Millennium Line - Evergreen Extension | Completed

[deasine]

The URL is too complicated for the forum to recognize as an image.

Thanks for the update though jared.

[DKaz]

Seeing how construction wasn't supposed to start until after the Olympics, this is certainly an early and pleasant surprise!

[SpongeG]

I wondered why there were some trailers/buildings in that parking lot when i went passed there last week

[David]

wow, i was wondering — that building was! great to hear

[usog]

http://www.bclocalnews.com/surrey_area/surreyleader/news/37674989.html

SkyTrain route rejig possible

By Jeff Nagel - Surrey North Delta Leader

Published: January 15, 2009 3:00 PM
Updated: January 15, 2009 3:33 PM

0 Comments

The SkyTrain system could get a major reconfiguration of its current routes if the proposed Evergreen Line is built.

The $1.4-billion rapid transit line would open in late 2014 – provided funding is secured – and would run from Coquitlam through Port Moody to connect with the existing Millennium Line at Lougheed Station in Burnaby.

But consultants to TransLink have recommended the new line doesn't stop there.

They propose the Evergreen Line route designation continue west of Lougheed, all the way to VCC-Clark Station, in effect taking over a big chunk of the Millennium Line.

That would allow passengers from the northeast sector to ride the same train as far as the Expo Line at Broadway/Commercial Drive stations without transferring.

The recommended configuration would shrink the existing Millennium Line to a low-volume less frequent shuttle route connecting Lougheed to Columbia Station in New Westminster, according to the report tabled last August.

The Expo Line would continue to run from King George Station in Surrey to Waterfront downtown, but an extra set of trains would run between Waterfront and Metrotown only, providing twice as much capacity and more frequent trains on the high-demand stretch.

TransLink officials say the idea is far from certain and further studies are being planned to look at future SkyTrain route configurations in more detail.

"There are a number of permutations and combinations possible," said spokesman Ken Hardie, who could not say which ones are most probable.

More studies are in the works to determine how best to boost capacity on the Expo Line, which the province has pledged to double by 2020.

If Evergreen Line trains ran west of Lougheed, it would be a big benefit for Tri City residents and could help boost ridership when the new line opens.

But riders who use the Millennium Line stations between Lougheed and Columbia would face an extra transfer. So would riders commuting between Surrey and the eight stations between Lougheed and Broadway.

The August study indicated the configuration could save TransLink $20 to $100 million by reducing the number of extra SkyTrain cars that would have to be bought to achieve desired service levels.

They must be reading our forums or something XD. If they did something like this, they'd probably need route displays on every car. Otherwise I can see lots of people getting confused, especially on a Waterfront-Metrotown shuttle.

[deasine]

I don't like the idea of shuttling passengers from Columbia to Lougheed. Even though it would help in terms of capacity wise and really won't affect me at all, that extra transfer could be frustrating for many.

I prefer the M-Line run from Waterfront to Lougheed via Columbia and E-Line run from Waterfront to King George and the EV-Line from from Douglas College to VCC/Clark. That way, passengers from Braid (major bus loop for passengers in Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam Centre, etc.) going downtown aren't forced to make a transfer at Columbia.

[Mac Write]

Why not every third Expo and M Line train go Waterfront - VCC-Clark?

Or how about a Tri-angle Douglas > Waterfront, Dougles > VCC clark?

[racc]

There is an explanation in here:
http://www.translink.bc.ca/files/procurements/Q8-0123_-_11_RTM_SkyTrain_Evergreen_Rev3.pdf

It seems like it is hard to co-ordinate the timing of the trains when their are multiple terminal stations on different lines.

As mentioned above, they are looking at run one out of every three Expo Line trains between Waterfront to Metrotown only to increase the capacity on this section. This leaves no space for a Waterfront-VCC train.

They probably could run a train from Columbia to VCC although their might be timing problems issues co-ordinating with Douglas to VCC trains.

[paradigm4]

Originally Posted by usog

http://www.bclocalnews.com/surrey_area/surreyleader/news/37674989.html

They must be reading our forums or something XD. If they did something like this, they'd probably need route displays on every car. Otherwise I can see lots of people getting confused, especially on a Waterfront-Metrotown shuttle.

I have heard many TransLink people know about this forum. In this case however, I wrote a post on my blog about it, and Jeff Nagel (the writer of the article at The Leader) got the story from there.

[twoNeurons]

Originally Posted by paradigm4

I have heard many TransLink people know about this forum. In this case however, I wrote a post on my blog about it, and Jeff Nagel (the writer of the article at The Leader) got the story from there.

Seems like a silly idea. Why not just... increase the size of the train? Longer trains increases capacity.

Either split the tail on the M-Line or the Expo line. Don't reduce it to a shuttle forcing transfers. IF a person want to go to metrotown from anywhere on the Evergreen, it would involve two transfers. And these are transfers are not cross platform.

