridor, but those still manage to have level boarding

[@jw176503]

Thanks for mentioning the MARC (Maryland Area Regional Commuter) Penn Line. However, MARC currently uses diesel-electric locomotives for its trains with a maximum speed of around 80 mph (130 kph). Bringing back electric locomotives for the Penn Line, which runs on the already electrified Amtrak Northeast corridor, would likely trim the 60-minute Baltimore-Washington, DC trip by about 10 minutes. Best wishes for Toronto's GO!

[@justahillbilly7777]

Right from the start your excitement was palpable, and I gotta say, ‘tis nice to see. That’s what’ll draw people in and get them to stick around. Plus, the quality of your videos helps a bit as well. Cheers, and here’s to North American public transit and its continued improvement!!

[@gerrycallison2436]

Level boarding would be a significant time saver. I regularly use Amtrak's Michigan trains out of Chicago, which take over twenty minutes to board from ground level, and was blown away by how my sold out Acela out of Washington took only 8.

[@raquelesteves3334]

Higher speeds are going to be amazing, I currently live in Oshawa, and to be able to go from here, to union in 30 minutes would be a game changer

[@alainterieur4837]

1:53 Wow that's really impressive! Meanwhile in my city in Switzerland (the 5th biggest in the country) we have to put up with 1-hour headways all day, even during rush hour... And people here wonder why our city suffers from gridlock and noise pollution

[@mwizzle]

Love your content. Idk much about transit systems but listening to you explain what my city/province is working on is amazing 👏

[@BrianBaileyedtech]

Great video and this gets me excited too. I have lived all around the world and have always thought that Toronto was a really great city but it needed to invest in much better transit to make it truly an Alpha, world class city that it has aspired to be for the past 50 years. This, along with all the construction (#1 in North America for a decade), immigration (fastest growing city and second fastest growing metro in North America for years) and growth as a world-class technology hub (has recently created more tech jobs than Silicon Valley) backed by a huge banking sector is all coming together to create one of the world's top 10 cities. A VERY exciting time!!!!

[@bawhitham]

It is a pleasure to watch how excited you are about these advances in train services in Toronto and the expanded region. It's also great to hear that, finally, public transportation in major urban areas, and intercity services, are improving. Thanks for the commitment to share this cool info.

[@TheMondomaverick]

"for infrastructure and stuff" XD I love the explanation of Aecon's part of the agreement!

[@Fan652w]

Thanks Reece for an excellent video, and congratulations to the people in Toronto who took the decisions. I (Roger Sexton) would however be slightly cautious with the S-Bahn analogy. GO Expansion is clearly not like the Hamburg or Berlin-S-Bahns, which have very closely spaced stations, and single-deck trains using DC third rail electrification. The Zurich S-Bahn is a better analogy. Almost entirely double-deck trains using overhead AC electrification - stations generally at least 2-3 kms apart. The older 1990 trains have locos, but the newer trains are EMUs. The Zurichers have also seen the importance of level boarding and (belatedly) of having wide platforms at busy stations.

[@offichannelnurnberg5894]

Regensburg bekommt eine S-bahn. Nicht zu vergessen die hannover und magdeburg pseudo s-bahn. Wir haben 3 S Bahnlinien die im Stadtgebiet nicht halten (eine mit nur 2 Stationen) Breisgau fährt mit DMUs. S-Bahn kann alles heißen heutzutage

[@Fan652w]

@@offichannelnurnberg5894 Danke Schoene. Nowadays in the three German-speaking countries (Germany, Austria and Switzerland) the term S-bahn has a very flexible meaning, and is applied to a wide variety of suburban services. Zurich even has express S-bahn trains. In particular there is an S-bahn every 15 minutes from Haupbahnhof to Winterthur taking 20 minutes with two intermediate stops. Inter-City expresses Haupbahnhof to Winterthur go a longer route via the airport and take about 25 minutes!

[@bahnspotterEU]

@@offichannelnurnberg5894 Leider. Das mit Regensburg, Breisgau oder Ulm finde ich lächerlich. Man sollte aufhören alles als "S-Bahn", oder selbst "Regio-S-Bahn" zu vermarkten, das vernichtet nur den Sinn den Bezeichnung. Hannover, Bremen, aber auch Nürnberg, Mittelelbe und Mitteldeutschland verdienen den Titel S-Bahn auch nur zum Teil, wenn überhaupt. Taktfolgen von unter 30-Minuten sind kein S-Bahn Material mehr, und selbst 30 Minuten sind hart an der Schmerzgrenze.

