Marcus P.
@reluctantaxe.bsky.social
Tabletop gaming enthusiast, urban planning & transit advocate, and Kamcon gaming convention organiser.
Not to say that investing in commuter rail improvements isn't worthwhile but the REM is able to run almost as many trains on one of its three branches as Caltrain can on its mainline with extra passing tracks, it's an entirely different level of service
December 1, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Not to say that investing in commuter rail improvements isn't worthwhile but the REM is able to run almost as many trains on one of its three branches as Caltrain can on its mainline with extra passing tracks, it's an entirely different level of service
While it's important to note what the CPDQ received I'm tired of people using it to discount the affordability of the REM.
1. There is 30km of new trackage, if you just use that to calculate $/km it's still cheap
2. The REM shows that investing in underused existing infrastructure maximise RoI
1. There is 30km of new trackage, if you just use that to calculate $/km it's still cheap
2. The REM shows that investing in underused existing infrastructure maximise RoI
December 1, 2025 at 3:38 AM
While it's important to note what the CPDQ received I'm tired of people using it to discount the affordability of the REM.
1. There is 30km of new trackage, if you just use that to calculate $/km it's still cheap
2. The REM shows that investing in underused existing infrastructure maximise RoI
1. There is 30km of new trackage, if you just use that to calculate $/km it's still cheap
2. The REM shows that investing in underused existing infrastructure maximise RoI
REM has conventional rail traction not linear induction motors. The comparison between the REM and SkyTrain is more on an operation aspect. The REM takes the regional focused, frequent, fast, and bus connection operation from SkyTrain that few other transit systems holistically adopt.
December 1, 2025 at 3:21 AM
REM has conventional rail traction not linear induction motors. The comparison between the REM and SkyTrain is more on an operation aspect. The REM takes the regional focused, frequent, fast, and bus connection operation from SkyTrain that few other transit systems holistically adopt.
Yeah even with the more optimistic speed estimates they had for Finch it would have been over an hour and a half to go the entire length of Finch
December 1, 2025 at 1:01 AM
Yeah even with the more optimistic speed estimates they had for Finch it would have been over an hour and a half to go the entire length of Finch
Yeah there is no reason it can't just run in its own subway only viaduct over the Don, it doesn't need to be combined with a road viaduct, though it might make sense to if the current viaduct needs replacing or extensive repairs
December 1, 2025 at 12:48 AM
Yeah there is no reason it can't just run in its own subway only viaduct over the Don, it doesn't need to be combined with a road viaduct, though it might make sense to if the current viaduct needs replacing or extensive repairs
I feel like the TCC/Toronto wanted the SRT to fall apart purely out of spite because the province from forced it on them
December 1, 2025 at 12:38 AM
I feel like the TCC/Toronto wanted the SRT to fall apart purely out of spite because the province from forced it on them
It's why I'm really proud of what Vancouver has achieved with the SkyTrain. We used what little highway and rail infrastructure we had but keep building elevated rail along arterial streets that most other cities, looking at you Toronto, would never think of instead of taking the easy tram option
December 1, 2025 at 12:15 AM
It's why I'm really proud of what Vancouver has achieved with the SkyTrain. We used what little highway and rail infrastructure we had but keep building elevated rail along arterial streets that most other cities, looking at you Toronto, would never think of instead of taking the easy tram option
Reusing the tunnel, being able to use a brand new bridge, and the use of an existing rail RoW for about 1/3 of the route. That being said these are things you can do in most cities if you are willing to
December 1, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Reusing the tunnel, being able to use a brand new bridge, and the use of an existing rail RoW for about 1/3 of the route. That being said these are things you can do in most cities if you are willing to
Look at all the commuter rail lines that are state owned in the US north east that you could REMify. Imagine a metro line going all the way from Boston to Lawrence, probably could be done cheaper than the REM just upgrading the track, signaliyand removing grade crossing.
November 30, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Look at all the commuter rail lines that are state owned in the US north east that you could REMify. Imagine a metro line going all the way from Boston to Lawrence, probably could be done cheaper than the REM just upgrading the track, signaliyand removing grade crossing.