If a shuttle is absolutely necessary, add a platform at Columbia to allow cross platform transfers (they have to do something anyhow to run it as a shuttle) and do the same at lougheed (using the existing centre platform for the shuttle and the Evergreen, with the two north platforms as the EG line).


Lougheed:

VCC <<<<<<<<<<<<<< EG <<<<<<<<<<<<<< Coq
VCC >>>>>>>>>>>>>> EG >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Coq


<<<<<<<<<<<<<< ML >>>>>>>>>>>>>> (Shuttle in both directions)




Columbia:

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< ML >>>>>>>>>>>>> (Shuttle in both directions)


Vcr <<<<<<<<<<<<<<< EX <<<<<<<<<<<<<< Sry
Vcr >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> EX >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Sry


This would allow simple transfers from the West on the EG Line, allowing people from Surrey an easy transfer at Columbia, and LH if going to Coquitlam, which was the original intent of the M-Line, to connect the suburbs to each other. From Coq to Metrotown, it's one easy transfer, and one under platform transfer.

[Metro-One]

Or how about keep it exactly how it is today! And the only difference is there will be trains going from VCC-Clark to Coquiltlam and Coquitlam to VCC-Clark. Keep it Simple Stupid usually works best! If they can run two trains down the same line on the Expo to Columbia and on the Canada to bridgeport than they can do the same for the M-line to Lougheed.

[mr.x]

I really hope they keep the Millennium Line name. Screw it with the "Evergreen", call the VCC to Coquitlam route the Millennium Line.

[racc]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

Or how about keep it exactly how it is today! And the only difference is there will be trains going from VCC-Clark to Coquiltlam and Coquitlam to VCC-Clark. Keep it Simple Stupid usually works best! If they can run two trains down the same line on the Expo to Columbia and on the Canada to bridgeport than they can do the same for the M-line to Lougheed.

They can, except that the headways increase on the Expo and Evergreen lines which reduces capacity.

Read the report for more info:
http://www.translink.bc.ca/files/procurements/Q8-0123_-_11_RTM_SkyTrain_Evergreen_Rev3.pdf


And actually, the simple solution is the shuttle between Columbia and Lougheed. It might not be the best but it is simple.

[Dave2]

Originally Posted by mr.x2

I really hope they keep the Millennium Line name. Screw it with the "Evergreen", call the VCC to Coquitlam route the Millennium Line.

Not to mention the expense of scraping off the "Millennium Line" from all the glass on the stations, etc.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by racc

It seems like it is hard to co-ordinate the timing of the trains when their are multiple terminal stations on different lines.

As mentioned above, they are looking at run one out of every three Expo Line trains between Waterfront to Metrotown only to increase the capacity on this section. This leaves no space for a Waterfront-VCC train.

They probably could run a train from Columbia to VCC although their might be timing problems issues co-ordinating with Douglas to VCC trains.

Yeah, if you have that many lines interlining, a slowdown or breakdown on any one segment of the system would have a ripple effect on the rest of the system.

Given the lack of a third platform at Columbia and the planned third platform at Lougheed, I think that a Waterfront-Lougheed route interlined with the Expo Line (Waterfront - King George) makes sense (with a VCC-Coquitlam route). I think the report suggested that as an interim measure. They could even short turn trains at Metrotown as well.

[Kwik-E-Mart]

Originally Posted by mr.x2

I really hope they keep the Millennium Line name. Screw it with the "Evergreen", call the VCC to Coquitlam route the Millennium Line.

Yes that's more like it! The Evergreen name sounds too localized (as in Evergreen Cultural Centre near Coquitlam City Hall) for a cross-town line.

[Jared]

If they wanted to continue with the Waterfront to VCC route, I imagine they would have to scrap the Waterfront to Metrotown route, and essentially just have those trains "continue" to Columbia and around to VCC. Otherwise, you're essentially just stealing service from Surrey.

[deasine]

Originally Posted by mr.x2

I really hope they keep the Millennium Line name. Screw it with the "Evergreen", call the VCC to Coquitlam route the Millennium Line.

I like that idea =)

[d'ann]

http://www.canada.com/coquitlamnow/story.html?id=7dcfa8df-9dde-4dc5-b4ce-4b205bf4be9f

quote from article

"We have to make some really tough choices around how we're going to be planning the future of this community" she said. "We preface most of our land-use decisions on the thought the SkyTrain is coming through."

If council does not receive the FOI request before the OCP proposal is brought forward, Trasolini said members will put the city's future growth number at zero.

[racc]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Yeah, if you have that many lines interlining, a slowdown or breakdown on any one segment of the system would have a ripple effect on the rest of the system.

Given the lack of a third platform at Columbia and the planned third platform at Lougheed, I think that a Waterfront-Lougheed route interlined with the Expo Line (Waterfront - King George) makes sense (with a VCC-Coquitlam route). I think the report suggested that as an interim measure. They could even short turn trains at Metrotown as well.

There would not be enough capacity to short turn trains at Metrotown if trains are run from Waterfront to Lougheed. Sounds like they might build a platform at Columbia for the shuttle if that is what they decide to do.