JackTatt 🇨🇦
@jacktatttran.bsky.social
MASc. Graduate from UofT CivMin who researched public transport fare and service integration @TAL_UofT.
Like trains and buses and trams and people. Urban Transit Planning.
Like trains and buses and trams and people. Urban Transit Planning.
Cops should not do fare inspections. Unarmed agency personnel should do the fare inspections, see pictures from Sydney Australia (the state and private operators employ authorized officers who do random ticket checks. State police basically never check tickets, their job is law enforcement).
November 4, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Cops should not do fare inspections. Unarmed agency personnel should do the fare inspections, see pictures from Sydney Australia (the state and private operators employ authorized officers who do random ticket checks. State police basically never check tickets, their job is law enforcement).
Interesting how it’s all Carried on Diversion I looked it up, it’s a parliamentary term for passed without a recorded vote but noting that the opposition is against it (but are in the minority).
Of course it has some fancy esoteric name about a more competitive economy (I guess lawless roads help?)
Of course it has some fancy esoteric name about a more competitive economy (I guess lawless roads help?)
November 4, 2025 at 12:16 AM
Interesting how it’s all Carried on Diversion I looked it up, it’s a parliamentary term for passed without a recorded vote but noting that the opposition is against it (but are in the minority).
Of course it has some fancy esoteric name about a more competitive economy (I guess lawless roads help?)
Of course it has some fancy esoteric name about a more competitive economy (I guess lawless roads help?)
Okay looking into it more. The Australians pronounce it with a British influence as THREE syllables prem-ee-uh, contrasting with both Americans and Canadians two syllable pronunciations. Canadians emphasize the first while the Americans sound like they’re talking about a movie: PREM-wee vs pre-MEER.
November 2, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Okay looking into it more. The Australians pronounce it with a British influence as THREE syllables prem-ee-uh, contrasting with both Americans and Canadians two syllable pronunciations. Canadians emphasize the first while the Americans sound like they’re talking about a movie: PREM-wee vs pre-MEER.
WEGO Niagara Parks Commission (Ontario, Canada) is rather small. They have only one and a half routes, only take prepurchased cards (no payment on board), and run frequent services during the day only. Connects resorts, attractions like the power station, the GO/VIA train station, and key points.
November 1, 2025 at 3:05 AM
WEGO Niagara Parks Commission (Ontario, Canada) is rather small. They have only one and a half routes, only take prepurchased cards (no payment on board), and run frequent services during the day only. Connects resorts, attractions like the power station, the GO/VIA train station, and key points.
The buses had placards and/or destination boards for it too!
November 1, 2025 at 2:26 AM
The buses had placards and/or destination boards for it too!
Finally, there is a terminal station layout common in Europe, UK, and Australia where you have three parallel tracks at stations with the middle track not serving platforms but with mid-platform crossovers so you can do shunting moves more easily.
Pictures show it at Sydney Central on platforms 1-4
Pictures show it at Sydney Central on platforms 1-4
October 31, 2025 at 3:37 AM
Finally, there is a terminal station layout common in Europe, UK, and Australia where you have three parallel tracks at stations with the middle track not serving platforms but with mid-platform crossovers so you can do shunting moves more easily.
Pictures show it at Sydney Central on platforms 1-4
Pictures show it at Sydney Central on platforms 1-4
Some other pics from Hillcrst complex (Harvey Shops). The facility is currently being expanded to be a car barn for the storage and maintenance of operating streetcars (the fleet is being expanded by an additional 60 which maxes out the existing car houses).
October 30, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Some other pics from Hillcrst complex (Harvey Shops). The facility is currently being expanded to be a car barn for the storage and maintenance of operating streetcars (the fleet is being expanded by an additional 60 which maxes out the existing car houses).
