First Class Duck
@firstclassduck.bsky.social
an opinionated and jaded traveler
IIRC, pre-REM they ran buses into a bus terminal under 1000 de la Gauchetiere tower which also happened to be somewhat convenient to the former Autoroute Bonaventure which connected to Pont Champlain and the Autoroute Ville Marie.
November 16, 2025 at 2:46 AM
IIRC, pre-REM they ran buses into a bus terminal under 1000 de la Gauchetiere tower which also happened to be somewhat convenient to the former Autoroute Bonaventure which connected to Pont Champlain and the Autoroute Ville Marie.
I’ll probably miss out on that.
Meanwhile, I keep delaying Toronto in the hopes of Eglinton opening up…
Meanwhile, I keep delaying Toronto in the hopes of Eglinton opening up…
November 16, 2025 at 1:39 AM
I’ll probably miss out on that.
Meanwhile, I keep delaying Toronto in the hopes of Eglinton opening up…
Meanwhile, I keep delaying Toronto in the hopes of Eglinton opening up…
This is making the idea of finally visiting Australia very intriguing.
New tunnel, but before the mass retirement of the Comengs. :-)
New tunnel, but before the mass retirement of the Comengs. :-)
November 16, 2025 at 1:26 AM
This is making the idea of finally visiting Australia very intriguing.
New tunnel, but before the mass retirement of the Comengs. :-)
New tunnel, but before the mass retirement of the Comengs. :-)
I suspect the recent use of conductors pre-boarding at NJT and LIRR is to defeat the "hide in the bathroom for 45 minutes" trick. Or to avoid holding the train up for the people who don't pay and the cops are called to yeet them from the train.
November 16, 2025 at 1:23 AM
I suspect the recent use of conductors pre-boarding at NJT and LIRR is to defeat the "hide in the bathroom for 45 minutes" trick. Or to avoid holding the train up for the people who don't pay and the cops are called to yeet them from the train.
The US uses POP for light rail systems, but our low trust for first world standards creates a viewpoint where people assume that riders aren't paying, and if your legacy commuter rail management assumes that of their riders, they'll be reluctant to blow up union contracts for it.
November 16, 2025 at 1:18 AM
The US uses POP for light rail systems, but our low trust for first world standards creates a viewpoint where people assume that riders aren't paying, and if your legacy commuter rail management assumes that of their riders, they'll be reluctant to blow up union contracts for it.
Nah, they still exist. They just cost a lot of money. :-)
Pre-nice is my term for homes that have been significantly renovated, and they're in relatively decent shape with minimal work needed to be done. Almost as good as new compared to a fixer-upper.
Pre-nice is my term for homes that have been significantly renovated, and they're in relatively decent shape with minimal work needed to be done. Almost as good as new compared to a fixer-upper.
November 15, 2025 at 11:06 PM
Nah, they still exist. They just cost a lot of money. :-)
Pre-nice is my term for homes that have been significantly renovated, and they're in relatively decent shape with minimal work needed to be done. Almost as good as new compared to a fixer-upper.
Pre-nice is my term for homes that have been significantly renovated, and they're in relatively decent shape with minimal work needed to be done. Almost as good as new compared to a fixer-upper.
NGL, I would be tempted to the take the bier glasses.
November 15, 2025 at 10:41 PM
NGL, I would be tempted to the take the bier glasses.
Cross the river my friend. :-)
November 15, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Cross the river my friend. :-)
Next time, just buy a pre-nice house.
November 15, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Next time, just buy a pre-nice house.
Oddly enough, basketball and hockey are the North American sports with the biggest presence in Europe where in most countries, it's the second or third sport.
November 15, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Oddly enough, basketball and hockey are the North American sports with the biggest presence in Europe where in most countries, it's the second or third sport.
I suspect her critiques are going to lead to a return of the previous status quo, or an even bigger emphasis on HSAs.
There's just zero support for more reforms that increase subsidies to cover the cost of care on the right.
There's just zero support for more reforms that increase subsidies to cover the cost of care on the right.
November 15, 2025 at 9:23 PM
I suspect her critiques are going to lead to a return of the previous status quo, or an even bigger emphasis on HSAs.
There's just zero support for more reforms that increase subsidies to cover the cost of care on the right.
There's just zero support for more reforms that increase subsidies to cover the cost of care on the right.
I think you'll be very disappointed very soon.
November 15, 2025 at 9:14 PM
I think you'll be very disappointed very soon.
I get the need for moving block on a heavily used corridor, but if you're seeing at best 4 tph with a regional service, is it that critical?
November 15, 2025 at 5:33 PM
I get the need for moving block on a heavily used corridor, but if you're seeing at best 4 tph with a regional service, is it that critical?
I've seen that on Stockholm Tunnelbana, but they pop the cab side door open to have line of sight down the platform.
I showed a photo of that BFF, and he said that would considered risky by conductors because it exposes them to a potential assault.
I showed a photo of that BFF, and he said that would considered risky by conductors because it exposes them to a potential assault.
November 15, 2025 at 11:06 AM
I've seen that on Stockholm Tunnelbana, but they pop the cab side door open to have line of sight down the platform.
I showed a photo of that BFF, and he said that would considered risky by conductors because it exposes them to a potential assault.
I showed a photo of that BFF, and he said that would considered risky by conductors because it exposes them to a potential assault.
