Barriers in Subway stations is a joke...they'll just jump somewhere else. Just like the millions they spent on the Bloor Viaduct. 
Barriers in Subway Stations
- Thread starter The Bandit
- Start date
Barriers may protect people from getting shoved or pushed onto the tracks. That's happened enough to make protection for innocent victims worth the trouble. Nothing joke-like about a child getting shoved in front of a train.
I doubt it is a "joke" since many mega cities outside North America have the will and budgets to erect barriers, aka Platform screen doors or "budget" version Automatic platform gates.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platform_screen_doors
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_platform_gate
BTW, the Tories and the Liberals in all levels of governments starve the TTC funding, while the unions and their NDP allies are essentially running TTC to the grounds by siphoning the money to outrageous entitlements for decades are the real jokers.
Adding insult to injury, our tax dollars out of our hard earn paychecks make it happen.
No wonder TTC is such a sorry state/disgrace/decrepit stage that there's nothing much leftover to upkeep, upgrade and maintain the subway system in decent shape, let alone installing barriers like those in so-called developing, emerging economies.
Oh how could I forget the Toronto Rocket, aka new subway train on Yonge line is still on hold due to the bankruptcy of a key part manufacturer, while their "Chinese Cousins" in Shanghai Metro are delivered on time and on budget by Bombardier JV with local partners.
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/...door-company-goes-belly-up.aspx#ixzz0cfMGZnZv
I think I remember reading somewhere (I'm sure someone will correct me if wrong) that to build these barriers in current subway stns will cost $billions$.
IMO a total waste if they are to prevent jumpers or pushers. If someone wants to off themselves badly enough they will find a way if they cannot jump in front of subway train... they will do it some other way. Same for people who push others... if they want to harm someone bad enough... they will find a way.
If the government wants to spend so much money to prevent both the above actions they need to build more hospitals and provide more treatment and all the surrounding support systems required to help people who have mental health issues. I don't think we need to commission a study or whatever to figure out people who jump in front of subway trains 'have issues'. Also in every report I have read of recent 'pushings' in last couple years and even others in years gone by it was always reported that the person had some sort of mental health illness or condition.
I dare say that for same costs as building all these barriers we could spend same amount of $$ and most likely save even more lives then the barriers will/would by investing in more health care etc.
IMO a total waste if they are to prevent jumpers or pushers. If someone wants to off themselves badly enough they will find a way if they cannot jump in front of subway train... they will do it some other way. Same for people who push others... if they want to harm someone bad enough... they will find a way.
If the government wants to spend so much money to prevent both the above actions they need to build more hospitals and provide more treatment and all the surrounding support systems required to help people who have mental health issues. I don't think we need to commission a study or whatever to figure out people who jump in front of subway trains 'have issues'. Also in every report I have read of recent 'pushings' in last couple years and even others in years gone by it was always reported that the person had some sort of mental health illness or condition.
I dare say that for same costs as building all these barriers we could spend same amount of $$ and most likely save even more lives then the barriers will/would by investing in more health care etc.
It takes over 6 months (king station - started nov 2009 to projected completion june 2010) to repair a f'en escalator.
Either an escalator is the most complicated technology on the planet or this plan will take 20 years to implement.
Either an escalator is the most complicated technology on the planet or this plan will take 20 years to implement.
they can get the same effect by stopping the train before it gets into the station and then proceding slowly to the loading areas, they don't like this idea because it will slow down trains a little , but it won't cost as much as the barriers ( in the hundreds of millions )
But think of the cost. Now suppose someone pushes someone(or jumps) in front of a streeetcar. Woops, time to put up barriers on Toronto streets.
Well, it should be phased in. I understand the issue is that the system as it stands today cannot stop the trains accurately enough to ensure they wind up in front of the sliding doors every time. That is a problem that can eventually be solved inexpensively through natural replacement of equipment. The barriers should be phased in as ordinary maintenance provides the newer equipment that supports accurate stops. I believe it's some sort of automated control of the train based on signals installed in the tracks.
So sure if we rushed to have sliding doors next year it would cost a fortune--but only because it would require replacing old equipment with more modern versions earlier than ordinary wear and tear would require. So just wait... make sure all new equipment meets the required standard, and eventually it'll be cheap and easy to install the barriers.