Rail bending in action during a United Way Open House a few years ago (TTC staff volunteer to host these open houses with the proceeds of the entry fee going to United Way)
October 30, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Rail bending in action during a United Way Open House a few years ago (TTC staff volunteer to host these open houses with the proceeds of the entry fee going to United Way)
Fascinating. I haven’t had the opportunity to visit Germany yet. Do automobiles drive on the raised road when no streetcars or is it just for cyclists?
October 29, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Fascinating. I haven’t had the opportunity to visit Germany yet. Do automobiles drive on the raised road when no streetcars or is it just for cyclists?
Compare for instance these posted speed limits on the brand new Parramatta Light Rail in New South Wales (sorry about the picture quality):
20 kph straight and 15 kph diverging in a pedestrianized zone
20kph diverging (ending turnout) at a terminus
35kph straight and 25kph diverging at terminus
20 kph straight and 15 kph diverging in a pedestrianized zone
20kph diverging (ending turnout) at a terminus
35kph straight and 25kph diverging at terminus
October 29, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Compare for instance these posted speed limits on the brand new Parramatta Light Rail in New South Wales (sorry about the picture quality):
20 kph straight and 15 kph diverging in a pedestrianized zone
20kph diverging (ending turnout) at a terminus
35kph straight and 25kph diverging at terminus
20 kph straight and 15 kph diverging in a pedestrianized zone
20kph diverging (ending turnout) at a terminus
35kph straight and 25kph diverging at terminus
Namely:
- Reliable switch controls and switch status (including alignment) displayed outside or in cabs.
- Switches suitable for operation over at 15-30kph not 10kph even for straight moves
- Dedicated lanes and transit malls
- Intelligent TSP that actually prioritizes transit
- Improved stops
- Reliable switch controls and switch status (including alignment) displayed outside or in cabs.
- Switches suitable for operation over at 15-30kph not 10kph even for straight moves
- Dedicated lanes and transit malls
- Intelligent TSP that actually prioritizes transit
- Improved stops
October 29, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Namely:
- Reliable switch controls and switch status (including alignment) displayed outside or in cabs.
- Switches suitable for operation over at 15-30kph not 10kph even for straight moves
- Dedicated lanes and transit malls
- Intelligent TSP that actually prioritizes transit
- Improved stops
- Reliable switch controls and switch status (including alignment) displayed outside or in cabs.
- Switches suitable for operation over at 15-30kph not 10kph even for straight moves
- Dedicated lanes and transit malls
- Intelligent TSP that actually prioritizes transit
- Improved stops
@auguststreet.ca I will be coming but please let me know if there is anything I can do to contribute. Having had the opportunity to experience trams in other jurisdictions and discussed with TTC, the streetcar system seriously needs improvements for this century and the TTC lacks the competency.
October 29, 2025 at 10:14 PM
@auguststreet.ca I will be coming but please let me know if there is anything I can do to contribute. Having had the opportunity to experience trams in other jurisdictions and discussed with TTC, the streetcar system seriously needs improvements for this century and the TTC lacks the competency.
I think the key to controlling fare evasion is making inspection seem likely (like saying you have plain clothes inspectors) and making fare inspectors approachable transit personnel and not security-lite. Like in Sydney they wear white shirts with knit sweaters or vests and are friendly.
October 28, 2025 at 3:45 AM
I think the key to controlling fare evasion is making inspection seem likely (like saying you have plain clothes inspectors) and making fare inspectors approachable transit personnel and not security-lite. Like in Sydney they wear white shirts with knit sweaters or vests and are friendly.
I’ve been on the Peak2Peak Gondola. Dangling over a kilometre above the ground from cabs whose nearest supports are 1.5km away. It’s fine. Actually quite awesome.
It is the world’s longest freespan gondola (3km between supports on a 4.4km gondola)
It is the world’s longest freespan gondola (3km between supports on a 4.4km gondola)
October 28, 2025 at 1:58 AM
I’ve been on the Peak2Peak Gondola. Dangling over a kilometre above the ground from cabs whose nearest supports are 1.5km away. It’s fine. Actually quite awesome.
