Calgary Public Transit II

[Ferreth]

Originally Posted by outoftheice

I'll do you one better! Here's a Herald Video that shows the new LRV at the unveiling... the interior looks great! http://www.calgaryherald.com/train+next+generation+unveiled+Calgary+Transit/3138234/story.html

Is Bronco blowing smoke or is CT actually moving towards running LRT 24 hours a day at some point? I don't think even Vancouver has that yet, although if I recall it's only a two hour gap at this point. I'd be in favor - this city is slowly becoming more of a 24 hour activity centre, and needs transit to support that.

[Wooster]

The new trains look really good. Very few metros run 24 hours because of the track maintenance that needs to be done at night. If they could get it to like a 2-3 hour gap between opening and closing that would be fine.

[srperrycgy]

Originally Posted by Ferreth

Is Bronco blowing smoke or is CT actually moving towards running LRT 24 hours a day at some point?

Bronco can promise whatever he wants to now; he's leaving.

[mersar]

Originally Posted by Wooster

The new trains look really good. Very few metros run 24 hours because of the track maintenance that needs to be done at night. If they could get it to like a 2-3 hour gap between opening and closing that would be fine.

We're pretty much there. First train out of Somerset is 3:28am, last train in is 12:47am. First out of Crowfoot is 4:20am, last into Crowfoot is 1:39am. First out of McKnight is 4:00am, last into is 1:50am.

[artvandelay]

I hope the new voice is temporary, sounds computerized. It seems like it is only on some of the trains at the moment.

Originally Posted by Ferreth

Is Bronco blowing smoke or is CT actually moving towards running LRT 24 hours a day at some point? I don't think even Vancouver has that yet, although if I recall it's only a two hour gap at this point. I'd be in favor - this city is slowly becoming more of a 24 hour activity centre, and needs transit to support that.

24 hr train service would be nice, Vancouver didn't even have 24 hr service during the Olympics, which is brutal considering CT manages to pull it off every Stampede. Last train on Canada line was at 1:10 am or something ridiculous.

[DarkKeyo]

I wish I'd known the time of the media event, I might have been able to go. Instead, later in the day, I went to see the train in person and take what are now, compared to that video, a few redundant photos. It looks pretty good though. Very modern.

Are they implying in the video that the 38 new train cars are enough for the extensions AND to run at least some 4-car trainsets? Because I would think they'd need a lot more than that...

Also notice how the article says we have a total of 193 trains... my math says we have 195 minus 5 (now 4, because of 2091) broken U2's.... So I assume repairs will be involved somehow? (I heard 2091 is out for repairs and I haven't seen 2101 in ages)

And... 24 hour service is a nice dream, but...

[CTrainDude]

Originally Posted by DarkKeyo

Are they implying in the video that the 38 new train cars are enough for the extensions AND to run at least some 4-car trainsets? Because I would think they'd need a lot more than that.....

I think the idea is that when you go to four-car trains, you reduce the number of trains out there, not just add to the 42 trains we already have in rush hour.

[Calgarian]

New trains look great. When do they roll out the first 4 car train?

[MalcolmTucker]

Originally Posted by Calgarian

New trains look great. When do they roll out the first 4 car train?

Earliest possible would be when west lrt opens methinks, which would require a change in routes and likely some short turning.

[Calgarian]

Originally Posted by Sir.Humphrey.Appleby

Earliest possible would be when west lrt opens methinks, which would require a change in routes and likely some short turning.

So are the new downtown stations, and the new ones at the ends of the lines the only ones that can handle the 4 car trains? What about stations like Chinook?

[You Need A Thneed]

Originally Posted by Calgarian

So are the new downtown stations, and the new ones at the ends of the lines the only ones that can handle the 4 car trains? What about stations like Chinook?

When Downtown is completed, the four car stations will be:

Somerset
Shawnessy
Dalhousie
Crowfoot
McKnight
Martindale
Saddletowne
Whitehorn (being done starting this summer)
All of the west line
and all of downtown.

[Calgarian]

Originally Posted by You Need A Thneed

When Downtown is completed, the four car stations will be:

Somerset
Shawnessy
Dalhousie
Crowfoot
McKnight
Martindale
Saddletowne
Whitehorn (being done starting this summer)
All of the west line
and all of downtown.

So the end trains would have to be Downtown only then?

What is the plans for stations like Chinook? how about 39th? that station doesn't look capable of handling 4 cars with the tunnel and road sqeezing it.

[You Need A Thneed]

Originally Posted by Calgarian

So the end trains would have to be Downtown only then?

What is the plans for stations like Chinook? how about 39th? that station doesn't look capable of handling 4 cars with the tunnel and road sqeezing it.

By 2012, when the west line opens, I imagine that either the NE line or the South line will all have been upgraded, so they will be able to run 4 car trains.

As for the rest of the south line stations, I don't know how they plan on making them work. They will figure out something.

[mersar]

Originally Posted by Sir.Humphrey.Appleby

Earliest possible would be when west lrt opens methinks, which would require a change in routes and likely some short turning.

Unless they can pull off a miracle and do the rest of the NE line as well, Whitehorn will be done this year then the if they can do the other 5 stations over 2011 and 2012 theres a chance it could be done

[hulkrogan]

Originally Posted by halifaxboyns

There is an internal display for the station name as well.

About freaking time. When you're an out of town transit rider these things are a god send.

[You Need A Thneed]

Originally Posted by mersar

Unless they can pull off a miracle and do the rest of the NE line as well, Whitehorn will be done this year then the if they can do the other 5 stations over 2011 and 2012 theres a chance it could be done

Whitehorn is getting a lot more work then what would be required to just extend the platforms. I think just extending the platforms could be done relatively fast if they wanted to.

Whitehorn Station is getting:
Completely new platform - including an extension.
Ramp down for public access south of the platform (The only other NE station that could get something similar is Marlbourough)
Replacing an escalator with a new handcap lift
removing the existing eelvator
New window openings in the station head
New canopy over half the platform
New shelters on the platform.

That's a lot more then just what is required to extend the platform.

[Aegis]

Does anyone know the process for loading the new LRVs onto the rail flatbeds? Does it happen at Siemen's facilities in Germany and then the same rail flatbed is simply moved by ship and then transported across Canada? or is the LRV placed on the rail flatbed in Canada?

[srperrycgy]

The LRVs are manufactured at Siemens' plant in Sacramento, CA. not Germany.

More Info on the Manufacturing: http://www.mobility.siemens.com/usa/en/pub/services_and_solutions/manufacturing.htm

[mersar]

Originally Posted by You Need A Thneed

Whitehorn is getting a lot more work then what would be required to just extend the platforms. I think just extending the platforms could be done relatively fast if they wanted to.

Whitehorn Station is getting:
Completely new platform - including an extension.
Ramp down for public access south of the platform (The only other NE station that could get something similar is Marlbourough)
Replacing an escalator with a new handcap lift
removing the existing eelvator
New window openings in the station head
New canopy over half the platform
New shelters on the platform.

That's a lot more then just what is required to extend the platform.

True, but seeing as how all the NE stations require a whole lot of work due to their age, I can't see CT not doing it all at once per station. Rundle and Marlborough will probably get similar upgrades to Whitehorn. Bridgeland and Franklin are a slightly different layout inside but they'll probably still have some major interior renos.

[srperrycgy]

Whitehorn will be the test for the renovations. If it works well, the remainder of the NE stations will be completed faster.