*more important than rolling out ERTMS*
Why? It's not like there's a bunch of trains from other parts of the EU running in Italy...
Why? It's not like there's a bunch of trains from other parts of the EU running in Italy...
November 15, 2025 at 8:53 AM
*more important than rolling out ERTMS*
Why? It's not like there's a bunch of trains from other parts of the EU running in Italy...
Why? It's not like there's a bunch of trains from other parts of the EU running in Italy...
Are these things available to consumers and do they plug into traditional 110V outlets?
I could use an alternative to overpaying some dude for a minisplit and then overpaying the town for the permit…
I could use an alternative to overpaying some dude for a minisplit and then overpaying the town for the permit…
November 14, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Are these things available to consumers and do they plug into traditional 110V outlets?
I could use an alternative to overpaying some dude for a minisplit and then overpaying the town for the permit…
I could use an alternative to overpaying some dude for a minisplit and then overpaying the town for the permit…
They’re mostly Paris and London types. One went to Amsterdam.
November 14, 2025 at 10:09 AM
They’re mostly Paris and London types. One went to Amsterdam.
The conductor signed up for that when they accepted the job. The train operator didn't.
The resistance is likely to come from train operators that hate OPTO or never worked OPTO/conductor, and conductors who are afraid of moving to train operator or losing their jobs.
The resistance is likely to come from train operators that hate OPTO or never worked OPTO/conductor, and conductors who are afraid of moving to train operator or losing their jobs.
November 14, 2025 at 4:43 AM
The conductor signed up for that when they accepted the job. The train operator didn't.
The resistance is likely to come from train operators that hate OPTO or never worked OPTO/conductor, and conductors who are afraid of moving to train operator or losing their jobs.
The resistance is likely to come from train operators that hate OPTO or never worked OPTO/conductor, and conductors who are afraid of moving to train operator or losing their jobs.
It's weird, BFF hates it with a passion, while some other guys love it. Mind you, the people who love it tend to do it on lines such as Rockaway Shuttle or Franklin Shuttle where you're outdoors and the ridership is low.
It's much less enticing on the G.
From a cold perspective, I think it's 2 + 3
It's much less enticing on the G.
From a cold perspective, I think it's 2 + 3
November 14, 2025 at 4:18 AM
It's weird, BFF hates it with a passion, while some other guys love it. Mind you, the people who love it tend to do it on lines such as Rockaway Shuttle or Franklin Shuttle where you're outdoors and the ridership is low.
It's much less enticing on the G.
From a cold perspective, I think it's 2 + 3
It's much less enticing on the G.
From a cold perspective, I think it's 2 + 3
Jokingly, BFF says OPTO on that time scale to him screams "go to management or work trains", but again, he's trained in it and didn't like his experience in it.
November 14, 2025 at 4:11 AM
Jokingly, BFF says OPTO on that time scale to him screams "go to management or work trains", but again, he's trained in it and didn't like his experience in it.
Other than track worker, it's unlikely that your conductors and train operators have the background to work as maintainers, otherwise they would have chosen that path from the start.
So what job exists to keep them at their base pay for the next 20 years?
So what job exists to keep them at their base pay for the next 20 years?
November 14, 2025 at 4:01 AM
Other than track worker, it's unlikely that your conductors and train operators have the background to work as maintainers, otherwise they would have chosen that path from the start.
So what job exists to keep them at their base pay for the next 20 years?
So what job exists to keep them at their base pay for the next 20 years?
The problem is that with modernized fare payments, we don't need three station agents in a booth anymore. ATS and CBTC has nuked off tower operator jobs. You can't justify even more dispatchers. Some of the conductors don't have drivers licenses. So there's just less places to hide people.
November 14, 2025 at 3:58 AM
The problem is that with modernized fare payments, we don't need three station agents in a booth anymore. ATS and CBTC has nuked off tower operator jobs. You can't justify even more dispatchers. Some of the conductors don't have drivers licenses. So there's just less places to hide people.
You don't exactly save the oodles of money to run 30 tph 24/7 if you don't layoff the operating employees...
With that said, the problem is that in 95, you could hide people with promotions and some demotions. Station agent, cleaner, train operator, bus operator, tower operator, and dispatcher.
With that said, the problem is that in 95, you could hide people with promotions and some demotions. Station agent, cleaner, train operator, bus operator, tower operator, and dispatcher.
November 14, 2025 at 3:58 AM
You don't exactly save the oodles of money to run 30 tph 24/7 if you don't layoff the operating employees...
With that said, the problem is that in 95, you could hide people with promotions and some demotions. Station agent, cleaner, train operator, bus operator, tower operator, and dispatcher.
With that said, the problem is that in 95, you could hide people with promotions and some demotions. Station agent, cleaner, train operator, bus operator, tower operator, and dispatcher.
*50k units at Aqueduct Racetrack, etc.*
Is this really going to be a thing? I've seen people mention it over and over again...
Is this really going to be a thing? I've seen people mention it over and over again...
November 14, 2025 at 3:41 AM
*50k units at Aqueduct Racetrack, etc.*
Is this really going to be a thing? I've seen people mention it over and over again...
Is this really going to be a thing? I've seen people mention it over and over again...
BFF isn't sure about that because he's never worked it, and his work wife doesn't like doing platform.
November 14, 2025 at 3:30 AM
BFF isn't sure about that because he's never worked it, and his work wife doesn't like doing platform.