Not going to defend that Vancouver's transit construction cost isn't nearly as good as used to be but we are still probably the cheapest place in the Anglosphere to build transit ignoring the special circumstances around the REM
November 30, 2025 at 11:47 PM
Not going to defend that Vancouver's transit construction cost isn't nearly as good as used to be but we are still probably the cheapest place in the Anglosphere to build transit ignoring the special circumstances around the REM
While the funding form isn't directly transferable the overall approach still is. Invest to maximize ridership, high frequency regional focused lines, minimise the cost of the lines, use rail and highway RoWs that can provide decent service, focus on bus transfer to maximise the network effect
November 30, 2025 at 11:44 PM
While the funding form isn't directly transferable the overall approach still is. Invest to maximize ridership, high frequency regional focused lines, minimise the cost of the lines, use rail and highway RoWs that can provide decent service, focus on bus transfer to maximise the network effect
Every one of Vancouver's rapidbuses is faster than it and they have minimal transit priority measures. Though they do have proper stop spacing to try and provide some semblance of rapid transit.
November 29, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Every one of Vancouver's rapidbuses is faster than it and they have minimal transit priority measures. Though they do have proper stop spacing to try and provide some semblance of rapid transit.
It was the quickest and easiest way to serve the west Island, airport and south shore, on top of upgrading D-M with metro level service, especially looking at the cost of the blue line extension and the Tramway de l'Est.
November 29, 2025 at 8:21 PM
It was the quickest and easiest way to serve the west Island, airport and south shore, on top of upgrading D-M with metro level service, especially looking at the cost of the blue line extension and the Tramway de l'Est.
They have/are adding 3 new branches and providing and running more service than the old lien could have ever run, without doing a full rebuild like the REM did. The idea that the REM isn't a huge improvement and worthy investment is just bizarre.
November 29, 2025 at 7:34 PM
They have/are adding 3 new branches and providing and running more service than the old lien could have ever run, without doing a full rebuild like the REM did. The idea that the REM isn't a huge improvement and worthy investment is just bizarre.
Reposted by Marcus P.
536 Finch West Streetcar 🥰
November 29, 2025 at 5:49 PM
536 Finch West Streetcar 🥰
Not that I'm a fan of Ford but hasn't pretty much all of the GTA transit projects he actually green lit been grade separated for the part
November 29, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Not that I'm a fan of Ford but hasn't pretty much all of the GTA transit projects he actually green lit been grade separated for the part
Reposted by Marcus P.
Beyond this continent’s disastrous project delivery practices…
how do we ever expect the public to continue spending BILLIONS supporting rapid transit expansion when projects we deliver don’t MATERIALLY improve their lives?
Simply putting the bus on rails won’t lift Jane & Finch out of poverty!
how do we ever expect the public to continue spending BILLIONS supporting rapid transit expansion when projects we deliver don’t MATERIALLY improve their lives?
Simply putting the bus on rails won’t lift Jane & Finch out of poverty!
November 29, 2025 at 6:59 AM
Beyond this continent’s disastrous project delivery practices…
how do we ever expect the public to continue spending BILLIONS supporting rapid transit expansion when projects we deliver don’t MATERIALLY improve their lives?
Simply putting the bus on rails won’t lift Jane & Finch out of poverty!
how do we ever expect the public to continue spending BILLIONS supporting rapid transit expansion when projects we deliver don’t MATERIALLY improve their lives?
Simply putting the bus on rails won’t lift Jane & Finch out of poverty!
Home is where you are responsible for making sure the toilet flushes 🪠
November 29, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Home is where you are responsible for making sure the toilet flushes 🪠
Or at least we shouldn't be spending billions of dollars so that it is more comfortable and sometimes faster than a bus there should be appreciable speed improvements at a minimum
November 29, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Or at least we shouldn't be spending billions of dollars so that it is more comfortable and sometimes faster than a bus there should be appreciable speed improvements at a minimum
Or they could have just elevated it for an actually reasonable cost and get all the benefits of grade separated transit, it's not like Finch is a narrow Right of way
November 29, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Or they could have just elevated it for an actually reasonable cost and get all the benefits of grade separated transit, it's not like Finch is a narrow Right of way
The TTC and Toronto city council seem utterly unable to manage an effective transit system, they let the SRT fall apart for God's sake. The only thing that saves them from being a complete embarrassment is they are willing to run a lot of service.
November 29, 2025 at 2:51 PM
The TTC and Toronto city council seem utterly unable to manage an effective transit system, they let the SRT fall apart for God's sake. The only thing that saves them from being a complete embarrassment is they are willing to run a lot of service.
Who says I don't want my traveler game to be Red Dwarf, other than the fact I end up being Arnold Rimmer every time
November 29, 2025 at 6:50 AM
Who says I don't want my traveler game to be Red Dwarf, other than the fact I end up being Arnold Rimmer every time
And somewhere David Miller and Jennifer Keesmaat are patting themselves on the back
November 29, 2025 at 3:57 AM
And somewhere David Miller and Jennifer Keesmaat are patting themselves on the back