My friend Ed Drass just sent me a puff piece from the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) about the impending opening of their new inter-terminal shuttle. Read all about it here. [This link is no longer active.]
What amuses me immensely is the propulsion technology. The cars are pulled along by a “rope” to which they are attached. There is only one unit on each of two tracks and so collisions are impossible.
We technically savvy railfan types will recognize this as a blend of elevator and cablecar technology. Just think of the tourism potential if they hadn’t built an automated system! In my mind’s eye, I see GTAA staff, in a period conductor’s uniform with the title “gripman” (or maybe “gripperson” to be more 21st century about it). The cars could have lovely wooden trim, bench seats, and running-boards for the adventurous riders.
Might be a bit chilly for those interterminal transfers in February, but maybe we could have a summer and a winter fleet.
Hmmm … this sounds like the sort of high-tech transit the Urban Transportation Development Corporation would lap up. A new world-beating technology! Just in time to replace the Scarborough RT!
[We will return to our regular, curmudgeonly programming later this week with a look at next Wednesday’s TTC meeting.]
Steve Munro 