Metro Vancouver Transit Discussion II

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by aberdeen5698

For those wondering, "GIMS" = Guideway Intrusion Monitoring System - these are aluminum posts installed on either side of the track just beyond the gate that leads to the catwalk along the track. The posts contain light sensors to detect someone accessing the catwalk.

How does GIDS work compared to GIMS? Some other ones from the Broadway Subway definitions document.

“GIDS” means guideway intrusion detection system.
“TIDS” means track intrusion detection at Stations.
“WIDS” means walkway intrusion detection system.

https://www.infrastructurebc.com/wp2/wp-...initions-and-Interpretation-Redacted.pdf

[dpogue]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

How does GIDS work compared to GIMS? Some other ones from the Broadway Subway definitions document.

“GIDS” means guideway intrusion detection system.
“TIDS” means track intrusion detection at Stations.
“WIDS” means walkway intrusion detection system.

https://www.infrastructurebc.com/wp2/wp-...initions-and-Interpretation-Redacted.pdf

There are 3 or 4 different types of platform track intrusions sensors, mostly corresponding to different eras of station constructions. These sensors detect intrusions into the track within stations and automatically emergency brake any nearby trains.

PIES (Platform Intrusion Emergency System) are the pressure plates used on the original Expo Line.
GIES (Guideway Intrusion Emergency System) are full platform-length lasers at track level on the Millennium Line.
GIDS (Guideway Intrusion Detection System) are similar laser-based sensors used on the Canada Line.
TIDS (Track Intrusion Detection System) are half-length laser-based sensors used on the Evergreen Extension.

Beyond those, there are GIMS (Guideway Intrusion Monitoring System) on the Expo and Millennium Lines that cover the exits from stations onto walkways, TIMS (Tunnel Intrusion Monitoring System) in the Evergreen tunnel, and I guess WIDS (although that's a new acronym to me... maybe used on Canada Line?). These sensors cause intrusion alerts to come up in the control centre so staff can be dispatched to investigate.

[ilikeredheads]

https://www.translink.ca/schedules-and-maps/skytrain

I don't know why translink dont' bother advertising this, but apparently Canada Line service has increased.
Early morning improved to 5/10 min.
Peak hours improved to 3/6 min.
Late night improved to 7-8/15 min.

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by ilikeredheads

https://www.translink.ca/schedules-and-maps/skytrain

I don't know why translink dont' bother advertising this, but apparently Canada Line service has increased.
Early morning improved to 5/10 min.
Peak hours improved to 3/6 min.
Late night improved to 7-8/15 min.

What was it before?

[Tvisforme]

Originally Posted by ilikeredheads

https://www.translink.ca/schedules-and-maps/skytrain

I don't know why translink dont' bother advertising this, but apparently Canada Line service has increased.
Early morning improved to 5/10 min.
Peak hours improved to 3/6 min.
Late night improved to 7-8/15 min.

There was a mention of it in a March 2024 Daily Hive story:

TransLink planning 5 key service improvements starting September 2024 to address overcrowding

However, as you noted, there doesn't seem to be much mention of it on TransLink's website. It wasn't on the recent Winter Service Changes page, for example.

[nname]

Originally Posted by aberdeen5698

What was it before?

Peak actually have no change, it was increased to 3/6 min before the pandemic.

The ones that are changed - not all were increases

Early morning 6/12 => 5/10
Mid-day 3-4/6-7 => 4/8
Late night 10/20 => 7-8/15
Weekend 4-10/7-20 => 4-8/8-15

[Hotwax]

It was mentioned during the opening event for Capstan that there would be increased service on the Canada Line.

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/capstan-station-skytrain-canada-line-open-design-features

[WarrenC12]

As I understand it, the P3 agreement dictates a certain end to end travel time. Have train speeds increased as a result of having one more stop now?

[madog222]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

As I understand it, the P3 agreement dictates a certain end to end travel time. Have train speeds increased as a result of having one more stop now?

Looking at the current published vs archived schedule, speed through Richmond between Brighouse and Bridgeport has increased while the rest of the system maintains the original speed. Travel time between Brighouse and Bridgeport is listed at 6min pre and post Capstan.