[@offichannelnurnberg5894]

@@bahnspotterEU In Nürnberg ist es eine Mischung. Die S1 und die S2 sind echte S-Bahnen auf eigenen Gleisen (Ausnahme Klinikum-Eltersdorf), die S1 soll auch bald alle 20 Minuten fahren. Die anderen Linien halten an den innenstadtnahen Stationen Dürrenhof, Steinbühl und Rothenburger Straße nicht, obwohl sie dort vorbeifahren, wobei auf der S4 zumindest in Schweinau Umsteigemöglichkeit zur U-Bahn besteht. Das hat seine Gründe: All diese Linien waren einst RB-Linien, die einfach umgetauft wurden. Daher stammt das Auslassen von Halten, was bei der S3 bewusst gemacht wird, bei S4, S5 und S6 jedoch unfreiwillig passiert, weil andere Schienentrassen befahren werden und man keine neuen Bahnsteige baut. (Und auch beim Verstärkerzug der S1, der am Fürther Hauptbahnhof nicht hält.).

[@kevinmohalloran]

Would love to see a deep dive on regional rail in the DC area (MARC & VRE) and how it could expand and add through running. Maryland recently passed a bill that requires MDOT to study and actually make infrastructure improvements that will eventually allow for through running MARC into Virginia. I’ve often thought that both MARC and VRE should just merge and possibly fold into WMATA. MetroRegional perhaps?

[@openlink9958]

and now Im suscribed, I will be always waiting for your videos breaking down how the progress is going

[@SaturnCanuck]

I can't wait. Toronto is woefully behind. My cousin drives trains for East Anglia in UK and he was shocked at the frequency (or lack thereof) of the GO network. He loved the streetcars and the subway though!

[@bozelecter]

WGAS

[@zackgro8440]

It's pretty terrible frequency on some lines like Kitchener. Better on Lakeshores.

[@lucasmcgowan6306]

the go expansion is impressive, I would recommend you look at victorias, Australian version of that but a bit different and probably make a video about it, it's called regional rail revival, but yeah great video.

[@michaelk__]

Hoping more people can experience great public transit at some point and very happy to see that Toronto is actually going to give it that big step in that direction. Hoping it works out and that they do further steps once they are done with this one. Extra Stations, Extra Lines, Expanding Lines, EMUs etc. will help making this a great transit system. And if it's a success, maybe some more cities will actually look at functioning solutions they can have now instead of throwing billions at "high tech" car tunnel taxi services and vacuum tube trains that may eventually, not likely though, be barely better then train for very specific use cases

[@meltingtomato]

Metrolinx's blog has also announced recently that they are having ~150-200 coaches undergo overhaul. Those Bi-levels will get new outlets (among other refreshes), and be more akin to the acquisitions from the past decade. These, along with GO's rather new diesel locomotives, will undoubtedly still have a place both for longer distance service to Hamilton (electrification is currently planned to end at Burlington), Kitchener/London, Bloomington, Old Elm, and Bowmanville. There is also the possibility, in due course, that as VIA HFR shifts most service to the northerly corridor, that we might see GO further expand into longer distance services with their existing equipment, if and when EMUs get ordered to displace them from Toronto area services.

[@bipbipletucha]

Personally I hope and expect to see at least some recently-retired Amtrak ACS-64 electric locomotives purchased by Metrolinx. In Amtrak's NEC equipment replacement plan, dual-mode multiple unit trainsets are set to replace many locomotive hauled services, displacing a huge number of less than 20 year old ACS-64s. GO RER seems like a perfect place for them to work

[@Outfrost]

This is the first time I see someone mention getting rid of high platforms as a positive. High platforms provide much more efficient, convenient and accessible boarding, often level boarding if done right. Rolling stock designed for low platforms can still get this benefit - the door steps can either fit between the door and the platform or underneath the platform edge, or (if retractable) simply remain retracted. This works quite well on the Polish EMUs from the last 15 years - at older rural stations, steps and wheelchair ramps are used, while at newer (especially major) stations the doors are level with the platforms and the retractable steps become gap guards.

