Metro Vancouver Transit Discussion

[nname]

Originally Posted by Mac Write

ˆˆˆ Speak for yourself I will be around.

How many trains would be required to maintain 90s headway+3m headway on the ends, and what would be the cost for trains for that? Then once that's done then go to 3-car?

35 trains for 90s/3m headway... but that would be over the design spec of the system, which is 2m/4m.

3.75m/7.5m = 16x 2-cars trains per hour @ 334 per train = 5344 pphpd (current)
3.16m/6.33m = 19x 2-cars trains per hour @ 334 per train = 6346 pphpd (next year)
2m/4m = 30x 2-cars trains per hour @ 334 per train = 10000 pphpd (max capacity with 40m platform)
90s/3m = 40x 2-cars trains per hour @ 334 per train = 13360 pphpd (this is the same as the capacity on the expo line right now)
2m/4m = 30x 3-cars trains per hour @ 500 per train = 15000 pphpd (max capacity with 50m platform)
90s/3m = 40x 3-cars trains per hour @ 500 per train = 20000 pphpd (maybe doable during special events?)

[Mac Write]

If we put an order in in September for 32 cars/16 trains, when would they be delivered, when would payment be due, how much would it cost for the train-sets and can the OMC handle 16 more train-sets?

[roleypolinde]

Hey, the transit service changes are being updated but they're not public. Found it by using their built in search

http://www.translink.ca/en/Schedules-and-Maps/Transit-Service-Changes.aspx

My personal favorite so far though?

49 Metrotown/UBC

Addition of 60-foot articulated buses on some peak period weekday trips. Larger buses will address some of the capacity issues on this route which serves UBC and Langara College.

I'm not not sure how they're going to fit into some of the stops O_o maybe by making some trips limited service?

[CLC]

^ #49 finally have a huge fix. I am sure the number of complaints received by Translink over the past 11 months even exceeded the notorious 98-b.

I hope they can cancel some of the too closely spaced but least-use stops. It is not fun for a 60-ft bus to pull over and push-out every two blocks.

[roleypolinde]

I was leaving so many legitimate complaints in the last month that they were starting to recognize my voice at the call center. It got really bad, worse ever in the july (I mean worse than past septembers when Langara gets back in). I was passed up five times in a single day and then the following week I didn't see a bus go by for half an hour on a 10 minute route!

I started taking the 8 I was so frustrated, I don't know if this will win me back, depends on how they implement it, it should be like the 43 and 41 routes

[Zassk]

Originally Posted by Mac Write

If we put an order in in September for 32 cars/16 trains, when would they be delivered, when would payment be due, how much would it cost for the train-sets and can the OMC handle 16 more train-sets?

I don't know the answers to the other questions, but I have looked at the OMC in detail on Google Maps and measured the size of the trains. I estimated the OMC has enough space for 40 more cars (i.e. double the current fleet) within its current configuration. More trains could be stored outside the OMC as well. The service buildings seem to already be built to accomodate 3-car trains.

The current image of the OMC on Google Maps has 17 trains (34 cars) visible in the OMC and it has tons of space still available, plus lots of open land to add more storage track. The image was probably taken last summer when testing was ramping up.

[nname]

Originally Posted by roleypolinde

Hey, the transit service changes are being updated but they're not public. Found it by using their built in search

http://www.translink.ca/en/Schedules-and-Maps/Transit-Service-Changes.aspx

97 Coquitlam Stn/Lougheed Stn

Reduced frequency between Lougheed Station and Coquitlam Station ...

I assume this means cut...

... from 12 minutes to 10 minutes during the evening Mon. – Fri.

... but it's actually an improvement?

[usog]

Originally Posted by roleypolinde

Hey, the transit service changes are being updated but they're not public. Found it by using their built in search

http://www.translink.ca/en/Schedules-and-Maps/Transit-Service-Changes.aspx

Woah! The changes they have planned for Surrey will *really* make an impact, way to go Translink! /s

[nname]

Originally Posted by usog

Woah! The changes they have planned for Surrey will *really* make an impact, way to go Translink! /s

Better than the cut in tri-cities

[usog]

Originally Posted by nname

Better than the cut in tri-cities

At least the tri-cities are listed I expect Surrey to be added before it goes official, otherwise what the hell is Surrey even in Translink for.

[jsbertram]

Originally Posted by roleypolinde

Hey, the transit service changes are being updated but they're not public. Found it by using their built in search

http://www.translink.ca/en/Schedules-and-Maps/Transit-Service-Changes.aspx

My personal favorite so far though?

49 Metrotown/UBC

Addition of 60-foot articulated buses on some peak period weekday trips. Larger buses will address some of the capacity issues on this route which serves UBC and Langara College.

I'm not not sure how they're going to fit into some of the stops O_o maybe by making some trips limited service?

The numerous "Need Copy" sections of the page indicates to me this is a webpage under design, and isn't (wasn't) meant to be public yet.
The terse text and place-holders for route maps is another clue that this page is still a work in progress.