[Kisai]

Originally Posted by idunno

You don't wanna rush testing with new trains (I'm looking at you Ottawa LRT)

Skytrain is automated. LRT's are not. Most of the reason why LRT's — is because the human element makes it —, over-speed, over-engaging the brakes, track intrusions, t-boning by cars on level-crossings, etc.

What needs to happen on the Skytrain for testing is different. Different generations of computers, different generations of moving parts. An appropriate analogy would be trying to stick a Geforce 5090 into a 40 year old 286. A bunch of stuff has to be upgraded with every generation of trains.

MK I's are from 1985 generation. The tracks were designed to fit 6 of those cars.
MK II and later only 5 cars can fit because the cars are longer. With the MK V, they actually are longer than 6-car design spec of the MK I.

The Track intrusion systems have to be upgraded logically because of that.

By comparison to a LRT system, the human can over-shoot the station when not running in protected mode GoA2. This is one of the reasons why the Toronto's version of the Skytrain had more problems, because the TTC drivers union would not permit it to run in UTO (GoA4) like it was designed for.

[Alex Mackinnon]

Originally Posted by Kisai

Skytrain is automated. LRT's are not. Most of the reason why LRT's — is because the human element makes it —, over-speed, over-engaging the brakes, track intrusions, t-boning by cars on level-crossings, etc.

What needs to happen on the Skytrain for testing is different. Different generations of computers, different generations of moving parts. An appropriate analogy would be trying to stick a Geforce 5090 into a 40 year old 286. A bunch of stuff has to be upgraded with every generation of trains.

MK I's are from 1985 generation. The tracks were designed to fit 6 of those cars.
MK II and later only 5 cars can fit because the cars are longer. With the MK V, they actually are longer than 6-car design spec of the MK I.

The Track intrusion systems have to be upgraded logically because of that.

By comparison to a LRT system, the human can over-shoot the station when not running in protected mode GoA2. This is one of the reasons why the Toronto's version of the Skytrain had more problems, because the TTC drivers union would not permit it to run in UTO (GoA4) like it was designed for.

LRTs can take forever to commission as well. Look at the Eglinton Line in Toronto, it's taken forever and it's not even automatic train operation.

[dpogue]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

As I understand it, the P3 agreement dictates a certain end to end travel time. Have train speeds increased as a result of having one more stop now?

Capstan is on the Richmond branch, and I believe the P3 agreement only dictates the travel time between YVR-Airport and Waterfront, so train speeds have not changed. I believe the end-to-end travel time from Richmond to Waterfront is longer now due to the addition of an extra station.

[Chirpythecougar]

Archived from Oct 2024 (Notice no Capstan station)


Current version (has Capstan station):


Looks like end to end travel time has increased by 1 minute on Brighouse branch while YVR branch is still the same (27-3 minutes vs 26-2 minutes in the table).

Archived schedule from Oct 2024: https://web.archive.org/web/20241009061600/https://www.translink.ca/schedules-and-maps/skytrain

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by dpogue

Capstan is on the Richmond branch, and I believe the P3 agreement only dictates the travel time between YVR-Airport and Waterfront, so train speeds have not changed. I believe the end-to-end travel time from Richmond to Waterfront is longer now due to the addition of an extra station.

Would any dwell time at Brighouse account for any change versus speed?

[Vantage]

Does anyone know what they've been building at OMC3 for the past few months? Looks like some sort of platform with a roof.

[dpogue]

Originally Posted by Vantage

Does anyone know what they've been building at OMC3 for the past few months? Looks like some sort of platform with a roof.

Training platform for staff, because they're going to lose the ability to use VCC-Clark inbound and King George outbound for staff training once the extensions open.

Right now, most staff training happens at King George outbound, Lafarge Lake outbound, or VCC-Clark inbound during late mornings and late evenings. Training involves things like troubleshooting train problems, coupling and uncoupling vehicles for recovery procedures, and certification tests for new employees. Sometimes this also involves training for external agencies like firefighters on how to safely access the track and work around and underneath trains.

[Vantage]

Thanks for the info! I was hoping you’d know what was going on.

[Mac Write]

Any video of these trainings on the Internet? would be a great video to watch!!

[ilikeredheads]

they cant use stadium/chinatown's 3rd platform for training? Seems like the perfect place for training or testing.

[Lexus]

2025, Jan 12

Marpole Transit Centre

Untitled by Lexus LX, on Flickr