[@5DNRG]

I went to boarding school in Toronto, such a beautiful cosmo city!🧡🌻💚

[@StefanWithTrains]

I think alstom will use an off the shelf design with some modifications. The TRAXX AC3 (BR 188) would be logical it can hit 200 km/h and is also really strong so perfect for the heavy trains.

[@RMTransit]

Yes especially since regulations allow for European trains on this side of the pond now

[@StefanWithTrains]

@@RMTransit I hope some more commuter rail Company's will buy some European trains and electrify it will be so benifitial

[@dasy2k1]

Or if they go with Siemens instead I'm sure they could build some Vectrons in Sacramento

[@toebs_]

Do you mean the AC3 (BR 187)? The DC3 is... well, DC, and BR 188 is the MS3 (multiple systems), which wouldn't make much sense here either. Then again, the AC3 I believe doesn't go faster than 160 so I'm not sure if Traxx is suitable here at all.

[@StefanWithTrains]

​@@toebs_ The AC3 can be modified to AC and go 125 mph/200 km/h and if you say the TRAXX design is already in use in NJ in the ALP-46 it is an american TRAXX

[@everytimeiwalk]

You have an excellent channel and I appreciate your knowledge on these projects. Thanks for sharing!

[@StairwellTheCat]

I love how you have the Crossways behind Bloor station in the thumbnail. Respect.

[@ClarkPokemanMaster]

You made my day. Thanks. Happy to see you talking about these new constructions. Toronto is great and get3 better.

[@bowfinger26]

It's a joy to watch your joy with this project. And also to see this happening in North America.

[@vinnylaw]

A lot of Canadian talent at WSP and Hatch were also used to work with DB to come up with the design and ops concepts!

[@RMTransit]

Yes, though I think DB was the keystone haha

[@ghr180]

Hello from Maryland! Thanks for the MARC shout-out.

[@ian-digitalhit]

Love your videos and your enthusiasm for public transit. 👍

[@thisislesbomaya]

"adding higher doors for a separate sub fleet of GO wouldn't make any sense" Caltrain walks into the room HEY I HEARD YOU LIKE TRAINS WITH MULTIPLE DOOR HEIGHTS

[@bluejaysfan256]

I have a GO train on my shirt. I love the GO,TTC,GRT,UP,VIA,CN and your videos.

[@charlesalexg]

I think this is my favorite video of yours, Go expansion is the most transformative Transit project in Canada. Yes the REM will be gamechanger, but Go electrification is basically the closest to a european train service we will ever get. Looking forward to it! I think that the UPExpress should have some kind of EMU like the Stadler KISS with dual level doors like the Caltrain, but yeah probably Dual mode Siemens Charger or something else. I read about how Siemens is integrating dual mode in the Siemens Charger and it's pretty wild, you have the Diesel Loco, then the next car is a pantograph equipped motor car with a DC connection to the Loco so you have 2 ''power cars'' back to back in Electric mode. Amtrak will benefit from that a lot on the NEC to connect other non electrifed line.

[@timtomch]

Finally! That is super exciting indeed but I hope there will be fare integration as well, so that this infrastructure can be used for efficient inter-city travel without requiring a separate fare as is now the case.

[@glawrence]

There is already co-fare pricing for some municipalities in Ontario. Almost all are using the PRESTO card. TTC is obviously the major exception.

[@youtubeshadowbannedme]

@@glawrence TTC uses Presto

[@alexspike7331]

Congratulations to Toronto from Houston! this all looks very exciting... Not jealous at all 🙂 I'm not crying you're crying

[@SpartanGeorge60]

Wooo I’m so happy new go lines here comes uxbridge! But on the downside I live right next to one so getting to places will be fun

[@Mimi-Forever]

Your excitement about this is really infectious 😊 makes me want to learn more about train signalling and the other stuff you mentioned

[@Haiyain]

Fantastic news! Congratulations on this video - great topic, content and delivery!

[@radicalkonrad765]

Can't wait for my great great great gran kids to see it open

[@AK.__]

Great video, thank you much! I like the idea of the developed public transit, however, not fun of idea, that ease of commute will bring additional people from the remote areas to Toronto.

[@samuelgilbert9734]

♥♥♥ About time that we get some descent transit in Canada! I hope the political will to get this done doesn't disappear and that the schedule doesn't slide by a decade.

