Transit Fantasies

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by mcj

N15 continuing to the airport makes a lot of sense, as that would mirror the Canada Line. Agreed that nighttime RapidBus (and BRT) should also be a thing, could even just provide service with regular vehicles during that time that integrate with the existing routes. Some small extensions, like the R6 being extended, from Scott Road terminus to reach Surrey Central would make sense. The KGB BRT could be used to extend the N19 south. There really should be a route that goes from SFU to Surrey Central, stopping in Lougheed/Sapperton areas before going across the new Pattullo. And a route down Fraser Highway to mirror the Expo extension, then we'd have full nightbus coverage of existing (and under construction) Skytrain routes.

Weird I thought I'd replied earlier - I must have forgotten to hit the 'submit' button.

You should draw out your ideas on one of TransLink's maps and e-mail it to them (something I've done many many times - I think they're a little sick of hearing from me ).

Personally I'd end the N19 at Surrey Central and have SoF NightBuses fan out from there. That way there's a central hub in downtown Van and another central hub in downtown Surrey.

[cganuelas1995]

Another fantasy of mine, probably one more feasible, would be to reconfigure some Canada Line cars to have seating along the walls and use those on airport services, that way we won't have that problem of people blocking aisle seats with their luggage

[Glow Fun City]

Originally Posted by cganuelas1995

Another fantasy of mine, probably one more feasible, would be to reconfigure some Canada Line cars to have seating along the walls and use those on airport services, that way we won't have that problem of people blocking aisle seats with their luggage

Given how crowded the Richmond trains get during rush hour, they should probably just do all the Canada Line trains…

[scryer]

Originally Posted by Glow Fun City

Given how crowded the Richmond trains get during rush hour, they should probably just do all the Canada Line trains…

They shot themselves in the foot a couple of times with the Canada Line:

1. When they single tracked to Richmond
2. When they designed small stations

[Chirpythecougar]

Originally Posted by scryer

They shot themselves in the foot a couple of times with the Canada Line:

1. When they single tracked to Richmond
2. When they designed small stations

Why do people say that as if the entire branch is single tracked? Only the segment between Lansdowne and Richmond-Brighouse has single tracking, and not even for the entire segment (550m quick estimate).
At what frequency does that single tracked segment become the bottleneck?

[Glow Fun City]

Originally Posted by Chirpythecougar

Why do people say that as if the entire branch is single tracked? Only the segment between Lansdowne and Richmond-Brighouse has single tracking, and not even for the entire segment (550m quick estimate).
At what frequency does that single tracked segment become the bottleneck?

I believe 3 minutes on each branch (90 seconds combined) is the minimum headway right now? But I don't know if that section is the most limiting factor.


It will make extending it further south more of a pain though…

[logan5]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

Even if the Canada Line could make a sharp U-turn (it can't), the passengers won't want to either. That means a rebuild of Waterfront (and possibly City Centre), which automatically makes it a non-starter.

I didn't say U turn and I'm not sure how you interpreted it that way. I said a 90 degree turn along Cordova.

Do you disagree with the 25 meter turning radius of the Hyundai Rotem cars?

A 25 meter radius turn isn't all that sharp of a turn, and it would be right at the station, so you wouldn't be going that fast anyways, as you suggested earlier that the train would fly through the corner.

Did you try measuring the turn at all using Google Earth pro? You can make that turn without touching the station, as the plan view officedweller posted, shows the station well back of Cordova Street.

Anyways, it looks like a communication problem here that can't be solved.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by logan5

- snip -

One, you've only measured one platform. Even assuming the east guideway can clear both Waterfront's basement and the Canada Line's own pedway (doubtful in itself), the west guideway is very clearly locked in place.

Two, you'll know from the same Google Maps that the sharpest turn on the entire network has a radius of 120m, and even that can be felt at high speed. 25m is 4-5x smaller than that: just over three storefronts, or one intersection.

Three, such a tight turn has to be handled slowly, lest bad things happen to the train and its passengers. Articulated buses making similar turns have to slow down to 15km/h or less, and a Hyundai Rotem will have to go even slower. That in turn slows the entire line down.

