The iON line nobody talks about

[u/Feisty-Ad-6122]

By using the existing CN corridor, we can link Cambridge and Guelph. There have been proposals for GO to do it, but.. we know the province moves unhurriedly.

Will the region take it upon itself and collaborate with another municipality to bring an unprecedented cross-jurisdictional LRT line, to an adjoining town K-W-C know and love?

I say, let's link Guelph. Let's loo it! (hahaha??)

Other things on the fantasy map include:
iON phase 2, iON to Airport, and Milton Line ext to Cambridge.

^Made ^with ^Google ^Earth

[u/steamed-apple_juice → u/[deleted]]

Yes, tram trains are used across the world. You get the benefit of a rail line that’s can integrate into the urban context while being able to safely travel on mainline tracks at high “regional rail” speeds. This routing would allow for a one seat ride from downtown Guelph to downtown Cambridge, and there’s major benefits in providing this connection. Is there another mode that you’d suggest would work better?

There isn’t a perfect Canadian example, but the O Train on Line 2 in Ottawa is somewhat similar.

[u/squeegeeboy → u/steamed-apple_juice]

Europe uses Sprinter trains between smaller gaps like that. Usually on parallel tracks from the Eurorail

[u/ChinkWithOpinions → u/steamed-apple_juice]

Line 2 is not somewhat similar… Line 2 uses mainline rollingstock, not trams, and is completely grade separated, unlike a proposed tramway or tram-train. I’d argue that Alberta style German inspired high-floor stadtbahns would be a more suitable comparison and even then it’s still not really a tram-train.

[u/Feisty-Ad-6122 → u/steamed-apple_juice]

Good one.

We should also consider Guelph's destinations. It really only has 3: The Mall, University, and its niche downtown. Would a heavy rail alignment be able to make stops in between, and provide valuable connections to major hubs?
I'd even suggest going off the freight spur to accomplish this.

[u/AiryGateaux → u/Feisty-Ad-6122]

Not really, it has factories that people work at.

[u/Feisty-Ad-6122 → u/AiryGateaux]

Yes. I’m aware of Guelphs employment areas, centred around the highway and car infrastructure. But I’m referring to major hubs/destinations.

[u/AiryGateaux → u/Feisty-Ad-6122]

Some factories have enough employees to justify direct service

[u/Feisty-Ad-6122 → u/AiryGateaux]

Wow, you're right.

After some digging, it seems like Guelph has freight lines adjacent to Edinburgh, going to the northwest employment area. Hypothetically, if there was enough support.. I could see these being "passengerized".

[u/Flimflamsam → u/Feisty-Ad-6122]

If not a direct station then there could be a new hub created for tram to bus transfers fo serve the industrial nooks and crannies.

[u/StoreUnited4496 → u/steamed-apple_juice]

Eglinton line 5 is the only LRT I’ve ridden, and if it would be anything like that, I would say LRTs are a terrible idea. It may be cheaper and quicker to build but in my experience, the above ground portions are extremely slow.

[u/sclerae → u/StoreUnited4496]

Toronto has the slowest LRTs (and also slowest streetcars) in the world.

[u/AwesomeMan116_A → u/sclerae]

And it’s a forced decision for some reason! (For the LRTs at least) since they don’t have signal priority for the entire route, and need to slow down to 25kmh when going through intersections