[@LWR1]

Congrats for the well deserved 100k subs!

[@oscarmena8193]

As a fellow torontonian, i gotta say; you are doing the lords work lol. Great channel budd!

[@n.b.3521]

Hear hear!

[@adithyaramachandran7427]

I hope they would grab a few toasters from amtrak for initial service. I miss seeing them. They were adorable machines, that's for sure.

[@mikekalo8567]

This is long overdue, but it is finally happening. Thank you Doug Ford, finally a government that understands that we need a lot of investments in the infrastructure

[@canadiantimberwolf1]

Have you heard about the upgrade to the Havelock line? Apparently, when GO does what it intends to the Don valley, the talk is upgrading the CPR line thru Myrtle Station, Port Perry and into Peterbrough and on to Havelock ON. which by the way, VIA is also involved. This new line would mean a trip to time Ottawa and Montreal could be a little as 3 hours. The future of the line being that it will be come electrified and high-speed.. this could be way cool.

[@remixdiamond2276]

10:48 what I think about it is to extend the high-level platforms to add 8 car capacity, and introduce 4 car or 2 car multiple units on this line extending to into a different branch line and also rebrand it under a different name that has something to do with go. Go int’l

[@Vortexone112]

One of the points you make in a lot of your videos is to focus on the service level and experience, not the technology. EMUs are a means to the end of improved service. If they can reach the proposed service levels while reusing the existing rolling stock then that’s fantastic and saves lots of money for other improvements. Though of course us transit fans will be a little disappointed that it’s not as shiny 😉

[@nateranda]

Great news!!! This gives me hope for 15-minute headways here on the Boston commuter rail

[@CANMONQUE]

I think a new name could be “Go Metro” or Toronto S-Bahn. Cannot wait to see how things will evolve on this project.

[@MrAlen6e]

Go is such an incredible concept I'm exited for this project to move forward

[@joncalon7508]

I don't see the UP Express becoming loco-hauled. The curves on the Pearson Sub are SUPER Sharp, and likely down to minimums for the DMU's currently in service on the UPX. Switching them over to an EMU design, can totally see that becoming a reality.

[@fotoeins]

Altah (dude), you had me at "Toronto" and "S-Bahn": exciting and much to anticipate. I agree there has to be some/better integration with the urban "U-Bahn" network. Thanks for your videos!

[@mctraveller8539]

I'm from the States. I took a go train to Toronto on a 5 day vacation to Canada my hotel was in Niagara Falls. I found it a awesome transit network. The go buses were awesome sat on the top of double decker bus front seat to Burlington Ontario. The train was pretty cool too. Union Station felt like a great maze go lost in the underground city lol. Still cool experience 😎 did this trip 3 times grow to know where to go. Was planning a 4th trip in 2020 but we all know what happened then! I've wanted to come back but still concerned at the situation of the world events at this time. Great video hopefully I will be able to see Toronto again. Great city much love from USA!

[@Yuvraj.]

Now what are americans doing in berlington? Not even us canadians want to go there LOL

[@y11971alex]

I graduated from U of T in 2020 just in time to miss all the transit and catch all the road work XD

[@RMTransit]

That's so sad! And you also wouldn't have got the in person graduation just like me . . . .

[@y11971alex]

@@RMTransit I’m sure it would have been more enjoyable, but safety (we didn’t know how fast the virus spreads well at that point) comes first like on transit XD

[@fotonovella]

Can you link to media coverage? I still don't know what happened today (April 21, 2022). You mentioned contracts were signed. I can't find anything on this. What's DB doing specifically?

[@almostthere3733]

GO = SLOW. Using the Kitchener/Union corridor it regularly takes twice as long by GO than driving from Kitchener to Union Station into the downtown financial district! Ridership was maxed out prior to Covid. Winn's gov't said the solution was to add another (5th) train morning departure. Who wants to leave for work at 5:20 am? GO needs to turn one of those 5 trains into an EXPRESS train originating in Kitchener, stopping at Guelph, possibly Georgetown, then directly into Union. Currently all 5 departures are a painful milkrun stopping at 13 stations taking 2.5 hours.

[@simoneh4732]

I'm very glad to hear that significant service increases should coming around 2025. Having to wait for a decade for a new subway is tough, so a huge benefit of revamping existing surface rail is not having to wait until the end date to get benefits.