So sure if we rushed to have sliding doors next year it would cost a fortune--but only because it would require replacing old equipment with more modern versions earlier than ordinary wear and tear would require. So just wait... make sure all new equipment meets the required standard, and eventually it'll be cheap and easy to install the barriers.
It won't happen at least in a long long time. Maybe if we have the summer Olympic games then they might installed them. But it cost way too much money, and the government won't fund it and the TTC know how to waste money. So, I don't think it's going to happen in my lifetime.
$700,000,000 to build barriers. Why don't we just post a $1,000,000 to reward to jumpers not to jump? Actually, why don't we just hand the money to the homeless?
A far better solution is to just slow the trains down when they approach the station and mount a "cowcatcher" on the front of the train.
P.S. Why not spend the $700,000,000 to protect pedestrians from getting mowed down by maniac drivers?
A far better solution is to just slow the trains down when they approach the station and mount a "cowcatcher" on the front of the train.
P.S. Why not spend the $700,000,000 to protect pedestrians from getting mowed down by maniac drivers?
Could not believe how "misguided" the politicians try to solve the problem.
Not an engineer by trade and to make a story short, $700 million is merely a down payment since the idea to erect platform screen doors/automatic platform gate trigger a tonne of renovations, massive upgrade in the subway system that cost in BILLIONS.
All of these renovations and massive upgrades are needed to be implemented and completed before erecting barriers. That range from reinforcing concrete platforms, to improving ventilation at the stations, installing platform gap fillers, upgrading the signal system for the rolling stocks to operate in ATO mode etc.
Doubtful TTC has any money to do so since politicians of all stripes would do everything to torpedo it, ranging from the Tories lobbying for the automobile industries and suburbs constituents protesting taxpayers money allocated to compete with private sectors, to the Liberals and NDP, lobbying for the Unions discrediting such idea for fearing their outrageous entitlements at TTC could be cut/capped.
Moreover, as usual the passengers have all the excuses not to pay up, while demanding the subway system to be run as "world-class" like those in Asia.
BTW, how could I forget TTC is not committing full implementation to roll out of Presto smartcard to replace last century technology like tokens and Metropass swipe card for obvious reason.
Right now the train can be off by +/- 5 to 10 feet and it won't matter. Put doors in and it drops to +/- an inch or two. It is not just the station that needs modifying it is the trains as well.
B
burt-oh-my!
The cost per saved life is way too high. It's that simple. Way out of whack with other ways of saving lives, for instance in the medical field. I figure for 700 million you could provide well over a hundred thousand MRIs to at risk groups. Bet you'd save a lot more lives than a dozen jumpers.
Actually, it's not the suicides, it's more the psychos that push people that concern me.
If you want to kill yourself, you'll find another way.
I think slowing the trains is ideal and would cost nothing except an extra 30 seconds per stop.
If you want to kill yourself, you'll find another way.
I think slowing the trains is ideal and would cost nothing except an extra 30 seconds per stop.
Such a program would last all of one week, before the TTC would have to stop it because of a deluge of bitching and moaning from the media and riders. Plus, an extra 30 seconds per stop would add up if you were riding from Kipling to Bloor-Yonge, for example.
They are planning to add the barriers:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/tra...ttc-plans-suicide-barriers-on-yonge-line?bn=1
"The TTC wants to install suicide barriers on its subway platforms, possibly within three or four years at some stations.
Councillors on the transit commission recommended Wednesday that the barriers, known as platform screen doors, be added to the capital budget between 2011 and 2015.
But with the TTC anticipating a $1.5 billion capital shortfall by the end of the decade, the cost of up to $10 million per station has no funding yet.
“Anything that would add to the capital shortfall would be the responsibility of the province and the city to cover,” said TTC chair Adam Giambrone
The first phase, from Eglinton to Union, won’t be complete until 2013, and it will be 2015 before it is installed all the way to Downsview.
As well as suicide and accident prevention, the barriers would permit trains to move faster, stop people from jamming the doors and keep garbage from falling to the tracks, where it sometimes catches fire and causes delays."
