Tracking the first ION train? Twitter is tops for updates
Kate Bueckert | CBC News | Posted: February 21, 2017 6:11 PM | Last Updated: February 21, 2017
Enthusiastic rail fans provide more current information on whereabouts of region's first LRT car
People eagerly anticipating the first ION LRT car's arrival in Waterloo region have taken matters into their own hands, tracking the car's progress at any given moment.
The region's ION tracker website is somewhat short on exact details and often out of date. That has some people taking to Twitter to share more current information.
- More ION LRT coverage on CBC K-W
- You can track the Bombardier LRT car trek to K-W
- LRT delayed until early 2018 due to Bombardier train delays
Take Tuesday at noon for example: where the region's website's updated on Monday that the car was in Spence, Ont., just west of Algonquin Park, Twitter user Iain Hendry was able to confirm it had in fact arrived in Alliston, approximately 200 km south of that location by 5 p.m.
Hendry said he thinks the region is doing something really neat by tracking the car, but some people are "just a little too enthusiastic" and took matters into their own hands.
"Rail fans in all sorts of communities along the route have been very carefully monitoring what trains it is on, and when – so our data is 'live' and far more up-to-date than what the region is getting," Hendry said via email.
Hendry said as of Tuesday afternoon, it was believed the train was in London.
Though it might seem like the rail car is taking a roundabout route to Waterloo region, Hendry said it's a lot like a UPS package, which may hit one or two distribution centres on its way to your house.
Region's tracker not a live update
The map on the tracker website isn't intended to be a live update of the train's whereabouts, ION communications and community relations co-ordinator TJ Flynn said in an email to CBC News.
That's because those updates come from Bombardier, who manufactured the train car at its Thunder Bay plant. Before updating the region, Bombardier first has to check the status of their shipment with the rail company before telling the region. It can be a time consuming process.
Those interested in more up-to-date information may want to follow the hashtag #IONtracker on Twitter for details.
The LRT car was shipped out of the Thunder Bay Bombardier plant on Feb. 16 at 6 a.m.. It's anticipated it would take 10 to 12 days to arrive in Waterloo region, meaning it should arrive by the middle of next week.