[@cianmurphy5107]

9:15 "No one is building a regional rail network like this with hydrogen or battery trains" - Ireland actually is, with the expansion of the DART system in Dublin! Not all of the trains in the DART+ programme will be battery powered, but some will, to allow for service beyond electrified sections. Most interestingly, part of the line used by the current DART service used to be served by battery trains (the Drumm Battery Train) in the 1930s!

[@carstenk2552]

It is so ironic to hear that you are thrilled that the deutsche bahn is in the project because here in Germany it is known for being always late and having quite old infrastructure.

[@HansVerburg]

Congrets Toronto!!

[@alexander53]

When the transit nerds are excited then I get excited

[@BruscoTheBoar]

Did you notice green buses in Canada? Public transit is about to come a bit better as Flixbus launched 3 lines in Canada

[@PeterE89]

never thought i woud ever see, urban traintracks without electricity ... but also I am from Vienna, which has one of the best public transport system in Europe, soo ... I hope your public transport system will be as good as you hope ... greetings from Vienna

[@seanandernacht800]

As with all GTA public transit I'll believe it when I see it, but I really appreciate your enthusiasm! Here's hoping this happens and is a huge blow to car culture's dominance in the region

[@OntarioTrafficMan]

It's been heavily under construction for a while, it's not just idle talk

[@rantingrodent416]

I'm optimistic because we actually have construction starting and happening under a conservative government. Things usually fall apart when a liberal government starts projects and a later conservative governments want to be seen to be cutting wasteful spending.

[@seanandernacht800]

@@rantingrodent416 in-progress projects have been scrapped before but that's definitely a good point! I don't put much stock into even the NDP these days but it's hard to see how this could get royally messed up when it can't get much worse than Dougie lol

[@OntarioTrafficMan]

@@seanandernacht800 The Conservatives support the project. The Liberals support the project. The NDP supports the project. The Greens support the project. Who exactly would be cancelling it?

[@Fight4MyDuty]

You should do a video about the neighborhoods of Toronto that will improve the most from this and other transit projects in the next 10 years.

[@cesarchoya6961]

Toronto is a town with a great ethos, not matter how good or bad transit may be. I endear Toronto a lot.

[@stephenbinkley]

electric locomotives on go early we could see some borrowed amtrak equipment as the north east corridor is the only main electric system in NA

[@tmb4038]

Hi great video!! Will you be also making videos about the progress of construction? :D greets from a german ICE Train driver

[@mountainous_port]

As always, you have very extensive and informative content

[@13BD]

Great video! I was also very excited when I found out!!

[@Nick-kz6dg]

The next step should be fully integrating GO Transit and Toronto Transit into a TfL-style multi-modal network.

[@davidstone408]

UK GWR region operate Class 800 Hitachi bi-mode trains these run electric in locations where overhead power is present and diesel if no overhead power. Maximum speed 140mph so 225kph - single deck cars (as UK has a lot of bridges over the railway, which is a concern moving forward as 9 car trains are full)

[@mississaugaicedogs]

Are we seeing a dedicated GO line to areas outside the GTHA like Kitchener/Waterloo? Unlike Europe we are sharing 80% of our lines with CN and CP and they get priority

[@gdrriley420]

the current DMUs aren't bad, they had some early powerplant issues but those are fixed. If they do get sold I expect the other operator SMART to try and find funding to get them so they can have a larger unified fleet thats a line that should have EMUs,

[@neolithictransitrevolution427]

I think GOs best use for them, if they don't get hybrid trains, might be to run them as shuttles on the unelectrified trail sections of the Lake Shore lines. Although realistically I don't see that happening.

[@t4t_frotting]

Hope this starts an overall expansion of public transport not only in Toronto, but in other major cities in Canada

[@TheTroyc1982]

Every major Canadian city except Winnipeg is currently expanding their rail transit system, there are about 20 current expansion s across the country right now, the most ever. We can thank the Federal liberal government for this as they have been very pro transit spending.

[@urbanderek]

Go transit really gave you the best 100k subscriber gift

[@MrGoodjava]

Being in Toronto all my life, Toronto is so far behind in rail compared to other major cities. Aside from the fact all these upgrades should have happened 20+ years ago, the thing to remember is CN owns the tracks and priority is given to freight. So unless they build independent track, speed won’t matter if they are stuck waiting for freight.