Metro Vancouver Transit Discussion II

[chowhou]

Originally Posted by Glow Fun City

I think Translink should use whatever alternative revenue sources they can find to slow down fare increases…

I've been to transit gift shops in other cities that have all kinds of cool merch available (and they sell very well!). The fact that people will line up for hours to get limited run Compass Cards should indicate that there is more money to be made.

One one hand I absolutely agree with you that merchandising is something international transit agencies excel at and we're pathetic at, but Translink also needs to raise fares every year, at the very least to maintain costs at inflation. Maintenance costs, capital costs, and wages increase faster than inflation, so what's your solution to pay for it all?

[Phrescata]

Have the mark V trains been taken out of service? For the last week or so I’ve only seen them parked at the OMC and storage tracks. I haven’t seen any on the expo line other than the trains currently being tested.

[madog222]

Yup, it's been since the end of July at least. Apparently an issue with the car gangways.
Today there was at least one in revenue service.

[officedweller]

Of interest:

REM in Montreal's airport branch will be single track tunnel from Marie Curie Station to YUL Station.
That distance could be as long as 2.5 km (length of bored tunnel under the runways).
One difference is that the YUL terminus has 2 platforms and 2 tracks, so a train can depart as soon as the next arrrives.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Db8wCMEKMhU/?igsh=bmdqNXo0dDFzOHYz
Wrong-railing is just for testing.

Video of YUL Station:
https://youtu.be/n1xLBC3b4xU?si=FS5Aog5i9yqFLIlm

[Sheba]

I just got an 'occupant' letter (dated Aug 5) from TransLink today. Starting this month they're going to be doing night work "to replace the remaining rail between Royal Oak and Edmonds Skytrain Stations" Sun to Thurs 10pm - 4am. The only end date they give is "Fall 2026"

They've been working on the elevator at Royal Oak Station for the last couple weeks and I finally looked up the bus they're telling people to use at Edmonds if they can't use the stairs at Royal Oak (a lot of stairs and no escalator). If their prior estimates hold it should take about 4 months to complete the work there.

Instead of putting in a shuttle they're telling people to take the 148 - a bus that's only every 30 mins and takes 15 mins to travel between the stations (vs a 3 min train ride or 6 mins driving according to google maps). Honestly I don't know why they're not mentioning the 119 as well - sure it only travels to Kingsway and Royal Oak (where plenty of the people stepping off at Royal Oak Station would be going) but it's about every 12 mins.

A few times now I've seen older people going up those stairs in slow motion as it's faster for them than taking the bus to Edmonds and getting on the train there.