It is the world’s longest freespan gondola (3km between supports on a 4.4km gondola)
It is the world’s longest freespan gondola (3km between supports on a 4.4km gondola)
Similarly the South Coast Intercity Line (like the Barrie line or a LSE extension to Port Hope or Belleville) takes 2hrs20 to Kiama on express with local services to Port Kembla. The Illawarra escapement and Royal National Park slow trains significantly between Waterfall & N Wollongong.
October 21, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Similarly the South Coast Intercity Line (like the Barrie line or a LSE extension to Port Hope or Belleville) takes 2hrs20 to Kiama on express with local services to Port Kembla. The Illawarra escapement and Royal National Park slow trains significantly between Waterfall & N Wollongong.
I have a system with views and schedules to beat that.
October 20, 2025 at 9:51 PM
I have a system with views and schedules to beat that.
The express could be operated under a mutual fare agreement with South Shore Line so tickets are valid on Metra Electric local, Metra Electric Express, and South Shore services if used on the part of the line bounded by the stations the ticket was issued for.
Double deck trains could be like Sydney
Double deck trains could be like Sydney
October 19, 2025 at 4:09 PM
The express could be operated under a mutual fare agreement with South Shore Line so tickets are valid on Metra Electric local, Metra Electric Express, and South Shore services if used on the part of the line bounded by the stations the ticket was issued for.
Double deck trains could be like Sydney
Double deck trains could be like Sydney
My neighbourhood is now proudly home to GreenP’s 500th electric vehicle charging station featuring a fancy gold charger.
October 18, 2025 at 8:11 PM
My neighbourhood is now proudly home to GreenP’s 500th electric vehicle charging station featuring a fancy gold charger.
The L1 was closed for about a year in 2022 after they had to sideline the entire Urbos3 fleet (the older ones with the orange displays and LED screens not LCD displays) because of bogie cracking. The 3rd pic shows how Sydney’s Alstom Citadis trams can take 2+2 facing transverse seats over the bogie.
October 9, 2025 at 10:43 PM
The L1 was closed for about a year in 2022 after they had to sideline the entire Urbos3 fleet (the older ones with the orange displays and LED screens not LCD displays) because of bogie cracking. The 3rd pic shows how Sydney’s Alstom Citadis trams can take 2+2 facing transverse seats over the bogie.
The L1 Dulwich Hill Line (formerly Inner West Light Rail, Sydney’s first modern light rail line) also uses an older fleet of CAF Urbos 3 LRVs, which are superficially very similar except with orange instead of white exterior destination displays and LED passenger screens inside instead of LCD.
October 9, 2025 at 10:03 PM
The L1 Dulwich Hill Line (formerly Inner West Light Rail, Sydney’s first modern light rail line) also uses an older fleet of CAF Urbos 3 LRVs, which are superficially very similar except with orange instead of white exterior destination displays and LED passenger screens inside instead of LCD.
Similar Urbos 100s are used on the L1 Dulwich Hill Line (except five not seven modules, without batteries, and with Ouse side PSDs above the doors — which are a Parramatta first) and the Newcastle Light Rail (with five modules, surfboard holders, and again without side PSDs).
Pics of L1
Pics of L1
October 9, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Similar Urbos 100s are used on the L1 Dulwich Hill Line (except five not seven modules, without batteries, and with Ouse side PSDs above the doors — which are a Parramatta first) and the Newcastle Light Rail (with five modules, surfboard holders, and again without side PSDs).
Pics of L1
Pics of L1
A positive side of Cubic fare technology, is they support the very simple use of android mobile phones with a proprietary app for fare inspections and control. Meaning police fare inspectors can use their corporate smartphone (as in SYD) to conduct inspections instead of specialized handheld devices
October 1, 2025 at 11:22 PM
A positive side of Cubic fare technology, is they support the very simple use of android mobile phones with a proprietary app for fare inspections and control. Meaning police fare inspectors can use their corporate smartphone (as in SYD) to conduct inspections instead of specialized handheld devices