[roleypolinde]

Yeah I know it's not public but it's the same link every time, they don't bother doing anything but take down the link for four months until the next change. If there is one thing that drives me nuts about translink it's that they won't even HINT they're thinking about changing or improving something until the very last minute, this little easter egg satisfies my need to know

[nname]

I peeked at the timetable (under construction), and seems like there's reduction of service in some form or the other for every route listed there (excluding the seasonal changes). And yes, this includes the 49, to some degree...

[CLC]

Originally Posted by nname

And yes, this includes the 49, to some degree...

any direct link for me to sneak peek?

I wonder is it related to using artics for some peak times trip. #3 and #20 routes suffered significant "reduction" of frequency when artics were first adopted.

[nname]

Originally Posted by CLC

any direct link for me to sneak peek?

I wonder is it related to using artics for some peak times trip. #3 and #20 routes suffered significant "reduction" of frequency when artics were first adopted.

Well.. it seems like those peak period, school days only trips between Cambie and Metrotown are gone.. or maybe they just hadn't add them back...

[twoNeurons]

I was in Seattle on Sunday dropping off people at the airport. A few observations:

Approximate time: 11am.

Parking in SeaTac - Cheap!! $3 / hour.

Parking in SeaTac - Confusing.

LRT - I sat and waited for people to get off the LRT going to the airport. I counted them... there were about 50 people who got off one train.

Almost EVERY single one of them were young or backpackers. There was one couple in their 50s. There was a noticeable lack of any business travelers.

How does this compare with the Canada Line? I don't mean anecdotally... though my sample size wasn't large. I mean, has anyone stopped at YVR station and seen who gets off?

I suspect that the results at SeaTac are for a few reasons:

Cheap AT-airport parking.
Cheap parking outside the airport ( There are numerous companies that run shuttles and have cheap overnight parking )
Easy access to the airport ( Two freeways from downtown )
Access not easy ( LRT is not seen as a BETTER solution than driving, as it doesn't drop you off closer than parking )
Speed. I believe that for most of the day, driving is considerably faster.

Has anyone taken the LRT to SeaTac and can compare it with the Canada Line?

I really think they missed an opportunity to make the Airport service something special. I don't think it would've been impossible to do, but I'm no engineer.

[mrjauk]

Originally Posted by twoNeurons

I was in Seattle on Sunday dropping off people at the airport. A few observations:

Approximate time: 11am.

Parking in SeaTac - Cheap!! $3 / hour.

Parking in SeaTac - Confusing.

LRT - I sat and waited for people to get off the LRT going to the airport. I counted them... there were about 50 people who got off one train.

Almost EVERY single one of them were young or backpackers. There was one couple in their 50s. There was a noticeable lack of any business travelers.

How does this compare with the Canada Line? I don't mean anecdotally... though my sample size wasn't large. I mean, has anyone stopped at YVR station and seen who gets off?

I suspect that the results at SeaTac are for a few reasons:

Cheap AT-airport parking.
Cheap parking outside the airport ( There are numerous companies that run shuttles and have cheap overnight parking )
Easy access to the airport ( Two freeways from downtown )
Access not easy ( LRT is not seen as a BETTER solution than driving, as it doesn't drop you off closer than parking )
Speed. I believe that for most of the day, driving is considerably faster.

Has anyone taken the LRT to SeaTac and can compare it with the Canada Line?

I really think they missed an opportunity to make the Airport service something special. I don't think it would've been impossible to do, but I'm no engineer.

I've taken the LRT from the train station (just north of Qwest Stadium) to the airport and it seemed to take a very long time.

Yup, according to the link I provided it takes 30 minutes.

http://www.soundtransit.org/Riding-Sound...d-Facilities/Central-Link-Light-Rail.xml

[Zassk]

^ Going from online information, at that time of day, the Seattle LRT runs every 10 minutes and is 37 minutes from downtown. By comparison, the Canada Line runs to the airport every 7.5 minutes and is 25 minutes from downtown. Both lines are $2.50 on Sunday, but I believe bus fares are not directly transferrable to LRT in Seattle.

The YVR line carried an average of 9300 passengers per day earlier this year, which roughly translates to 60-80 passengers per train throughout each day, but those would be much more concentrated in the morning when you were watching. It is likely that a Canada Line train at 11 a.m. Sunday delivers 2x to 3x as many passengers as you witnessed on the Seattle Link.

[Political_R]

Originally Posted by Zassk

but I believe bus fares are not directly transferrable to LRT in Seattle.

That would be correct. It is why people like me from the United States envy Translink with the easy transfers from system to system. Considering I can spend $9.00 and go around the Lower Mainland all day long.

[CLC]

Originally Posted by twoNeurons

How does this compare with the Canada Line? I don't mean anecdotally... though my sample size wasn't large. I mean, has anyone stopped at YVR station and seen who gets off?

You don't have to get to YVR . I would assume a high percentage of YVR bound commuters board at Waterfront. You can easily notice what kind of people carrying big luggages while waiting at Waterfront platform.