---

Nothing wrong with drawing crazy lines on a map, as long as one doesn't think they're actually going to happen like that. TransLink already has a plan, and it's a good one, and all it needs is money.

[cganuelas1995]

My fantasy would be more crossover points on the skytrain.

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by cganuelas1995

My fantasy would be more crossover points on the skytrain.

I second that! Currently in my area, if there's a problem at Metrotown the Expo Line is shut down between Edmonds and Joyce, and Edmonds bus loop turns into a madhouse.

I know I have a map somewhere of the crossover points on the original Expo Line - has anyone done a followup map showing where any are since then (and the plans for any of the new extensions)?

[jollyburger]

^^ Just run shuttle trains through the closed station with blackout curtains on the platform not affected.

[mcj]

Originally Posted by cganuelas1995

My fantasy would be more crossover points on the skytrain.

deleted

[chowhou]

Originally Posted by Sheba

I second that! Currently in my area, if there's a problem at Metrotown the Expo Line is shut down between Edmonds and Joyce, and Edmonds bus loop turns into a madhouse.

I know I have a map somewhere of the crossover points on the original Expo Line - has anyone done a followup map showing where any are since then (and the plans for any of the new extensions)?

I imagine the Wikipedia Skytrain track diagram is what you want!

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vancouver_SkyTrain_track_diagram_v3.svg

Funny enough V1 was apparently originally posted on this forum!

https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=172865

[twoNeurons]

Originally Posted by Chirpythecougar

Why do people say that as if the entire branch is single tracked? Only the segment between Lansdowne and Richmond-Brighouse has single tracking, and not even for the entire segment (550m quick estimate).
At what frequency does that single tracked segment become the bottleneck?

Actually, if we assume the Canada line never gets extended, I think you could create a loop at the end to add a station at Richmond Hospital, and perhaps even city hall.


It would require some closures of line past Lansdowne while you interfaced the loop, mind you.

Realistically, what's an extension look like otherwise? Steveston? How long until that makes sense... and if it does at that point, perhaps it warrants another North-South Line anyhow? East-West on Moncton or Garry or Steveston Hwy, North-south along Railway to Westminster Hwy and then East-west along Westminster Hwy. to No. 2. Road. jog over to River road and then somehow get across the water to connect to the East-West Marine Drive connector.

[mcj]

Originally Posted by twoNeurons

Realistically, what's an extension look like otherwise? Steveston? How long until that makes sense... and if it does at that point, perhaps it warrants another North-South Line anyhow? East-West on Moncton or Garry or Steveston Hwy, North-south along Railway to Westminster Hwy and then East-west along Westminster Hwy. to No. 2. Road. jog over to River road and then somehow get across the water to connect to the East-West Marine Drive connector.

A two station extension from the current terminus with stations at Minoru and Gilbert + double tracking to Brighouse would probably be a similar cost to this. Then you're lined up to continue from Granville to Railway and down to Stevenson as time goes on.

[Migrant_Coconut]

The million-dollar question, of course, is whether everybody's willing to shut down Brighouse for a year or two to make this work, or if it's better to improvise.

Hmm...

[officedweller]

Lansdowne Station has a big parking lot next to it that could easily handle a temporary bus loop as a terminus station.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Unfortunately for transit planners, that giant lot's going to be condos long before any extension to Steveston is shovel-ready.

[officedweller]

They could also have streetside bus stops as well.
The switches are far enough north of Brighouse that they can be used while the line is extended south. They may even be able to keep Brighouse in operation.
Any extension south would probably retain the single track section and resume the dual track guideway further south.
Remember, that's what was planned for the Capstan area before it was revised.

[cganuelas1995]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

Unfortunately for transit planners, that giant lot's going to be condos long before any extension to Steveston is shovel-ready.

And if anything there should be a Richmond Centre-Steveston RapidBus before they think about that. Is there a development plan along Granville and Railway Avenues? I feel like an old BCER route would be an appropriate path for an extension.